Fresh off the success of his breakout hit Kitemeo, Kenyan rapper Kapitani has taken a vulnerable turn with his latest release, Safe, a raw and emotionally charged track that digs into the pain of growing up without both parents.
Released on Friday, September 18, the song opens with Kapitani declaring he is an orphan and that he hates it, likening the grief to living under constant hardship.
What did Kapitani say about being orphaned?
He questions whether seeing his parent again is even possible, calling it a “maybe” with heartbreaking uncertainty.
One of the most striking moments in Safe comes when Kapitani reflects on his father specifically.
He raps that if he could choose his parents all over again, he would still pick the same single dad who was equally funny and strict and who never abandoned his children.
The loss, he says, has changed the way the festive season feels entirely, noting that without his father, the 25th no longer feels like Christmas.
He also admits that while he hopes the tears will eventually dry up, he cannot promise that the memories will stop hurting.
The trauma, he raps, is what pushed him to start hustling, and he struggles to accept that such a loss could ever be part of God’s plan.
Despite the grief, the chorus carries a message of hope. Kapitani repeats that loved ones are safe in God’s hands, watched over day and night, and that prayer brings answers from a higher power.
The song has clearly resonated widely, particularly among listeners who have experienced similar loss.
Here is what some had to say:
@sammyro_:
“I am not an orphan. I call myself a one-man riot squad.”
@djdoubletrouble254:
“All Orphans will forever win.”
@iamblue._:
“Pray for your parents to live longer to see your success.”
@jera_owino:
“He’s speaking for all orphans.”
@iamshaolinmonk:
“I lost my mum while she was giving birth to me. I grew up alone in the streets; now I’m here thanking God.”
