"They don't want me to get my paper, but ngizothandaza, God bless me forever." That one line from the chorus of "1 or 2" captures exactly where KFMD, Qing Madi, and Zlatan are planting their flag on this Afro-fusion collab. It is a declaration as much as it is a prayer.
The track opens with a sharp-eyed focus on the hustle: stacking paper, multiple ledgers, dropping the latest. From the jump, the energy is about momentum and gratitude, not celebration for its own sake. The intro sets up a story of someone who has been moving quietly while others watched and waited.
What makes "1 or 2" interesting is how honestly it sits with the tension of success. Verse one names it plainly: the people showing love are not always showing love. Some want the bread, some want the soul, and knowing the difference is part of the work. Zlatan's verse doubles down on that in the second half, switching between Yoruba, Pidgin, and English to say he is not sending for the noise, he is following the process, and his fans are proof enough.
The chorus threads Zulu phrases through the hook in a way that feels natural rather than performative. "Uma iNkosi inami, I don't need no favours" and "Uk'buyela emumva angikhoni" carry real weight. God is in the corner. Going back is not an option.
It is the kind of song that rewards a second listen, once you catch all three languages doing their work at once.
Originally published by NotJustOk.