There’s an unmistakable calm that settles over “Safe”, the classic collaboration between M.I. Abaga and singer Djinee. Released in 2008 as part of M.I.’s breakthrough album Talk About It, the track became one of the defining moments of his rise, blending sharp rap technique with soulful vocals in a way that felt fresh for the Nigerian music scene at the time.
“Safe” stands out because it doesn’t try too hard. It’s charming, smart, and built on genuine chemistry between two artists who understood their strengths. For many listeners, it remains one of the songs that announced M.I. as a new force, not just a rapper, but a storyteller who could seamlessly blend humor, culture, and emotion.
[Intro: Djinee & Scoffs]
All these kpomo men now… them be kpomo men…
Woah!
[Verse 1: M.I.]
Yo, it's the way that they do me, do me, do me, do me (Are we safe right here?)
The way that they do me
Crowds used to boo me but now ladies woo me
Truly I'm sorry, sue me
Me, I'm a Loopy, I'm money long like Moony
I'm Looney like Tuney, your girl wish she knew me
My arms strong like Louis, and C. City blew me up
Yup, you can only watch like a movie
Ruby, I'ma milk the game like a booby
People asking "Who he?"
They call me M.I.-er, just because I'm getting higher
I'm spitting fire, this written for ya
There's no bullshitting I'm sitting on top, Naija's rap messiah
I kill them Mama, them Papa, bring drama, end proper in comma
This rapper show-stopper, he's hotter
Top-shot, no other rap while I'm rendering, hear the words he's uttering
'Cause other rappers stuttering
I rhyme am well, I'm not them, I'm hot, chill! I've got skill
The most incredible out of Naija, I'm on fire
I've got street credibility
And he definitely flow infinitely and so intermittently
Ha! Plus, I'm a party rider
'Cause I flow tighter so put up your lighter
MI be in the house and MC's they shall bounce
And go home to their spouse
'Cause to stay might be detrimental (Mental)
Better flow better instrumental (Mental)
You gotta learn the fundamental (Mental)
And my flow is so essential, essential, essential
Listen! Silence, sch… is the best answer, not violence
That's why I bring war on the violins
This is Armageddon dog, hear the sirens
And no, I am not retirin'
No, I'm never tirin', these lyrics that I'm firin'
But don't be dismayed, 'cause Zenith Bank is hirin'
For instance, there's no resistance
The flow persistent and so consistent
Other rappers distant, they should have listened
Because I'm the engine room and the gear and the piston
There's no rest see, at best you're assistin'
I'm what they're missing, I'm why they listen
I'm the heart police dawg, I'm cardiac-arrestin'
The best thing and you're just microphone-testin'
[Hook: Djinee]
Are we safe right here?
You better run fi cover, nah we dey right here
Hey! Where you dey when we, dey chop kuli-kuli
Dey sell kpoli-kpoli, you dey form holy-holy
Are we safe right here?
You better run fi cover, nah we dey right here
Hey! Where you dey when we dey chop kuli-kuli
Dey sell kpoli-kpoli, you dey form holy-holy
[Verse 2: M.I.]
Don't try me, oh, C. City wan' eye me, oh
And I'm rated highly, oh
Heh! They call me M.I, listen y'all, yo! Mo gbono feli feli
I'm spitting like Machiavelli
I'm always inside your telly, your lyrics are smelly-smelly
I'm chilling in Pelly Pelly, I'm chilli inside your belly
Rappers are really silly, you rappers Milli Vanilli
But nuffin' do me because I dey rhyme, yo
Nothing's gonna rule me because I dey shine yo, shine yo
I know I'm so fine yo, I'll blind y'all with each rhyme yo
I move like a rhino, until we sitting on top, sitting spitting on top
Rappers spitting, they should stop
It's real when I drop, your shit is gonna flop
You kickin' so sloppy, getting spanked by your Papi
And you should know my P, they call me M.I., M.I., see
I'm rocking M.I., M-I-C and my flow is so deadly
Whiskolo whiska, the incredible Mister
The top on the list-a, he's voted like Next-a
Loved by your sister, he maybe even kissed her
The brand new experience like Vista
Yebariba sanbori bobo
The ladies going loco when they hear his vocal
Rap's in a choke-hold
Other rappers local, they rap with a vocoder
I'm the koko
Other rappers so-called, I'm medicine for the game like I'm Procold
You can't deny, I give them what them wanting
And if you're still sitting down, you're on a long thing
And if there's ever been a rap this fly
Yo, it had to be done by another M.I
[Freestyle: Djinee]
Hey! Hey! Why you dey run where you dey run, you think say you get liver
You come dey form like say you be that Arnold Schwarzenegger
Hey! You go talk the one you dey today
Today, today we go run you down you no know where you dey
Heh! We dey kill them, M.I. you dey treat them
Show them say this hip-hop music dey your system
Teach them, school them, if them fuck up, cane them
Oh! Them no know say, them no know say
You be Pyeri boy, I be B-side boy
We do run things eh! We dey run things oh!
Hey oh! Hey! Hey! Ihe ne me! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Pack your load go, pack your load go
M.I. don come here hey!
[Outro: M. I., Djinee & Scoffs]
Yo! Djinee in the house ladies and gentlemen
We go run you down in your area
Think am oh!
Hey yo! We go run you down
Your Mama, your Papa
Na we dey right here oh
Yo! And it's a wrap y'all…
