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Flex D’Paper met Cheptegei for the first time on the Konkrete Conversations podcast, where the track produced in Novmber 2022, was formally presented to the Olympian.
A song of triumph and admiration has deeply moved Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei, the Ugandan star runner who has captured the world's attention with his phenomenal performance.
Produced by notable Ugandan rapper Flex D’Paper, the musical tribute titled 'Cheptegei' celebrates the remarkable journey of the athlete, who has become an inspirational figure worldwide.
Flex D’Paper met Cheptegei for the first time on the Konkrete Conversations podcast, where the track produced in Novmber 2022, was formally presented to the Olympian.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Cheptegei revealed, “When I heard of the song, I cried actually.”
“It’s a good gesture from you guys to celebrate one of your own…it’s phenomenal, I cherish it from the depth of my heart.”
“It is impressive for you to recognize what it means to the country, to the sports world, and generally the entire world being of Ugandans.”
The song, which features Navio, Fik Fameica, and Mozelo Kids, was initially conceptualized after Cheptegei's gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics with an impressive time of 12:58.15.
This historic feat marked him as the first Ugandan to win this event, breaking a long-standing drought on the track since John Aki Bua's Gold medal during the 1972 Olympics and his Silver Olympic Order in 1986.
Flex D’Paper was moved to commemorate Cheptegei's significant achievement through music, explaining, “He brought back that Glory, a huge milestone for Uganda.”
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“The first time I had about his achievement, it didn’t even know him. So I thought wow, who is he? This is really good.”
“And also, you have kept the consistency, and up to now I expect that when you are going for a race, I am sure this is a week.”
“I know that you work so hard for it. Yesterday evening you were training, and today morning, you were also in a training session, so that is determination because another person can relax,” he added.
The track was eventually included in his 2021 album, 'The Kampala Boy', after nearly three years in the making.
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Flex, along with Navio, Fik Fameica, and Mozelo Kids, believed in celebrating Cheptegei's success while he was still in his prime.
“The song is a tribute to a living legend, Cheptegei,” reveals Flex D’Paper.
“I was inspired to make a song about him after seeing Uganda win a Gold medal in the athletes after a very long time.”
“Uganda hadn’t won Gold or silver [on track] since John Aki Bua who in 1986, was a recipient of the Silver Olympic Order.”
“So, he brought back that glory, a huge milestone for Uganda,” Flex further asserts.
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The song, produced by Mio Made and mixed and mastered by Samurae, offers a stirring homage to the world-renowned athlete.
The accompanying visuals, directed by Wax Mix, accentuate the lyrical tribute.
In the song, a recurring phrase “run your game like Cheptegei” encourages listeners to approach their work with confidence and a drive to win, much like Cheptegei.
The video features a celebratory atmosphere, paying homage not only to Cheptegei but to chess player Robert Katende and the entire Ugandan sports community.
This stirring tribute demonstrates the far-reaching influence of Cheptegei's success, showcasing how his achievements resonate beyond the athletics field, inspiring many Ugandan youths and the nation at large.
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