1999 - Common, Sadat X

Yo, just relax, take it easy, slow down

I had this—I had this friend of mine

Who, just, you know, he was moving too fast, you know what I’m sayin'?

I told him to slow down, he said the sun don’t chill

I said, I said still, I said still, you gotta

Just appreciate life, sit back, don’t let it fly right past you

No matter what go on I’m still gettin' mine

No matter the year, no matter the place, no matter the time

Check it

It’s like I’m fighting for freedom, writing for freedom

These record company niggas I don’t like when I see 'em

My ancestors, when I’m writing I see 'em and talk with 'em

Hoping in the promise land I can walk with 'em

Shitted on so many rappers it’s like I’m in the stall with 'em

Molest concepts, stalk rhythms, paid dues, bought wisdom

As legends fall my godmother answer heaven’s call

Preachers' daughters get fucked in the reverand’s hall

MCs reckless eyeball, why y’all wanna go and do that?

Must’ve thought I was solo, the name just ain’t the U-Ac

No mo', still together

Like in the ghetto photo with one nigga in the chair

Holding liquor in despair, gang signs in the air

I shine in spaces where time is just a glare

Hold the mic like a memory

Niggas say I’m nice with metaphors but these are similes

Street ministry, my poetry’s a penitentiary, track is visitation

Sentences is life, I’m like chief up in this demonstration

Still…

You squirm with discomfort, wiggle and cough

Six days of madness and you might throw me off

On this great ball of stress that they call the earth

I’mma show y’all in rhyme just how much shit I been through

And all the places I went to, always played the low

It’s like a competition, this mission here I’m telling you

Slip up and rhyme-ass niggas here is felling you

Crash courses, slow down you can’t learn that quick

Cause I’m the dead eye, with the red eye, from Chi to L-I

I thought y’all knew, every year I grew, I’m still growing

And in a year or two I hope my girl’ll be showing

A male seed, praise God I name him Moses

I lead people I want him to, that’s why I chose this

Now is the glass half-full or half-empty

Common, why they tempt me

The king of the simply, bore in mic

I always stay on top cause I give niggas what they like

I know y’all hate that why I feel I owe y’all everyday

If y’all hear it a thousand times, it’s gon' be the same way

The 'Dat-Father, go farther, why bother

Now I’m a peaceful man, I don’t want no stress

You know I’m still…

Yo yo, some get Range Rovers, some religion change-over

Angel on my main shoulder telling me remain sober

Token nigga, game’s over ain’t no payola in freestyle

In battles, I’m warring like a G-Child

Searching for the child in me, this style in me

This release is like the piece that’s now in me

They tried to 'sassinate me god, like Martin on the balcony

Lyrically I put a hit on 'em, cause I’m the style «Nitti»

Catch a flick at the Liquid Kitty

Trying to get a chick to kick it with me till the tilt

Told her my chamber’s like Wilt

Built with her for a sec, let her know I had respect

Less than a hour she was giving me neck, yo I’m still getting mine