As well as music, Common has worked as an actor, on films such as 'Smokin' Aces' (as Sir Ivy) 'American Gangster' (as Turner Lucas), 'Wanted', and 'John Wick: Chapter 2'. He may also be seen in cameo roles in films such as 'Brown Sugar'.
His debut was the 1992 album Can I Borrow A Dollar, but he achieved little critical or commercial success until 1994's Resurrection, an instant classic. He produced several more albums, notably Like Water For Chocolate and the highly experimental Electric Circus, before releasing the Kanye West and J Dilla-produced Be in 2005, which was his first album to receive widespread mainstream appeal and radio playtime.
Common is considered a "cred" artist, which has lead him to collaborations with the likes of De La Soul, Jadakiss, T.I, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Kanye West, Lily Allen, Erykah Badu, and Fort Minor.
The 2007 album Finding Forever was produced mainly by long-time collaborator, Kanye West. Common released his eighth album Universal Mind Control in 2008, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album but lost to the Eminem album Relapse. He released his ninth album The Dreamer/The Believer in 2011. Nobody's Smiling, his tenth album, was released in 2014. The concept of the album was inspired by his troubled hometown of Chicago.
7 Deadly Sins
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is I needs what I see
Gluttony baby
Is us, aside to seat two
It’s knocking
Man, they gon, they gon, man they gon knock this one
Ride out to this
It sit deep in my chest, so let me express
Grew up on 868, oh y’all don’t need the address
It was ‘round CVS, we were so devious
The city never sleeps, it be needing some rest
The streets was a mess, and they still are
Feel our pain, the bigger picture, we was all framed
But the game is the game, so let it begin
In these streets, these are the seven deadly sins
Now the first is pride, though some call it vanity
A hustler’s insanity can break up the family
Pride can have a man stuck in his ways, not subject to change
Knowing that I’ll end up in a grave
It’s the arrogant they saying us Americans
Messes up marriages, many sins, pride is parenting
Like the second is something we all have
Or felt, then cane or khan, it’s called wrath
I seen a boss take it out on his staff
I seen a crip take it out on a blood, causing a bath
Never seen a man making money while he mad
So hustle plus wrath, y’all do the math
Now the third, you probably heard from MOB
They say use them rocks to make em envy
Envy, the cousin of jealousy, on the streets it’s a felony
When niggas fucking with you commit fidelity
They hate it, to see you celebrated
Counting my paper, nigga you could have made it
Let me stay with that part, takes us to the fourth
Where niggas is lazy, that’s what we call sloth
Want you to break em off, getting money it costs
For you to be a boss, ain’t no taking off
Now the myth about the fifth, it only happens when we eat
It’s gluttony, this is how it happens on the street
It’s a dude that’s getting paid in full, causing jewels
Always played his four, but the way this nigga move
He is never full and he gon want your food
Don’t overdo it, that’s an underrated rule
The sixth is a fix that’s in all of us
When I get drunk and want to bust, this is what we call lust
When the drawers go down, the guards go down
Cause a pussy is somebody getting robbed right now
Okay the seventh is a seed that many believe
Is the cause of em all, this is what we call greed
Knew some cousins that was hustling, one of em ended up busting the other
Greed is a mother, it’s greedy motherfuckers like Madoff
Cops getting paid off, greedy companies got my people getting laid off
Before I sign off, in the sins we living
The good thing is we can be forgiven
The seven deadly sins
Common's "7 Deadly Sins" is a searing reflection on the pitfalls of life on the streets. The lyrics of the song are a confessional of sorts, with the rapper reflecting on the sins he and those around him have committed in their pursuit of success. The chorus, "Gluttony baby, is I needs what I see / Gluttony baby, is us, aside to seat two," highlights the craving for success and material wealth that permeates the streets. This desire can be all-consuming and lead people to make bad decisions in the pursuit of their goals.
The verses of the song go through each of the seven deadly sins and explore how they manifest in the world of the streets. Pride, vanity, and arrogance can lead people to prioritize themselves over everything else. Wrath can cause people to lash out and hurt others in pursuit of their goals. Envy and jealousy can lead to feelings of bitterness and resentment towards those who have achieved more success. Sloth can cause people to give up and not put in the work necessary to achieve success. Gluttony can lead to people consuming more than they need, whether it be food, drugs, or material possessions. Finally, greed can cause people to do whatever it takes to get ahead, regardless of the consequences.
The song is a commentary on the harsh realities of life on the streets and how the pursuit of success can lead people down dangerous paths. It is a warning to those who might be tempted to follow in these footsteps and an appeal for forgiveness and redemption for those who have already fallen.
Line by Line Meaning
Gluttony baby
A craving to consume more than what is necessary
Is I needs what I see
The temptation to want everything one sees
Is us, aside to seat two
Sharing a seat for two, while ignoring others
It's knocking
An invitation to listen closely
Man, they gon, they gon, man they gon knock this one
A warning that what's coming is powerful
It sit deep in my chest, so let me express
The genuine feeling of growing up in a difficult place
Grew up on 868, oh y’all don’t need the address
The identification of a neighborhood known for its social and economic troubles
It was ‘round CVS, we were so devious
The confession of past mischievous behavior in a particular location
The city never sleeps, it be needing some rest
An observation of the constant activity of urban life
The streets was a mess, and they still are
Acknowledging the ongoing problems with urban poverty and violence
Feel our pain, the bigger picture, we was all framed
The perspective that systemic factors contribute to the struggles experienced by urban communities
But the game is the game, so let it begin
Accepting the reality of difficult circumstances
In these streets, these are the seven deadly sins
Recognizing the presence of sins in urban culture
Now the first is pride, though some call it vanity
Identifying excessive self-regard as a root sin
A hustler’s insanity can break up the family
Noting the negative effects of pride on relationships
Pride can have a man stuck in his ways, not subject to change
Explaining how excessive pride can prevent personal growth
Knowing that I’ll end up in a grave
Reflecting on the ultimate fate of all humans
It’s the arrogant they saying us Americans
A critique of American culture as often being characterized by pride
Messes up marriages, many sins, pride is parenting
Highlighting pride as a problem that can manifest in many areas of life
Like the second is something we all have
Acknowledging that all humans experience the sin of wrath at times
Or felt, then cane or khan, it’s called wrath
Referencing the physical punishment of cane or khan as examples of wrath
I seen a boss take it out on his staff
Observing the negative effects of wrath in the workplace
Never seen a man making money while he mad
Noting that anger often hinders success
So hustle plus wrath, y’all do the math
Advising against combining a desire for success with a tendency towards anger
Now the third, you probably heard from MOB
Referencing the concept of envy as prevalent in gang culture
They say use them rocks to make em envy
Suggesting that drug dealers intentionally stoke envy in order to bolster their business
Envy, the cousin of jealousy, on the streets it’s a felony
Describing envy as a similar sin to jealousy and a punishable offense on the streets
When niggas fucking with you commit fidelity
Noting that loyalty is often tested when others are envious of one's success
They hate it, to see you celebrated
Reflecting on how others' envy can lead to animosity
Counting my paper, nigga you could have made it
Conveying the idea that others' envy is often misplaced
Let me stay with that part, takes us to the fourth
Continuing the discussion of sin with the fourth deadly sin, sloth
Where niggas is lazy, that’s what we call sloth
Defining sloth as laziness
Want you to break em off, getting money it costs
Reminding listeners that success requires effort
For you to be a boss, ain’t no taking off
Asserting that becoming successful requires constant work
Now the myth about the fifth, it only happens when we eat
Challenging the idea that gluttony only exists in the act of eating
It’s gluttony, this is how it happens on the street
Explaining that gluttony can take many forms in urban life
It’s a dude that’s getting paid in full, causing jewels
Describing how obsession with material wealth can lead to gluttonous behavior
Always played his four, but the way this nigga move
Referencing gambling while describing a particularly gluttonous individual
He is never full and he gon want your food
Highlighting how some people's gluttony extends beyond material possessions
Don’t overdo it, that’s an underrated rule
Advising against excessive consumption
The sixth is a fix that’s in all of us
Acknowledging lust as a sin that all humans experience
When I get drunk and want to bust, this is what we call lust
Describing how alcohol can contribute to feelings of lust
When the drawers go down, the guards go down
Emphasizing how lust can affect people's judgment
Cause a pussy is somebody getting robbed right now
Jokingly suggesting that lust can lead people to make unwise decisions
Okay the seventh is a seed that many believe
Introducing the final deadly sin, greed
Is the cause of em all, this is what we call greed
Naming greed as the root of all sins
Knew some cousins that was hustling, one of em ended up busting the other
Offering an anecdote that highlights how greed can ruin even close relationships
Greed is a mother, it’s greedy motherfuckers like Madoff
Referencing Bernie Madoff as an example of how greed can harm large numbers of people
Cops getting paid off, greedy companies got my people getting laid off
Describing how greed can affect entire communities
Before I sign off, in the sins we living
Preparing to end the discussion of sins
The good thing is we can be forgiven
Noting that despite committing sins, people can seek forgiveness
The seven deadly sins
Summing up the entire discussion
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Adrian Younge, Ernest Dion Wilson, Lonnie Rashid Lynn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind