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.
Slam Pit
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Cuban Link]
"I'm hard to kill, for real, nigga guard your grill" --> Cuban Link
Finger on the trigger low, quick to lick a shot for that bigger pot of gold
Lock and load, my heavy metal rock and rolls
If you gotta go you gotta go, that's part of the show
My heart is cold like a Nautica nailin niggaz like carpenters
Stalkin the hardest squadrons, spark em from New York to Arkansas
Watchin the projects is how I got my logic
Economics is pickin pockets then we split the profit
The only shit I pop is what my glock spit
Watch for the cops since we spark the chocolate
Cause the blocks are hotter than the fuckin tropics
In topless bars, college girls with no bras
My whole squad got blow jobs smokin Godfather cigars
Live large like Scarface, parlayin to far place
No car chasin, she's watchin all the stars in space
Safe and sound in my playground with my tre pound
Got eighty rounds just in case clowns want to play around
I lay it down for them non-believers
Them non-achievin niggaz that want to be leaders but can never beat us
y'all better greet us if you ever see us (word up)
TS, Beatnuts, double up, but grab your motherfuckin heaters
Sample interlude
--Slammin MC's on cement--
--The beats, the nuts--
--Got you froze like gun point--
[JuJu]
--It's the hard-little pistol packin--
It's the control freak, leave you with a whole in your cheek
Worst attitude in rap, Ju stay in the streets
I gotta eat, the only thing I'm playin is keeps
Your beats cost a lotta money but they sound real cheap
You sound weak, anemic, like you get no sleep
Fuckin with me, you outta your mind? get outta your Jeep
Ya know I'm gonna beat you till the police come
And tell niggaz who the fuck I got that Roly from
[Psycho Les]
--Psycho Les--
Yeah, ugh, what...Jump out the Rover and let you know its over
And grab you with a crowbar and snap you in a coma
Drug you with my music son, you'll never sober
While your chicks on my --boing-- on a leather soafer
Chillin there, iced out billionaire
In war clothes blastin as I blast led through your Versace wardrobe
What! Motherfuckers
--Slammin MC's on cement--
Ugh
[Common]
--Common Sense, Common's tellin ya--
Picture a king, with heater, holy book, and big rings
Real nigga doin big things interpreting dreams
Off the Jim Bean, ain't shit sweet for sixteens
My gods got the block sewn to the inseam
I'm on the other side, trying to get green
So I fash and trash that ass at least a day
Warrin with self I battle, the Middle Eastern way
Bring heat like the months, that's east of May
Casket in the road and saw a new school that knows the old
This memory I hold the scroll, my flow is a Road...Less Traveled
You rock, but been through less gravel
My mystique suggest battle and what have you
Rip a nigga from New York to west coast, Chicago
Don't give a fuck where he from he'll get beat like a drum
Till this rap goes numb, seekin the hot Medusa from circulation
I strangle this string music, and suffocate a drum
Wanted to be a star till I seen I was the sun/son
got my weight up like Pun
Improvise to get ass, emphasize to get passed
Fuck a mic check, I bring my flow in cash
Talkin to fade
The lyrics to Common's song Slam Pit feature verses from Common, Cuban Link, JuJu, and Psycho Les. The song talks about the tough world of rap, where one needs to be hard to survive. The lyrics of Cuban Link reference the life of a criminal, being alert, and being ready to pull the trigger for the bigger pot of gold. He describes himself as cold-hearted and capable of nailing anyone like a carpenter. His logic revolves around economics, and he and his team split the profits of their criminal activity. The song has a sample interlude that includes sounds of MCs slamming on the cement, which adds to the grittiness of the lyrics.
JuJu enters with his verse, talking about his control freak and street attitude. He talks about the significant amount of money spent on the beats that sound cheap to him. He is not someone to be messed with and warns anyone who tries to mess with him. His attitude is ruthless, and he is always ready to beat the competition, emphasizing that he has to eat.
Psycho Les takes over the next verse and talks about his drug music, which can put others in a coma. He is a well-off individual who can easily afford luxurious items such as leather sofas. He is not someone to be messed with and would not hesitate to use a crowbar to snap someone into a coma. The lyrics of Psycho Les show that he is more concerned with luxury items and the status they bring him than the music itself.
Lastly, Common's verse focuses on himself as a king with a heater, holy book, and big rings. He talks about interpreting dreams and how he is trying to get green. He wants to war with self-battles like the Middle Eastern way and brings heat like the months that are east of May. He emphasizes that he is willing to rip anyone from New York to Chicago to the West Coast. To him, becoming a star was not important until he realized he was the sun/son, and he needed to get his weight up like Pun to make a statement.
Overall, Slam Pit lyrics by Common talk about the world of rap, which is tough and requires a lot of hard work, sacrifice, and extreme dedication. It is a world where if one is not careful, they might end up dead or serving a life sentence.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm hard to kill, for real, nigga guard your grill
Cuban Link is difficult to take down and warns others to be cautious and protect themselves
If you gotta go you gotta go, that's part of the show
Cuban Link is willing to take risks and accepts the possibility of getting hurt or dying in his line of work
My heart is cold like a Nautica nailin niggaz like carpenters
Cuban Link has a tough mentality and is able to target and take down his enemies like a skilled carpenter nails wood to create something sturdy
Stalkin the hardest squadrons, spark em from New York to Arkansas
Cuban Link is determined to target and defeat the most formidable opponents, anywhere from New York to other states
Economics is pickin pockets then we split the profit
Cuban Link engages in criminal activities, like thievery or robbery, with the purpose of getting richer while sharing the profits with his partners
The only shit I pop is what my glock spit
Cuban Link only shoots his gun at his enemies when necessary
Cause the blocks are hotter than the fuckin tropics
The environment surrounding Cuban Link is dangerous and more volatile than the hottest regions in the world
My whole squad got blow jobs smokin Godfather cigars
Cuban Link and his team are living the high life, indulging in expensive cigars and activities
I lay it down for them non-believers
Common is out to prove doubters wrong and show everyone that he has what it takes to be successful
My gods got the block sewn to the inseam
Common is affiliated with influential figures that have a stronghold on the block (the neighborhood) and can make things happen
Warrin with self I battle, the Middle Eastern way
Common struggles internally with himself, much like traditional Middle Eastern warfare tactics where the enemy is within oneself
Bring heat like the months, that's east of May
Common's approach to rap is fiery and intense, much like the summer months that come after May
Improvise to get ass, emphasize to get passed
Common uses his improvisational skills to get people onboard with his agenda, and showcases his strengths to rise above competition
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FELIX DELGATO, JERRY R TINEO, KEVIN HAROLD MC KENZIE, LESTER FERNANDEZ, PAUL MITCHELL, SHAWN MC KENZIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ghettoasfuckxp
Cubans verse : 00:24
Yo flipmode is how this nigga roll
Finger on the trigger low
Quick to lick a shot for that bigger pot of gold
Lock and load, my heavy metal rock and rolls
If you gotta go, you gotta go
That's part of the show
My heart is cold like Antarctica, nailin niggas like carpenters
Stalkin the hardest squadrons
Spark them from New York to Arkansas
Watchin the projects how I got my logic
Economics is pickin pockets then we split the profit
The only shit I pop is when my Glock spit
Watch for the cops since we spark the chocolate
Cuz the blocks are hotter than the fuckin tropics
In topless bars, college girls with no bras
My whole squad got blowjobs smokin Godfather cigars
Live large like Scarface
Parlay in a far place
No car chasin, she's watchin all the stars in space
Safe in sound in my playground with my trey-pound
Got eighty rounds just in case clowns wanna play around
I lay it down for them non-believers
Them non-achievein niggas that wanna be leaders but can never beat us
Ya'll better greet us if you ever see us
TS, Beatnuts, knuckle up but grab your mothafuckin heaters, word up
@JosefDaBoi187
Cuban Link is one of the greatest rappers to ever bless a microphone, super underrated lyricist.
@Stephen333
such an underrated album!! Up there with the best of the 90's
@Category305
Word is bond
@49erBen
💯👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼
@louisiix5266
Beatnuts need to produce an entire Cuban Link album
@forcedtohaveahandle
Too late now…
@Well_Its_Me
Way too late
@Jose-ze1sn
@@Well_Its_MeEntirely too late
@heidimuchka152
they all killed it......real hip hop
@wiz3jameswize32
Wellll ... no music is like this anymore and this is timeless. Mixed down and timed perfect. Real emceees can recognize the sound regardless the coast or time zone 💪🏼