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.
Stolen Moments Pt. I
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down da-down-da-down-down-down, what(x3)
Down-da-down, check it, check it
There was a Hardy boy mystery I was tryin to solve
Can't understand who the fuck was involved
Back from a show I had came, hopped off the plane
In my mind home was pictured and rest was the frame
Go buy them gas and food was less than a cabby
As we approach my tilt, paranoia in my bones had built
By the lock on the door, a hole was drilled
I opened it to the kitchen floor my heart nailed
In my shit, somebody had broke in like a mitt
My mind started swingin and who I thought the glove fit
As usual, niggaz is suspects
Who did I tell I was going out of town
Not too many people, I guess the word got around
The people upstairs should have been disturbed by the sound
Must have came during the day when at work, they was found
At the mount I stand folded than tie
Askin who done it
Fuck Hitchcock, I got the fifth cocked
About to go wild hunted
Whoever did it had the nerve to chill and get blunted
And left a roach in the ash tray, I had cleaned out the last day
Before I left, this thief decided to play chef
With the beef in the fridge to cook chicken breast
I'm kickin what shit was left all around the house
Thinkin whoever came in on me is out
chorus
It's a frantic situation
It's a frantic situation, yes it is
(What can I do?)
It's a frantic situation
It's a frantic situation, hear me now
(What can I do?)
It's a frantic situation
It's a frantic situation, yes it is
(What can I do?)
It's a frantic situation
It's a frantic situation, hear me y'all
(What can I do?)
In Common's song Stolen Moments Pt. 1, he describes a situation where he comes home after a show and realizes somebody broke into his house. His paranoia increases as he tries to figure out who is involved and what the motive could be. He feels violated and angry as he searches through his home and tries to piece together the events leading up to the break-in. The lyrics convey his frustration and fear, as well as his determination to find out who did it.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the desperate nature of the situation, as Common repeats "It's a frantic situation" several times. This repetition serves to highlight the urgency of the situation and the emotional toll it takes on the artist. In addition, the use of repetition in the verses, such as with the phrase "who did it" and the repeated use of the word "frantic," adds to the intensity of the song.
Overall, the lyrics in Stolen Moments Pt. 1 paint a vivid picture of a moment of crisis for Common. The emotions he experiences are raw and heartfelt, and the listener can easily empathize with his plight.
Line by Line Meaning
Down da-down-da-down-down-down, what(x3)
Common is starting the song with a catchy beat and asking the listeners to pay attention.
Down-da-down, check it, check it
He emphasizes the beat and asks the audience to listen carefully.
There was a Hardy boy mystery I was tryin to solve
He compares the situation he is in to trying to solve a mystery like the Hardy boys.
Can't understand who the fuck was involved
He is confused about who is responsible for the break-in.
Back from a show I had came, hopped off the plane
Common is explaining that he just came back from a show and got off the plane.
In my mind home was pictured and rest was the frame
He was looking forward to getting home after a long trip and resting.
My God came and grabbed in something less than a Caddy
Someone picked him up in a cheap car.
Go buy them gas and food was less than a cabby
Common is saying that the person who picked him up was just like a taxi driver.
As we approach my tilt, paranoia in my bones had built
He was feeling paranoid as he approached his house.
By the lock on the door, a hole was drilled
He noticed that someone had drilled a hole near the lock on his door.
I opened it to the kitchen floor my heart nailed
He was scared and his heart was beating fast as he entered the house.
In my shit, somebody had broke in like a mitt
Someone had broken into his house and messed up his things like a baseball glove.
My mind started swingin and who I thought the glove fit
He started to suspect who might have done it.
As usual, niggaz is suspects
He is referring to how black people are often seen as suspects in crime.
Who did I tell I was going out of town
He is trying to remember who he might have told about his trip.
Not too many people, I guess the word got around
He is guessing that someone spread the word about his trip.
The people upstairs should have been disturbed by the sound
He is saying that his neighbors should have heard the break-in.
Must have came during the day when at work, they was found
The break-in must have happened when his neighbors were at work.
At the mount I stand folded than tie
He is saying that he is standing there tense and ready to act.
Askin who done it
He is asking who broke into his house.
Fuck Hitchcock, I got the fifth cocked
He is saying that he doesn't need a detective like Hitchcock, he has his gun ready.
About to go wild hunted
He is ready to take action and hunt down the person who broke into his house.
Whoever did it had the nerve to chill and get blunted
The person who broke into his house had the audacity to hang out and smoke weed.
And left a roach in the ash tray, I had cleaned out the last day
The person left a marijuana joint in his ashtray, which he had just cleaned the day before.
Before I left, this thief decided to play chef
The person who broke into his house decided to cook some of his food before leaving.
With the beef in the fridge to cook chicken breast
They used his beef to cook chicken breast.
I'm kickin what shit was left all around the house
Common is frustrated and throwing around the things left behind by the thief.
Thinkin whoever came in on me is out
He is thinking that whoever broke into his house is in trouble.
It's a frantic situation
The situation he is in is causing him anxiety.
It's a frantic situation, yes it is
He is emphasizing how stressful this situation is.
(What can I do?)
He is questioning what he can do to resolve this situation.
It's a frantic situation
Common is still feeling stressed about what happened.
It's a frantic situation, hear me now
He is asking the audience to listen to what he is saying and understand the gravity of the situation.
(What can I do?)
He is still asking what he can do to resolve the situation.
It's a frantic situation
He is repeating that he is feeling anxious and frantic.
It's a frantic situation, yes it is
He is emphasizing again how stressed he is about what happened.
(What can I do?)
He still does not know how to resolve the situation and is asking for help.
It's a frantic situation
He is still feeling stressed about the break-in.
It's a frantic situation, hear me y'all
He is once again asking the audience to listen and understand the gravity of the situation.
(What can I do?)
He is still seeking advice and solutions to resolve the situation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind