The Bizness
Common Lyrics

Yeah, yeah, you know the business
You're already familiar with the way we operate

Common Sense, Soul with the De La
Common Sense and De La Soul are collaborating on this song

Forget all them playas
Don't pay attention to other artists trying to imitate us

We the rhyme-sayers, huh
We are the skilled lyricists

And that's the business, hah
That's how we do things

Gon' do it like this
We're going to perform in this manner

Gettin' it hot like the Chicago streets
We're bringing the energy and excitement of the Chicago streets

I speak divine of God theories, no need to be high
I discuss profound ideas about God without the need for intoxication

Always exhale the facts 'cause I don't inhale lie
I always speak the truth because I refuse to believe falsehoods

Play the greater man's game, to bounce off my losses
I participate in challenging endeavors to learn from my failures

So I can earn the acres (uh), the houses (yeah), the horses (huh)
I strive to attain wealth and success in the form of land, property, and luxury

Of course it's much greater than your Benz or your Lex
These material possessions are insignificant compared to what I aim to achieve

The engine to my comprehension is just too complex
My understanding of the world is intricate and profound

Much too complex, effects be live like Das
My abilities and impact are dynamic and remarkable, like Das EFX

Making moves down South to avoid the chaos
I am taking actions in the southern regions to escape disorder or turmoil

And never, flaunt the coin 'cause dime-getters be gazin'
I don't show off my wealth because people who are only interested in money might become envious

They call me Luther Van, they say my style is so amazin' (ha)
They compare me to Luther Vandross and acknowledge the excellence of my style

I'm fazin' those who're supposed to have the last laughter
I am surprising and impressing those who were expecting to ridicule me

'Cause even when I'm gone I'm reappearin' in the after
Even after my physical presence is gone, my influence and legacy will persist

I have to, send respects to real money makers
I acknowledge and pay tribute to individuals who genuinely accumulate wealth

Do not connect us with those champagne sippin' money fakers
Don't associate us with people who pretend to be wealthy by merely indulging in luxury

Taste the quarter pound with spice from Chi-town
Experience the flavor and essence of Chicago through our music

Now what that prove? You're so full you can't even move (yeah, yeah)
What does that demonstrate? You're excessively indulgent and immobile

'Cause I'm the D-to-the-O, the-V-to-the-E (uh)
I am De La Soul, the versatile and skilled artist

And can't another brother cook these delicacies
No one else can create these flavorful and captivating creations

Well I'm the P-L-U, the G-to-the-One
I am Common Sense, the great one

Walk around the planet earth, making money having fun (uh)
I travel across the world, enjoying life while earning a living

And I'm the C-to-the-O, double-M-O-N
I am Common, the talented artist

I sit and think with a drink about how I'm gonna win
I contemplate and strategize on how to achieve success

Do you want to be a emcee? Or do you want to serve
Are you aspiring to be a skilled rapper, or do you prefer a submissive role?

Do you want to be dope? Or do you want to deal it
Do you want to be exceptional and respected, or do you want to distribute drugs?

Fabricated acrylic, I feel it, I'm the style molester
I detect and expose fake personas, I disrupt conventional styles

I do a show, get extra P's like the Large Professor
When I perform, I receive additional payment, just like the respected Large Professor

In fact I get more hoes than Tessa, peep game like a referee
In reality, I attract more women than Tessa, my observation skills are sharp like a referee

In soul control of my destiny
I have complete authority over my own fate

In the best of three out of five
I excel in competitions, winning the majority of matches

Whip anybody ass at NBA Live, rappers
I defeat any rapper in the video game NBA Live

Take a dive like Greg Lougainis with his-
They willingly subject themselves to defeat, similar to Greg Louganis' diving techniques

Rather be in Bebe's alley than at the click with gators
I prefer being in a relaxed and comfortable environment rather than with pretentious individuals

Not a hater of the players, I'm more like a coach or an owner
I don't resent successful individuals; instead, I see myself as a mentor or leader

I Used To Love H.E.R. but now I bone her
I used to have a deep affection for hip-hop, but now I exploit it for personal gain

At one point in rhyme I thought I lost my erection
There was a moment in my career where I doubted my creativity and potency

But then I got it back with the Resurrection, blessings
However, I regained my artistic power with the release of the album 'Resurrection,' and I am grateful for it

Upon rhymes old man who called him traitor (huh)
Some people criticized an experienced artist for supposedly betraying his past style

Big Com Stradamus, niggas' styles I predict
I, Common, have the foresight to anticipate and predict other rappers' styles

I'm the most from the coast of the East then flee
I come from the eastern coast and then leave

Droppin more knowledge than liter on the New York pave'
I'm sharing more wisdom and intelligence than a spilled container of liquid on New York streets

It's me, Wonder Why, in the place to be
I, Wonder Why, am present and ready for action

Certified, as superior emcee (ha)
I am officially recognized as an exceptional rapper

While others explore to make it hardcore
While some artists try to create intense and aggressive music

I make it hard for wack MC's to even step inside the door
I create a challenging environment where untalented rappers cannot compete

'Cause these kids is rhymey sometimey
These young rappers are inconsistent and unreliable in their rhyme abilities

And when we get to racing on the mic
When we engage in a rap competition

They line up to see the lyrical killing with stained egos on the ceiling
People eagerly gather to witness the destruction of their inflated egos through powerful lyricism

My rhymes escalates like black death rates
My verses intensify and spread like the historical impact of the Black Death

Over music plates being played as the rule
These rhymes are delivered over musical compositions that set the standard

Kids thinking stepping to the Soul, you're labeled fools
Those who attempt to compete with De La Soul are immediately recognized as foolish

Who claims to drop jewels but for now you do the catching
Those who boast about sharing valuable knowledge are ironically the ones who need to learn

I don't worry on what crew you run or what section of Earth
I don't concern myself with which group or geographic location you belong to

You reside, you're not even a man
You lack the qualities and maturity of an adult male

So I don't deem it mandatory taking your pride
I don't find it necessary to confront or challenge your ego

But I will 'cause my man said Soul for the life
However, I will take action because my friend advised me to represent De La Soul passionately

You cried, 'Keepin' it real', yet you should try keepin' it right
You claim to prioritize authenticity, but you should focus on doing the right thing instead

That's understanding microphone mathematics (yeah)
That's comprehending the intricacies of performing on a microphone

Which leaves the currency in temporary world status
This knowledge renders money as a temporarily significant aspect in the world

And when one shows he posed threat to this one
When someone demonstrates a threat towards another person's position or influence

This one will make that one into none
The threatened individual will diminish the other person's significance or relevance

Simple equation, zero, you shouldn't play hero
It's a straightforward calculation, resulting in nothingness, so you shouldn't attempt to be a hero

If you can't stand strong like the island I'm from
If you can't display resilience like the island I come from, you won't be successful

Now, I'm the P-L-U, the G-to-the-One
Now, I am Common, the great one

Walk around the planet earth, making money having fun
I travel the world, enjoying life and making money

Yeah, I'm the C-to-the-O, double-M-O-N
Yes, I am Common, the talented artist

I sit and think with a drink about how I'm gonna win
I sit and contemplate my strategies for achieving success

And I'm the D-to-the-O, the-V-to-the-E
And I am De La Soul, the versatile and skilled artist

And can't another brother cook these delicacies
No one else can create these flavorful and captivating creations

See can't another brother cook these delicacies
Realize that nobody else possesses the ability to create these exceptional works

See can't another brother cook these delicacies
Understand that nobody else can produce these exquisite pieces of art

Ah, that's how, that's how I'm supposed to do my thing, huh?
Ah, that's exactly how I should carry out my actions, right?

Like triple it, alright
Step it up and multiply the effort by three, okay

That's how we do it all the way from Strong Island to Chicago
That's our approach, spanning from Strong Island (Long Island) to Chicago

The type of freestyler flow
We possess a type of improvisational flow

Yeah, it's fluent
Yes, it's smooth and effortless

Ain't even a flow no more, ha
It's not just a regular flow, it's something beyond that