The Neighborhood
Common Lyrics

Thousand lives ago
In the past, before all of our experiences and lessons accumulated

We were young and we didn't know
We were ignorant of the lessons life had to offer

We were trading our crowns for our souls
We were making decisions that would later sacrifice our well-being for something temporary

Made the sacrifice
We made those unfavorable decisions knowingly

Headed back to the light
We are learning from our mistakes and trying to rectify past errors

But be careful don't drown in the gold
We must be wary of superficial distractions that may hinder us from reaching our desired destination

I know it glows but it's cold
The things we desire may look appealing, however, if we're not careful they can lead us in the wrong direction

I'm from the other side of town
I am from a different area, with different struggles and lifestyles

Out of bounds
My experiences are not easily relatable to others

To anybody who don't live around
People who are not from my area may not be able to understand where I'm coming from

I never learned to share or how to care
Growing up, I never received the proper emotional nurturing to develop a sense of compassion and empathy for others

I never had no teachings about being fair
My upbringing did not prioritize justice and fairness

Have you ever heard of Black Stone around Black Stones?
Do you know about the organization known as Black Stone?

And Four C H'd, Vice Lords, Stony Island on Aces
These are all street organizations that exist in the area

The concrete matrix, street organizations
The concrete matrix refers to the physical environment of the neighborhoods, and street organizations are groups of people who work together for the betterment of their community, oftentimes for power and control

They gave violations, hood public relations
These groups use violence as a means of maintaining their image and upholding their reputation

It was the basics to get big faces
Being part of these organizations was a means of gaining respect and attention

Stay away from cases, bad broads, good graces
This line can be interpreted in two ways. The first is that one should avoid getting in trouble with the law and avoid relationships with women who may be trouble. On the other hand, it could mean that one should stay away from women who could be seen as just trying to benefit from relationships with powerful men

The hustles was the taste makers and trend setters
The individuals who made money through these organizations were often seen as the ones who set the tone for the area

They the ones that fed us hopin' that the feds don't get us
These people were the ones who provided for the community, but were doing it under the radar, knowing that the government may see them as a threat

The era of Reagan, the terror of Bush
This line references two US presidents who had an impact on the urban community in different ways

Crack babies, momma's a push, we were the products of Bush
This refers to the crack epidemic of the '80s and '90s, which disproportionately affected Black mothers and children, many of whom were born addicted to drugs

I'm wishin' for a Samurai Suzuki and a little Gucci
This line represents the desire for a more luxurious lifestyle, with the Samurai Suzuki referencing a type of motorcycle and Gucci referencing the high-end fashion brand

A bad ho to BBB do me, you heard of flukey?
Flukey Stokes was a notorious drug lord in Chicago, and BBB refers to a popular nightclub of the time. The line represents the desire for wealth, fun, and a life of excess

Stokes it was folks and coke and dope
This line refers back to Flukey Stokes and the products he sold

Fiends choked off of smoke, herringbones and rope
These are two types of chains that were popular during the time

Rare jewels of a generation
These individuals were seen as valuable, if not invaluable, members of their community

Diamonds, blind enough so real shit we facin'
Although these individuals were seen as rare gems in their community, they are still struggling with real-life issues

Forties wasted on seats, Dion makin' the beats
This line references Dion Wilson, or No I.D., a well-known producer from Chicago. The individuals are drinking 40 oz bottles of malt liquor while listening to his beats

When they air it out on at the parties we escapin' the heat
When they (the police) come looking for us, we run away from them, often to house parties or other get-togethers

I could break it down like whatever you need
I can explain the specifics of what I've experienced in this area if necessary

He squinted his face and rolled the weed
This line refers to rolling a marijuana joint or blunt, which is a common activity in urban communities

You know they don't see sometimes
People outside of our community may not be able to fully understand our experiences

That in the neighborhood
In our community

It's the exact same thing
There's a pattern of repetition in our experience

It's the same thing over and over again
Our community continues to face the same struggles and challenges

Have you ever heard of no limit, three hundred, six hundred?
These are all areas or neighborhoods within Chicago

Folly boy, O block, east side
These are more neighborhoods within Chicago

Where it ain't no conversation they just let them heats ride
Shootings and violence are common and often overlooked by law enforcement

Can't nobody stop the violence, why my city keep lyin'?
Despite the widespread violence, local officials often downplay the severity of the issue

Niggas throw up peace signs but everybody keep dying
People may act peaceful, but the reality is that violence is still rampant in the community

Used to post up on that strip, I look like a street sign
The individual used to stand in a specific area so much that he became a familiar sight

I've been out there three days and I got shot at three times
Despite only being in a dangerous area for a short amount of time, the individual was still targeted by violence

Felt like every bullet hit me when they flew out each nine
The individual was greatly affected by the violence and trauma they experienced

I be happy when I wake up and I have a free mind
The individual finds joy and relief in waking up without having to worry about violence

I know haters wanna clap me up, watch the morgue grab me up
The individual is aware that they may become a target of violence at any moment

But they can catch me later, I been cool, chasin' paper
The individual is focusing on making money and success, despite the constant threat of violence

Where I come from ain't no hope if you was claimin' that was major
There is no real future or hope for success if one is heavily involved in street life

Small crib, big fam, mom was workin', granny raised us
The individual grew up in a household that was crowded and lacking resources

No food in the refrigerator, I was bangin', pullin' capers, that's real shit
The individual was forced to resort to criminal activities due to circumstances outside of their control

Same niggas from day one boy, yeah I'm still with
The individual still has close relationships with the people they grew up with

Better watch out for that jump shot cause they will hit
People in the area are skilled at basketball and may be a danger on the court

Hungry take your shorty lunchbox, and won't feel shit
People may do whatever it takes to get what they want, even if it means taking from others

I came from a place where it's basic but you won't make it
Success is not easily found in this area

Feds buildin' cases, judges who racist and full of hatred I mean
The government and justice system are working against the community, often with discriminatory or unjust motives

You ain't never seen the shit that I seen
The individual has experienced more trauma and violence than many people can imagine

Coming inbound
This line begins a traffic report for the city

Forty six minutes from 3:55
This is the estimated time for a traffic delay

Jim Bryant's twenty eight out, thirty two in
I'm not sure what this is referencing, but it may refer to a specific location in the city

Lake Shore Drive's heavy south
Lake Shore Drive is experiencing heavy traffic going south

North Avenue to Chicago, jammed north through Grant Park
This is a description of the traffic in a specific area of the city

Tri State heavy south coast to the Bensenville Bridge and
The Tri State highway has heavy traffic going south towards the Bensenville Bridge

St. Charles to the Stevenson Ramp
This is another description of the traffic in a specific area

Get traffic and weather together on the 8's
This line is a promotional offer for a radio station's traffic and weather reports

Every ten minutes on News Radio, 780 and 105.9 FM
This line promotes where to access the mentioned radio station's reports