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.
The People feat. Dwele
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is street ra-dio, for unsung heroes
Riding in the regal, trying to stay legal
My daughter found Nemo, I found the new primo
Ye' you know how we do, we do it for the people
And the struggles of the brothas and the folks
Scuffle for notes, the rougher I wrote, times was harder
Went from rocky starter to a voice of a martyr
Why white folks focus on dogs and yoga
While people on the low end trying to ball and get over
Lyrics are like liquor for the fallen soldiers
From the bounce to the ounce, it's all our culture
Everyday we hustlin', trying get them custom rims
Law we ain't trusting them, thick broads we lust in them
Sick and tired of punching it, I look on the bus at them
When I see them struggling, I think how I'm touching them
The People
The days, have come
Now we, are one
Just take, your time
And then, you'll find
This is street ra-dio, for unsung heroes
Riding in the regal, trying to stay legal
My daughter found Nemo, I found the new primo
Ye' you know how we do, we do it for the people
The people said that I was sharp on TV
At the Grammy's, though they tried to India.Arie me
Got back stage, and I bumped into Stevie
He said no matter what, the people gon' see me
Can't leave rap alone the streets need me
Hunger in they eyes, is what seems to feed me
Inside peace mixed with beast seem to breed me
Nobody believe, until I believe me
Now I'm on the rise doing business with my guys
Visions realize, music affected lives
A gift from the skies, to be recognized
I'm keeping my eyes on the people, that's the prize
The days, have come
Now we, are one
Just take, your time
And then, you'll find
This is street ra-dio, for unsung heroes
Riding in the regal, trying to stay legal
My daughter found Nemo, I found the new primo
Ye' you know how we do, we do it for the people
From Englewood to a single hood in Botswana
I see the I in We, my nigga, yours is my drama
Standing in front of the judge with no honor
My raps ignite the people like Obama
The karma of the streets is needs and takes
Sometimes we find peace in beats and breaks
Put the bang in the back so the seats can shake
Rebel Cadillac music for the people's sake
The People
The days, have come
Now we, are one
Just take, your time
And then, you'll find
The song "The People" by Common, featuring Dwele, is a tribute to the marginalized people in society. The song addresses issues such as struggle, poverty, injustice, and the importance of unity. The opening lines set the tone for the song, as Common introduces it as "street radio for unsung heroes." Throughout the song, he talks about his own experiences, including riding in his Regal car and his daughter's joy in finding Nemo, while also acknowledging the struggles of others.
The song also touches on the idea that while some people focus on frivolous things like dogs and yoga, others are just trying to survive and thrive. Common's lyrics are like "liquor for the fallen soldiers" and offer a sense of hope and strength to those who are struggling. The song culminates in a call for unity and the idea that we are all one people, and that by recognizing and supporting one another, we can achieve great things.
Overall, "The People" is a powerful and uplifting song that speaks to the struggles and triumphs of everyday people. It encourages listeners to stay true to their values, to fight for justice and equality, and to support one another in times of need.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, this is for the people
This song is dedicated to the struggles and experiences of ordinary people.
This is street radio for unsung hero
This is a song for those who are not recognized for their contributions to society.
Ridin' in the Regal, tryin' to stay legal
Trying to make ends meet while staying within the boundaries of the law.
My daughter found Nemo, I found the new primo
My daughter discovered a new movie, while I discovered a new musical style to inspire me.
Yeah, you know how we do, we do it for the people
We create art that is inspired by and dedicated to the people.
And the struggle of the brothas and the folks
The struggles and difficulties faced by African American and other marginalized communities.
With lovers under dope, experiments to discover hopes
Folks who experiment with drugs in order to find hope and escape from their struggles.
Scuffle for notes, the rougher I wrote, times was harder
Struggling to make ends meet, writing about my struggles, and reflecting on how difficult things used to be.
Went from rock star to the voice of a martyr
I went from being a successful musician to being a voice for those who struggle.
Why white folk focus on dogs and yoga
Why do white people care more about their pets and wellness practices than they do about the struggles of marginalized communities?
While people on the low end try to ball and get over
While people who are struggling financially are trying to find a way to survive or get ahead.
Lyrics are like liquor for the fallen soldiers
My music and lyrics serve as a comfort and source of strength for those who have faced hardship and struggle.
From the bounce to the ounce, it's all our culture
Everything that we create and experience - from music to drugs - is a part of our culture.
Everyday, we hustlin', tryna get them custom rims
Everyday, we are working hard to try and get the things that we want and dream of, like custom wheels for our car.
Law, we ain't trustin' them, thick broads, we lust in 'em
We don't trust the law because it doesn't always work in our favor, and we are attracted to women with curvy bodies.
Sick and tired of bunchin' it, I look on the bus at 'em
I'm frustrated by the struggles that we face and I feel empathy for those who are struggling even more than I am.
When I see them struggling, I think how I'm touchin' em
I feel a sense of responsibility to help and inspire others through my music and art.
The people said that I was sharp on TV
People have recognized and appreciated my talent and skill when they have seen me on television.
At the Grammy?s though, they tried to India.Arie me
At a big award show like the Grammys, they tried to silence or deny me recognition for my talents, as they did to India.Arie, another African American artist.
Got back stage and I bumped into Stevie
I met Stevie Wonder (a prominent African American musician) backstage and he gave me words of inspiration.
He said, "No matter what, the people gon' see me"
Stevie reassured me that my talent and dedication to the people will be recognized even if not by all.
Can't leave rap alone, the streets need me
I feel a deep responsibility to my community and my art to continue creating and making music to address the struggles and experiences of ordinary people.
Hunger in they eyes is what seem to feed me
The passion and drive of those who are hungry for change and a better life fuel my own creativity and dedication to creating music that addresses their struggles.
Inside, peace mixed with beast seem to breed me
I have both a sense of inner peace and anger that I channel into my music and use it as a means to express myself and my experiences.
Nobody believe until I believe me
Nobody believed in me until I fully believed in my own talent and creativity, and used it as a means to advocate for my community.
Now I'm on the rise, doin' business with my guys
Now that I have had some success, I am able to work with other talented individuals like myself to create even more art and music.
Visions realize, music affected lives
My music helps to inspire and uplift people, and I'm grateful to see people's lives impacted in a positive way through my art.
A gift from the skies, to be recognize
Being able to create music and impact people's lives is a true gift, and I am grateful to be recognized for this talent.
I'm keeping my eyes on the people, that's the prize
My focus is always on addressing the needs and struggles of my community, and using my art as a means to empower and inspire them.
From Englewood to a single hood in Botswana
My music and art speaks to and uplifts people from all backgrounds and communities, from the South Side of Chicago to far off places.
I see the I in We, my nigga, yours is my drama
I see myself in others, and understand that their struggles are my own struggles, and that we are all in this together.
Standin' in front of the judge with no honor
Feeling like we aren't being heard or respected by those in positions of power, like judges or the law.
My raps ignite the people like Obama
My music and lyrics empower and inspire people in the same way that Barack Obama did during his presidency.
The karma of the streets is needs and takes
The struggles and hardships faced in the streets are a direct result of need and desire.
Sometimes, we find peace in beats and breaks
At times, music provides an escape and a sense of peace from the struggles and hardships of life.
Put the bang in the back so the seats can shake
Creating music that has a strong beat and rhythm that people can dance to and enjoy.
Rebel Cadillac music for the people sake, the people
Making music that challenges the norm and empowers people, done entirely for the sake of and in dedication to ordinary people.
Good days have come
Things are looking up and getting better.
(It's about the people)
Everything I do and every song I create is dedicated to the experiences and struggles of ordinary people.
Now we are one
We are all in this together and need to work together to overcome our struggles.
Just take your time
Take things slow and steady to achieve your goals and make a positive impact on your community.
And then you'll find
If you are patient and dedicated, you will ultimately see the positive impact your efforts can create.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Gil Heron, Kanye West, Lonnie Lynn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lalo GTX
I start my mornings with this song. It just gives me that positive feeling/vibe.
CALL it what U want
True
Barbosa Dunkin
Factz...this and Respiration from the Black Star album. You just gotta love Conscious Chicago. A precious time in hip hop
Damian Tomlinson
True i listen to this before I go to work
jordan king
This has always been one of my favorite songs, but I just listened to a song called βwe almost lost Detroitβ by Gil Scott heron and realized that the beat for this song has a lot of samples from that song, you should check it out
Iβm Just Saying
Not a bad way to start the day.
Paul Ewing
"Nobody believed till I believed me" -- so inspiring and true
Chet Simpson
Amen!!
Avram Mischoff
Common is the most underrated hip hop artist living.
Maria Woodall
Yeah he is.