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 Questions
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the questions (what) it's the questions come on
The questions (what) it's the questions boy
It's the questions (hah) it's the questions yeah
Talking bout the questions, it's the questions y'all
It's the questions (what) it's the questions, dig it
The questions (why) it's the questions boy
It's the questions (huh) that's what it's all about
Yo, yo
What is an emcee if the wall ain't got no back
(I don't know, yo, he must be kinda wack)
What is paper to a nigga if the nigga don't stack
(Yo, why the hell you asking me that)
Why do these girls, look so good in the summer
(I don't know, I'm just saying this shit)
If you got ta-dat-ta-dat-tap for your lady would you wanna
(Hmmm, yeah, right)
Cause you answer the phone peace do that mean that you not a freak
(Hell no! That's right)
Cause you recognize me, yo, I got to speak
(Why can't you speak What you big a star now)
Why you got-ta, act like, nigga, all the time
(Even on Sunday's you should)
Is a nigga yo' complexion, is it all in your mind
(It's all your mind)
What's it called y'all
It's the questions (what) it's the questions boy
It's the questions (what) it's the questions, yeah!
The questions (uh) it's the questions y'all
It's the questions (What) it's the questions come on
The questions, it's the questions boy
It's the questions (ah, uh ah) it's the questions, yeah
The questions (yes) it's the questions boy
It's the questions, that's what it's all about
Yo, if I'm a intellectual, I can't be sexual
(I don't know, you wanna be sexual)
If I want to, does that mean I lack respect for you
(I don't know you tell me)
You see a grown man, why fuck that young girl, are you lusting
(I might look twenty but I'm 15, slow down girl)
If you got paper like that, then why you still hustling
(Why you still hustling come on!)
Now you know yo' stomach too big, to be wearing a shirt like that
(Look at your stomach, it's sloppy)
So why, you want, to go and do that
Why ya why ya why ya why ya why ya wanna why ya wanna
Why ya wanna go and do that love huh
Yo why your girl gigiddy when my name come up
How come the industry build careers that don't last
(Uh-huh, that's right, ask him)
How come niggas don't know but they front and don't ask
Man I don't know, I don't know
It's the questions (what) it's the questions girl
It's the questions (what) it's the questions come on
The questions (what) it's the questions Com
It's the questions it's the questions yeah
Yo we talking bout the questions, it's the questions girl
It's the questions (the who, the where, the when, the why)
It's the questions, come on!
The questions, the questions y'all (yo we shoutin' it out)
It's the questions, that's what it's all about
Yo, why they say never say never, when they know that ain't right
(What)
Cause to never say never you done said never twice
(They scrubs, that's why yeah that's twice)
Why do I need I.D. to get I.D.
(I don't know, beats me beats me)
If I had I.D. I wouldn't need I.D.
(That's right, that's true)
Why do these fine ghetto women got so much ass
(Why'd you talking about our ass though come on now)
Why did Dr. J shave his beard and mustache
(Like this, and like this)
How you got high expectations but got no patience
(Come on, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know)
How come this joint named The Questions is so John Blazin'
(Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh) Man I don't know, I don't know
It's the questions (what) it's the questions boy
It's the questions, it's just my questions black
Some questions, it's the questions y'all
It's the questions (what) it's the questions, yo
Talking bout the questions, it's the questions girl
It's the questions (what) it's the questions, come on
The questions (which) and we're shoutin' it out
It's the questions (huh) that's what it's all about, yo
The song "The Questions" by Common is a reflection on life's mysteries and the questions that it poses. It begins with a repetition of the refrain "It's the questions" and builds from there. The questions posed in the lyrics examine various topics such as love, sex, respect, and power dynamics. Common asks why men pursue young girls when they are grown, why women with big stomachs wear tight clothing, and why people need I.D. to get I.D. To Common, the song is all about reflection and introspection, and the possible answers to the questions posed.
The song's hook "It's the questions" is a statement that encourages listeners to take a deep dive into themselves to discover the answers that they seek. Common's tone is contemplative throughout the song, as though he is searching for answers himself. The song isn't an attack on anyone; it acknowledges the fact that there are issues that each one of us needs to address. Instead of pointing fingers, the song encourages people to ask themselves the difficult questions and challenges them to find the answers.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the questions (what) it's the questions boy
The song is about questioning things and getting answers.
What is an emcee if the wall ain't got no back
What is the point of being a rapper if you don't have support from your community?
What is paper to a nigga if the nigga don't stack
What good is money if you don't save it for the future?
Why do these girls, look so good in the summer
Why do women change their appearance in the summer?
If you got ta-dat-ta-dat-tap for your lady would you wanna
If you had to dance to please your partner, would you be willing to do it?
Cause you answer the phone peace do that mean that you not a freak
Does being polite on the phone mean that you are not sexually adventurous?
Cause you recognize me, yo, I got to speak
If you know who I am, you should say hello.
Why you got-ta, act like, nigga, all the time
Why do you have to behave like a stereotypical black man?
Is a nigga yo' complexion, is it all in your mind
Does your skin color determine your worth?
If I'm a intellectual, I can't be sexual
Can a smart person also be sexual or is it mutually exclusive?
If I want to, does that mean I lack respect for you
If I express sexual desire, does it mean that I don't respect you?
You see a grown man, why fuck that young girl, are you lusting
Why do older men pursue relationships with underage girls?
If you got paper like that, then why you still hustling
If you have a lot of money, why are you still resorting to illegal activities?
Now you know yo' stomach too big, to be wearing a shirt like that
Your oversized belly looks bad in that shirt, why wear it?
Yo why your girl gigiddy when my name come up
Why does your girlfriend get excited when she hears my name?
How come the industry build careers that don't last
Why do the music industry build up short-lived careers?
How come niggas don't know but they front and don't ask
Why do people pretend to know things when they don't ask for clarification?
Yo, why they say never say never, when they know that ain't right
Why is it said to never say never when it's not always true?
Why do I need I.D. to get I.D.
Why do I need identification to get more identification?
If I had I.D. I wouldn't need I.D.
If I had identification already, why would I need more?
Why do these fine ghetto women got so much ass
Why do women from low-income areas tend to have larger buttocks?
Why did Dr. J shave his beard and mustache
Why did basketball player Julius Erving shave his distinctive facial hair?
How you got high expectations but got no patience
Why do you have high expectations but lack the patience to see them through?
How come this joint named The Questions is so John Blazin'
Why is this song called The Questions so popular?
Some questions, it's the questions y'all
The song is full of thought-provoking questions.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LONNIE RASHID LYNN, JAMES JASON POYSER, DANTE TERRELL SMITH, JAMES DEWITT YANCEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind