http://www.commonmarketmusic.com
Entering the hip-hop arena in an almost-forgotten fashion, the MC-and-the-DJ tag team Common Market has been pegged as leaders of Seattle's new-school rap movement. MC RA Scion and DJ Sabzi have received rave reviews locally, landing in the Seattle Times' artists-to-watch list in 2006, appearing on the front cover of Sound Seattle magazine's September 2006 issue, and obtaining the personal endorsement of hip-hop pioneer KRS-One as an exceptional up-and-coming group. Sabzi, a classically trained pianist and member of Seattle rap group Blue Scholars, and RA Scion came to meet each other in 2004 because of their identical ambitions to make Seattle a hotbed for hip-hop and their similar beliefs as worshipers of the Baha'i Faith. After Sabzi lent production help to RA Scion's solo album, Live and Learn, the two formed Common Market in 2005. Their self-titled debut album was first released in 2005 but then released nationally in early 2006. ~ Cyril Cordor, Rovi
Doors
Common Market Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Attempt to motivate the activists
The buzz about town (will) produce volts to power your amp
Reign it in – damp roots will blossom
A few were talkin' 'bout the sprout when the Two were still Awesome
Sun lit the sky and identified the Scion
'95 burns hot in the hearts of rap purists
"Put in on," big brother, transform
Daily distractions of the 8-track mind
If I stray, punch me out, for real – be on the button
But word to La Rock, swear you aint gon' stop for nothin'
Mecca bound with the 4-pound – promisin' yall the payoff
The black steel rocker throughout the age of chaos
And brothers on my jock for the way I hold it
Take it in, cousin – this right here's the moment
Still "steppin' to the a.m."
A half pace short of dawn-break – you take trade in's?
Stakes is high – my mistakes ante up with the best
"Stay alive, all thing's will change around" – ahh yeah
You're test of faith will make mountains outta rock piles
The 'voodoo child' will chop it
Jimi's diggin' cats – Mr. Hancock. 'Rock It,'
And affluence influenced the hustle, I can't knock it
Believe me if you wanna, but I'll tell you this much
I bet you all your dough they live longer than us, because
Only the good die at age 29
'My Philosophy' was born in a 'New York State of Mind'
Confined on the island with no moral support
To make a long story short – it's 8 million others in the city
And you prolly aint got time for this one
You keep checkin' the shine on your wrist, son…
Chorus:
Bum rush the platform, son – doors are closin'
When time's frozen, you don't wanna be late
Departin' sharp for one last run to get you open
I'll forever hold my token, stand post by the gate (X2)
They said 'never no more,'
But it seems the suckas teamed up to hold court
The 6-man providin' relief for any starter
Count stats by the quarter – we're takin' back the order
I swear upon the text of the revelation of Kings
From Hollis, Queens – learned to walk without strings
Easy on the cut – no mistakes allowed
Cause to me, "MC" means "mentor the child"
Step into the realm and you're bound to get taught
Tell me Grand Verbalizer; what time the lesson start?
Sharpenin' my tip so my mark's made heavy and dark
Indelible upon your skeletal parts
The apprentice to the mad scientist up in the lab
It's the art form – these scars were born under scabs
Evidence of life represented by the ankh
The body returns to dust; the soul to the South Bronx…
Chorus
The lyrics of Doors by Common Market are dense, thought-provoking and full of cultural references that require some analysis to fully understand their meaning. The overall message of the song seems to be one of motivation and activism, encouraging listeners to stay true to their principles and beliefs, and to keep fighting for what's right even in the face of adversity. The first verse sets the scene with a call to action: "Make 'em clap to this, attempt to motivate the activists." The singer then goes on to describe the buzz about town and how it can produce energy to power their collective efforts, comparing it to the growth of a sprout that was talked about even before the two people leading the action were famous. The reference to the Scion, a car model, is perhaps a nod to the culture of hip-hop, which has often been associated with flashy cars and materialism. The next lines refer to the year 1995 and how it marks a turning point or golden age for hip-hop purists.
The second verse of Doors starts off with a reference to a rap classic, "Put it On" by Big L, and the idea of transforming oneself and one's surroundings. Common Market's speaker then describes how his generation of rappers has lost some of its power and energy over time, distracted by "8-track mind" and "daily distractions." He then calls on someone to "punch him out" if he ever strays from his path. The allusion to La Rock, a member of the Boogie Down Productions crew who was killed in 1987, emphasizes the idea of staying true to one's beliefs even in the face of danger. The rest of the verse continues this theme, promising to keep pushing forward despite the obstacles and putting in hard work to achieve success.
Line by Line Meaning
Make 'em clap to this
Encourage people to applaud and appreciate the music
Attempt to motivate the activists
Try to inspire and motivate those who are striving for change
The buzz about town (will) produce volts to power your amp
The excitement and energy in the community can fuel and amplify your voice
Reign it in – damp roots will blossom
Control and focus your energy, and you will see growth and progress
A few were talkin' 'bout the sprout when the Two were still Awesome
Some people saw the potential before the artists made it big
Sun lit the sky and identified the Scion
A bright and hopeful future is on the horizon
'95 burns hot in the hearts of rap purists
There is nostalgia and reverence for the classic rap music of the past
"Put in on," big brother, transform
Change and transform the game with your music
My generation of b-b-bubblers has gone flat over time
The energy and excitement of the younger generation has faded over time
Daily distractions of the 8-track mind
We are easily distracted and influenced by superficial things
If I stray, punch me out, for real – be on the button
Hold me accountable if I go off track
But word to La Rock, swear you aint gon' stop for nothin'
Stay committed and dedicated to pursuing your goals
Mecca bound with the 4-pound – promisin' yall the payoff
Heading towards the holy land with music as the promise of success
The black steel rocker throughout the age of chaos
The music is a symbol of strength and resilience in times of turmoil
And brothers on my jock for the way I hold it
People admire and respect the artist's style and delivery
Take it in, cousin – this right here's the moment
Live in the present and appreciate the moment
Still "steppin' to the a.m."
Continuing the journey and staying up all night
A half pace short of dawn-break – you take trade in's?
Almost at the end of the night – are you ready to move on?
Stakes is high – my mistakes ante up with the best
The stakes are high, and any mistakes will have big consequences
"Stay alive, all thing's will change around" – ahh yeah
Hold on and keep going, and things will eventually change
You're test of faith will make mountains outta rock piles
Challenges and obstacles can be turned into opportunities for growth and transformation
The 'voodoo child' will chop it
The artist will handle it like a pro
Jimi's diggin' cats – Mr. Hancock. 'Rock It,'
Jimi Hendrix and Herbie Hancock are great musicians who inspire the artist
And affluence influenced the hustle, I can't knock it
Money and material things have influenced the music industry, and the artist understands that
Believe me if you wanna, but I'll tell you this much
You can choose to believe the artist or not, but listen to what they have to say
I bet you all your dough they live longer than us, because
The artist predicts that rich and powerful people will live longer than everyone else
Only the good die at age 29
A reference to Jimi Hendrix's death at 27 – young, talented artists are taken too soon
'My Philosophy' was born in a 'New York State of Mind'
The artist's philosophy was shaped by growing up in New York
Confined on the island with no moral support
Feeling isolated and alone, with no guidance or direction
To make a long story short – it's 8 million others in the city
Long story short – there are many others in the same situation
And you prolly aint got time for this one
You probably don't have time to listen to the artist's story
You keep checkin' the shine on your wrist, son…
You are too caught up with your own material possessions to care about others
Bum rush the platform, son – doors are closin'
Hurry up, the train is about to leave
When time's frozen, you don't wanna be late
In moments of opportunity, you don't want to miss out because of your own carelessness
Departin' sharp for one last run to get you open
The train is leaving, but it's not too late to jump on and be inspired
I'll forever hold my token, stand post by the gate
The artist will always remember this moment and stay vigilant for future opportunities
Contributed by Declan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.