Common Market was a American hip-hop duo based in Seattle, Washington, Unit… Read Full Bio ↴Common Market was a American hip-hop duo based in Seattle, Washington, United States and active from 2005 through 2009. Both members, RA Scion and Sabzi, had been active hip-hop artists in the Pacific Northwest for three years before they combined their talents in 2005 to form Common Market. Together they released two albums and two EPs.

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

Nina Sing
Common Market Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Air of inequity is thick in my circumference
Untouched are none when they’re summoned up to punishment
Sons sent to war for the grunt work of the government
All debts repaid on the last day of judgement
I’ve heard purported it’s approaching with celerity
Proselytes testify with utmost sincerity
I don’t think he’s comin’ y’all – try me for heresy
But what’s all the stallin’ for, a little more disparity?

Beckon the Armageddon, tell ‘em we exhausted
Every option since the trade winds laid claim to caution
Damned since the Gnostics allied with the sergeants
Yo I’m tired of waitin’ – slide the blade across it now

I can’t take this pain, I can’t stand this rain
All this work in vain, this world is insane
Puppets on a string, pain and suffering
Nothing left to bring – let my Nina sing

Another demonstration staged on the proscenium
Curtain drawn, who’s workin’ behind ‘em with the medium?
Road blocks, keep throwin’ rocks at the imperium
Hell yeah, a long march, staunch grown wearisome
Seein’ fam fallin’ through the cracks in the variance
Famished on a barren land of AIDS and malaria
One percent could fix it with a tenth of their inheritance
Freedom buried in the treasure chest of the nefarious
Terrorists with pipe bombs, who’s sittin’ on the megaton?
FEMA slow to respond, blame it on the weather, wrong
Billion-dollar telethon, tell ‘em where the cheddar gone
And wonder why my people keep their weapons drawn

Emptied of my pride, nothing left inside
Lost the will to fight, Lord knows that I’ve tried
Beaten by this thing, watching my ship sink
Still I’m listening – please my Nina sing

Upon deliverance we meant to keep you pacified
Same with the others, but some brothers fell to fratricide
Even I was doubtful we could counteract the massive tide
Then arrived the wail I hailed to revive the battle cry
Bellow on, set upon the pleas of the fanciful
An anthem for the resurgence of purpose, grant manifold
Damn this road is chancy, makes advancin’ through the sand unmanageable
Lend a hand and chant the canticle

I can’t take this pain, I can’t stand this rain
All this work in vain, this world is insane

Puppets on a string, pain and suffering
Nothing left to bring – let my Nina ---

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Common Market's "Nina Sing" describe the frustration of living in a society dominated by inequality and injustice. The first verse highlights the severe punishments dealt out to those who challenge the powers that be, including the government's use of soldiers as cannon fodder. The second verse speaks to the ongoing struggle against oppression, with images of protests and roadblocks. The chorus expresses a sense of hopelessness and despair, with the singer feeling that his efforts are in vain.

The third verse shifts the focus to the idea of resistance, with the singer acknowledging his doubts about the viability of changing the system. However, he is inspired by the "wail" of a fellow activist and becomes convinced that there is still hope for change. The final lines of the song urge listeners to join in the struggle and sing their own "canticle."

Overall, "Nina Sing" is a powerful critique of social injustice and a call to action for those seeking to create a more equitable world.

Line by Line Meaning

Air of inequity is thick in my circumference
I am surrounded by injustice and inequality

Untouched are none when they’re summoned up to punishment
Everyone is held accountable for their actions

Sons sent to war for the grunt work of the government
Inexperienced soldiers are sent to do the dangerous work for the government

All debts repaid on the last day of judgement
We will all answer for our actions in the afterlife

I’ve heard purported it’s approaching with celerity
The end of the world is coming quickly

Proselytes testify with utmost sincerity
Believers are testifying about the end of the world with complete honesty

I don’t think he’s comin’ y’all – try me for heresy
I don't believe the end of the world is coming, but people should not judge me for my beliefs

But what’s all the stallin’ for, a little more disparity?
Why are we wasting time when there is already so much inequality?

Beckon the Armageddon, tell ‘em we exhausted
We are tired of waiting for the end of the world

Every option since the trade winds laid claim to caution
We have tried every possible option to fix the problems of the world

Damned since the Gnostics allied with the sergeants
We have been cursed since people in positions of power started teaming up with secret knowledge holders

Yo I’m tired of waitin’ – slide the blade across it now
I am ready for action and change now

I can’t take this pain, I can’t stand this rain
I am overwhelmed by the difficulties and misfortunes of life

All this work in vain, this world is insane
All of our efforts to improve the world seem to be for nothing

Puppets on a string, pain and suffering
We are being controlled by external forces and experiencing great distress

Nothing left to bring – let my Nina sing
We have nothing left to offer but our voices, so let us raise them in protest

Another demonstration staged on the proscenium
Yet another protest is being performed on the world stage

Curtain drawn, who’s workin’ behind ‘em with the medium?
Who is pulling the strings behind the scenes of these protests?

Road blocks, keep throwin’ rocks at the imperium
We will continue to fight against the ruling power by any means necessary

Hell yeah, a long march, staunch grown wearisome
We have been marching towards change for a long time and are growing exhausted

Seein’ fam fallin’ through the cracks in the variance
Our families are falling apart due to the disparities in society

Famished on a barren land of AIDS and malaria
Our people are starving and suffering from disease in a world that is not providing for them

One percent could fix it with a tenth of their inheritance
The rich could easily make a significant change by giving up a small portion of their wealth

Freedom buried in the treasure chest of the nefarious
Freedom is being hidden away by those who do not have our best interests in mind

Terrorists with pipe bombs, who’s sittin’ on the megaton?
People branded as terrorists are making small attacks while those in power can unleash devastating weaponry at any moment

FEMA slow to respond, blame it on the weather, wrong
The government is slow to respond to natural disasters and blames it on uncontrollable factors

Billion-dollar telethon, tell ‘em where the cheddar gone
A lot of money is being raised for disaster relief, but no one knows where that money is actually going

And wonder why my people keep their weapons drawn
The people resort to violence because their peaceful measures are not resulting in change

Emptied of my pride, nothing left inside
All of my pride and motivation has been drained from me

Lost the will to fight, Lord knows that I’ve tried
I have lost the desire to keep fighting against the injustices of the world

Beaten by this thing, watching my ship sink
I am being defeated by the overwhelming problems of life

Still I’m listening – please my Nina sing
Despite everything that has happened, I am still listening and hoping for change

Contributed by Ryan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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