Food
Common and Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, yo yo yo, yo, yo, yo, yo
Check it, yo
You say a one for the trouble, two for the time
Come on y'all, let's rock that, uh
(I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk)
Check it
I come to grips that a lot of mic users is dikes
I come to grips with the likes of Fred Hampton
Cold, so I'm lampin', with no need for spotlight
When I got light like an intersection, you talk
But you came to my town with protection
Election year, had the block hot
I scream fuck the world for having a baby girl sorta cock block
I write rhymes like I come from the windy city
With my crew, I click like simply, stand midi with reality
Casually, I walk through these war games
Some claim say but then they take on whore names
If that's the way your sex drives, stay in your lane
If you're a man, I can't tell like if the door rang now
Now, to the ladies in the house when you come in the place
It ain't a bunch of niggas all up in your face
The music is thumpin' and you're feelin' the bass
What you want to do girl (wanna shout)
To the brothas when you come in a jam, it ain't a bunch of niggas
It ain't high tech and ain't got free liquor
You jackin his name and stick to make you jones get thicker
What you want to do man?
Yo, check it
Some niggas be on the mic, sounding like dikes
Allow me to get on and bust like Spike (uh)
Lee, I'm in the majors with no rotation
Through stations of bullshit, I see through like a pager
In the age of Aquarius, various things
Is gonna carry us in intellect and what have you
Street astrologists interpret point stars and half moons
Then end up on garages or walls in bathrooms
Every black moon, a rap tune move me
The rap sun, I rain more than Rudy, that unruly shit is played
It don't stop
It's time to get it, get it made
I got my mind made up like Foxy Brown's face
I know how the underground tastes
I want a crib from the ground up, rooms spin at a round pace
Get down based on true story, through Corey, came close to the teachers
Colder as the Iceman, posted before it start wrinklin'
Linkin' with cats, who don't react to change in the years
Fulfill prophesies in rooms full of emptiness, now
Now, to the ladies in the house when you come in the place
It ain't a bunch of niggas all up in your face
The music is thumpin' and you're feelin' the bass
What you want to do girl (wanna shout)
To the brothas when you come in a jam, it ain't a bunch of niggas
It ain't high tech and ain't got free liquor
You jackin' his name and stick to make you jones get thicker
What you want to do man?
(I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk)
(I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk)
Yo, yo, yo yo yo yo yo, yo check it, check it
I came through the corridor, with the aura
Raw Chicago mora, scope the horror
Read between the lines and know the border
Some pop wines for juice, I wait in the water
Waitin' for you Big Willie niggaz to have a show at The Crib
We gon' get with your glamour, long as we know where it is
Tell you ain't a player by your sweater doused with wack feather
The crib got the gangsta playa shit patent like black leather
I rap better than you, you, or maybe him
But I am like a tree and every lyric is a timb
Spilled brews and greasy foods got my car smelly
Some be so high, they believe they fly like R. Kelly
But then they fall off, dusted niggas is gettin' sawed off
They fall soft, my mental lift is for me to haul off
Now, to the ladies in the house when you come in the place
It ain't a bunch of niggas all up in your face
The music is thumpin' and you're feelin' the bass
What you want to do girl (wanna shout)
To the brothas when you come in a jam, it ain't a bunch of niggas
It ain't high tech and ain't got free liquor
You jackin' his name and stick to make you jones get thicker
What you want to do man?
(I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk)
(Makes me want to shout, want to shout)
(I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk)
(Makes me want to shout, want to shout)
(I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk)
(Makes me want to shout, want to shout)
(I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk)
(Makes me want to shout, want to shout)
(I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk) (I can feel the funk)
The lyrics to "Food" by Common and Kanye West delve into the struggles faced by black individuals residing in low-income areas. The song is riddled with metaphors and cultural references that paint a vivid picture of the urban landscape. The chorus vocalized by Kanye addresses the harsh realities of fatherhood and financial troubles. It speaks to the fact that money is not readily available to individuals in these areas and they have to engage in illegal activity to provide for their families. The line "I'm up all night, getting my money right. Until the blue and white (po po! po po! po po!)" refers to the police and how individuals in these neighborhoods operate in secrecy.
The verse by Common explores more of the dark realities that the black community faces, such as hustling, heartless females, and pimp culture. He further highlights how there is no guidebook to navigating the streets, and young individuals are left to absorb the harsh lessons that come with it. The lyrics, "Shorties get the game but no instructions to assembling. Eyes bright, it seems like the fight is dimming them" are powerful and portray how the unavailability of resources and guidance in these areas leads to the youth being lost and misguided.
Overall, "Food" is a song about survival and how black individuals living in low-income areas have to resort to unscrupulous means to provide for their families. It touches on themes such as fatherhood, financial struggles, street culture and the lack of resources available in these neighborhoods.
Line by Line Meaning
I walked in the crib, got two kids
And my baby mama late (uh oh! uh oh! uh oh!)
So I had to did, what I had to did
Cause I had to get (duh-ough! duh-ough! duh-ough!)
I'm up all night, getting my money right
Until the blue and white (po po! po po! po po!)
Now the money coming slow, but a least a nigga know
Slow motion better than (no-oh! no-oh! no-oh!)
The singer, who has two children and a late baby mama, had to do what he had to do to get money, even if it means staying up all night, risking getting caught by the police. The money is coming in slowly, but at least he knows it's better than having nothing at all.
You love to hear the story, again and again
About these young brothers, from the City of Wind
Like juice and gin, in the city we blend
Amongst the hustle, titties and skin, fifties and rims
Y'all know the Sprewells and trucks that's detailed
Heartless females that wanna ride in em
Felt the southside venom in raw hides and denim
Pimp minds collide wit em, a system that tries victims
We living in, my man in the fast lane pivoting
On the block white is selling like Eminem
On the block it "Jump Off" like Kim and them
On the block it's hot, you can feel it, in your skin and then
Shorties get the game but no instructions to assembling
Eyes bright, it seems like the fight is dimming them
Call my man cuzo, like I'm kin to him
He trying to stay straight, the streets is bending him
The singer describes the typical scene in the City of Wind, where young men blend in with the hustle, women want to ride in luxurious cars, violence and drugs are rampant, and people are struggling to survive. He mentions the lack of guidance for young people and how they seem to be losing hope. He also talks about his friend who is trying to stay out of trouble, but the streets are making it difficult for him.
It's all good in the hood, like raps and gems
Throwbacks and Timbs, blacks and rims
Whether on ball courts, attires of all sorts
We never fall short, wit us it's our Force like And 1's
Some waves, some air guns, the days of the fair one is over for
Cats is colder than four below, wit self I go toe to toe
Wondering if it's for the art or for the doe
Though I know to grow a nigga gotta learn to let go
Though I know the doe I got to bring back to the ghetto
Arrows on Terot cards pointing to the grind
Po' livin in more prisons, pointing to my mind, shine the light up
Clench my fists tight, holding the right up
Freedom fight in dark gear for the years to get brighter
Situations, and jobs get tighter
My man trying to get his weight and height up, c'mon!
The singer talks about how things are good in the neighborhood, like fashion and style. People are always trying to be their best, even in tough situations. He, however, questions whether people are doing it for the passion or for the money. He knows that to grow, people have to learn to let go of their fears and doubts. Furthermore, he wants to bring back the money to the ghetto. He references how poverty can lead to incarceration, and how he is fighting for his freedom. He encourages his friend to strive for success.
I - I know I could make it right
If I could just swallow my pride
But I can't run away or put my gun away
You can't front on me
I - no I can't let it ride
No no not tonight
See I can't run away or put my gun away
You can't front on me
The artist acknowledges that he can make things right if he swallows his pride, but he cannot back down or let go of his gun. He will not allow anyone to underestimate him or his capabilities.
I break bread wit thieves and pastors, OG's and masters
Emcees and actors that seize and capture
Moments like the camcorder
You ain't killin it, yo that's man-slaughter
Though paper can't change a man's aura
It can feed a man's daughter
I stand for the blue collar, on the side making a few dollars
Like Sam Jack they maneuver through drama like
The artist talks about his diverse group of friends who come from different backgrounds. They capture moments like they're being recorded on a camera. He also mentions that while money cannot change a person's character, it can help provide for their family. He identifies as a hardworking individual, making a living like Samuel L. Jackson, who can handle drama with ease.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ernest Dion Wilson, Lonnie Rashid Lynn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hankscorpio3917
Chapelle introduced me to Common , Talib and Tribe Called Quest. Salute
@brentcampbell6788
He put me on to yasin bey
@bosssavage7768
I miss the Dave Chappelle show I'm watching it rn
@Duzz14
I used to love that mos def car freestyle. Black Star and the GZA performance
@twinktoiletsbestfriendsmomscan
I was already into them, but being on Chappelle made me love them even more!
@matta1528
Amen.
@ceosantanagloc1714
i remember when i was a kid watching this on Dave chapelle
@frankthetank2284
PrettyBoy Flizzy same bro
@johnjohn-we6eb
same glad i watched it because i got introduced to awesome stuff like this
@MrKOOLGUY818
PrettyBoy Flizzy haha just finished watching that episode!! you know I had to go on YouTube and bump it!!