They Say
Common feat. Kanye West Lyrics

They say what's happenin'?
People are asking what is going on?

We say the facts and if, they lie
We tell the truth and call out those who lie.

We comin' back for them
We will take action against those who deceive us.

They might say, but they don't know!
Others may have opinions, but they lack understanding.

They say a nigga lost his mind
Some believe I have gone crazy.

But in the scheme of things I never lost a rhyme
However, in the grand scheme of things, I still have not lost my poetic abilities.

The thin line between love and hatred
There is a delicate balance between love and hate.

I'm the black pill in the matrix, the saturated life
I am the anomaly in society, swimming against the mainstream current.

They say life is what you make it
People say that your life is determined by your actions.

So I wait quick on a spaceship so I can take it
So I am eager to seize an opportunity to leave this world behind and create my ideal life elsewhere.

As high as the stakes get when paper get low
As the risk for losing everything gets higher when one is struggling financially.

I be telling derick, "tell kara get us a show"
I am instructing my team to get us a show so that we can further our success.

Little com, I make righteous bitches get low
My music has the power to make even the most virtuous women dance seductively.

The richest man ain't necessarily the nigga wit dough
Having wealth doesn't necessarily make one the richest or most fulfilled person.

They say "you ripped" "wow" yea, that's what they say
People compliment my skills by saying I kill it in my performances.

My niggas couldn't tell it was me, like jamie in ray
My friends couldn't recognize me, like how Jamie Foxx portrayed Ray Charles so well.

Painting a day, wit focused crime, broads, and good wine
I am living a luxurious lifestyle, filled with indulgence and women.

They say "dope is sour so it's homework and hood crimes"
People believe that drugs are the root of criminal activity and poverty.

I stood mine, for forever and a day so goodbye
I stood by what I believe in, no matter how long it took, so now I say goodbye to those who doubted me.

The sweet taste of victory
The feeling of success is fulfilling and gratifying.

Go head and breath it in like antihistamine
Embrace that feeling like you would breathe in an antihistamine to clear up allergies.

I know they saying "damn, yea snapped wit this beat!"
I am aware that people are impressed by the beat and my delivery on this track.

Fuck you expect? I've got a history
What do you expect from me? I have a proven track record of success.

Groupie love now, gotta be them wheels!
Now that I have achieved fame, groupies only want me for my money and status.

Haters back down, gotta be that steel!
To deter my haters, I must show strength and power.

I know they cant wait till ya outta ya deal!
My critics are counting down the days until my record deal is up.

Look how they did d'angelo ask em how do it feel!
My fellow artist, D'Angelo, can relate to the struggles that come with fame and success.

My best friends worry bout me
Even my closest friends are concerned about my well-being.

Cause they know when you famous/fame-ass
They are aware that celebrity/fame can have a negative impact on one's mental health.

And you had made cash the media aims at us and you be up so high
When you have money and success, the media scrutinizes your every move and you can feel on top of the world.

If you ever fall off, it feel like a plane crash
If you lose your success, it feels like a catastrophic failure.

But god don't ever give me nothing I cant handle
I can handle any challenge that comes my way with the help of God.

So please don't ever give me records I cant sample
I am asking God to not give me opportunities that I cannot take full advantage of.

So I could vacate where it ain't no channels
So that I can escape to a place where the media cannot reach me.

But it's quite ok for a gangsta to wear sandals
It is acceptable for a tough person to wear comfortable, casual clothing.

They say because of the fame and stardom
Some believe that my fame and success have changed me.

I'm somewhere in between the church and insane asylum
I feel like I am in a gray area between being a good person and being seen as crazy.

I guess it's messing with my health then
This internal struggle is negatively impacting my physical and mental health.

And this verse so crazy when I finish
This verse is so raw and honest that it may make people think I am crazy when I complete it.

I'm just going check myself in, again
I am going to seek help for my mental health once more.

I write just to free minds, from stoney to rikers
I write music with the aim of liberating people's thoughts and minds, from prison inmates to people who smoke marijuana.

Amongst the lifeless, in a world crazy as mike is
In a world where there is little genuine humanity, I exist as an outlier in my honesty and values.

On my paper, whether its weed or isis
Regardless of the subject matter, I will always be honest and authentic in my lyrics and music.

They say "life is a game," so I play hard
People claim that life is a game, so I work hard and give my all to succeed.

Writing for my life cause I'm scared of a day job
I write music with the hope that it can be a viable career and so that I do not have to work a 9-to-5 job.

They say "sef kept the hood together"
People believe that I was the glue that kept my neighborhood from falling apart.

I tell the young, "we can't play the hood forever"
I advise the younger generation that it is not sustainable to stay stuck in the cycle of poverty and crime in our neighborhoods.

Play my cards right, they say I went to left
When I make wise decisions, people are surprised because they expected me to make opposite choices.

They showed me strange love, like I was mr. f
People have shown me irregular affection, as if I were a character in a movie (Mr. F in Arrested Development).

Played chess in this game of, pawns and knights
I have had to strategically navigate the systemic oppression and my own circumstances to succeed.

Now I claim "king" like don, or frank white
Now that I have overcome the odds, I am declaring myself king, like notorious gangsters Don Corleone and Frank White.

They say my life is comparable to christ's
Some believe that my life and message of struggle, sacrifice, and redemption is similar to that of Jesus Christ.

The way I sacrificed, and resurrected, twice
Like Christ, I have had to make sacrifices to succeed and have come back from difficult times twice.

They say "the crochet pants and the sweater was wack"
People did not like my fashion choices, such as the crochet pants and sweater I wore.

Seen "the corner", now they say "that nigga's back," uh
People are now recognizing me again since I have made a successful comeback, like in the TV show The Corner.