1999
Nas & Common Feat Sadat X Lyrics

Still gettin mine, in the
I'm still succeeding in my endeavors

ONE
1999, the year the song was released and from which it derives inspiration

NINE
1999, the year the song was released and from which it derives inspiration

NINE
1999, the year the song was released and from which it derives inspiration

Yo, just relax, take it easy slow down
Sometimes it's important to slow down and appreciate life

I had this, I had this friend of mine
I had a friend once

Who just, you know,he was movin too fast, yaknawimsayin?
He was always in a rush, always on the go

I told him to slow down, he said the sun don't chill
I advised him to take it easy, but he refused

I said, I said still, you gotta
I persisted in counseling him

Just appreciate life, sit back, don't let it fly right past you
Take a moment to appreciate life and all the little things before they pass you by

No matter what go on I'm still gettin mine
Despite obstacles, I'm still succeeding

No matter the year, no matter the place, no matter the time
Success can be achieved anytime, anywhere

Check it, it's like I'm fightin for freedom, writin for freedom
My passion for creating music is like fighting for liberation

These record company niggas I don't like when I see em
I have a disdain for the record industry executives

My ancestors, when I'm writin I see em, and talk wit em
My creativity is inspired by my ancestors

Hopin in the promise land I can walk wit em
I hope to one day join my ancestors in a better place

Shitted on, so many rappers it's like I'm in the stall wit em
I've been disrespected by many other rappers in the business

Molest concepts, start rhythm, paid dues, bought wisdom
I've developed my skills by experimenting with different sounds, working hard, and learning from my experiences

As legends fall my godmother answer heaven's call
As other artists pass away, my loved ones in heaven continue to guide me

Preachers' daughters get f****d in the reverand's hall
Sometimes people with high moral standards also make mistakes

MC's reckless ?I ball? why y'all wanna go and do that?
Other rappers are reckless and I question why they act that way

Must've thought I was solo, the name just ain't the you-Ac
Others may have thought I was alone because of my stage name

No mo', still together
Still united as a community

Like in the ghetto photo wit one nigga in the chair
Like in old photos with only one person sitting in the ghetto

Holdin liquor in despair, gang signs in the air
Drinking in sadness, while also signaling gang membership

I shine in spaces where time is just a glare
I thrive in environments where time is stagnant

Hold the mic like a memory
I cherish my microphone as a reminder of my success

Niggas say I'm nice wit metaphors but these are similies
People say I'm good with metaphors, but I also use similes

Street ministry, my poetry's a penitentiary, track is visitation
My music speaks to the streets, and is like a prison to be visited through my tracks

Sentences is life, I'm like chief up in this demonstration
My lyrics represent powerful and important ideas, and I command respect with my delivery

Still...
Yet, despite everything, I'm still succeeding

Check it out, everyday ha yeah
Listen to this, every single day

This how we gon' do it for y'all
This is our style, this is how we perform it

Common Sense, Sadat X puttin something in your ear
We're Common and Sadat X, and we're delivering our music to you

Something for you to grab
Our music is something to hold on to

For the whole world, yaknowimsayin, but it ain't free
Our music is for everyone, but we can't give it away for free

It's a fee, check it out
You have to pay for it

You squirm wit this coughin, whippin cough
Our music is making you uncomfortable

Six days of madness and you might throw me off
Listening to us for six days might be too intense for some

On this great ball of stress that they call the earth
In this world full of stress and anxiety

I'ma show y'all in rhyme just how much shit I been through
I'm going to rap about my struggles

And all the place I went to, always played the low
I've been to many places, but I try to stay out of the spotlight

It's like a competition, this mission here I'm tellin you
My music career is like a competition

Slip up and rhyme-ass n***as here is fellin you
If you make a mistake, other rappers will judge you harshly

Crash courses, slow down you can't learn that quick
You have to take your time to truly learn something

'cause I'm the dead eye, wit the red eye, from Chi to L-I
I'm a skilled rapper from Chicago to Long Island

I thought y'all knew, every year I grew, I'm still growin
I'm always improving as a musician and growing

And in a year or two I hope my girl'll be showin
Hopefully in the near future, my girlfriend will be pregnant

A male seed, praise God I name him Moses
If my child is a boy, I'll name him Moses and praise God for the gift

I lead people I want him to, that's why I chose this
I want to be a role model and inspire others through my music

Now is the glass half-full or half-empty
Is life optimistic or pessimistic?

Common, why they tempt me?
Why are people always trying to test me?

The king of the simply, bore in mic
I am the king of simplicity and I'm born to rap

I always stay on top 'cause I give niggas what they like
I stay successful because I create what people want

I know y'all hate that why I feel I owe y'all everyday
I know some people resent my music, which is why I feel like I have to deliver every single day

If y'all hear it a thousand times, it's gon' be the same way
Even If you hear my music a thousand times, I'm still going to keep creating it the same way

The 'Dat-Father, go farther, why bother
I'm Sadat X, and I keep pushing further - why should I stop?

Now I'm a peaceful man, I don't want no stress
I'm a peaceful person and I don't want any problems

You know I'm still...
But even with that mindset, I'm still successful

Yo yo, some get Range Rovers, some religion change-over
People have different ways of changing their lifestyles and beliefs

Angel on my main shoulder tellin me remain sober
I have an inner voice telling me to stay sober and focused

Token nigga, game's over ain't no payola in freestyle
I am not someone who cheats to win and there is no bribery in freestyle rap

In battles, I'm warring/Warren like a G-Child
In rap battles, I fight like Warren G

Searchin for the child in me, this style in me
I'm always exploring the child inside, which is reflected in my art

This release is like the piece that's now in me
My music is a part of me that is being shared with others

They tried to 'sassinate me god, like Martin on the bal-cony
Like Martin Luther King Jr., people have tried to silence me

Lyrically I put a hit on em, 'cause I'm the style-Nitty
Through my lyrics, I defeat my enemies because I'm the best in the game

Catch a flick at the Liquid kitty
I like to go to the Liquid Kitty nightclub

Tryin to get a chick to kick it wit me till the tilt
I'm trying to pick up a woman to have a good time with

Told her my Chamber's like Wilt
I told her that my bedroom is like Wilt Chamberlain's

Built wit her for a sec, let her know I had respect
I spent some time with her and made sure she knew I respected her

Less than a hour she was givin me neck, yo I'm still gettin mine...
Less than an hour later, she was performing oral sex on me - proving that I'm still successful and desirable