Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Common feat Kanye West and John Legend – “They Say”

Tags

2005, actor, Atlanta, Be, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Chicago, Common, Common Sense, fashion designer, film director, Georgia, good music, hip hop soul, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Quotable, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Illinois, jazz fusion, jazz-rap, John Legend, John Roger Stephens, Kanye, Kanye Omari West, Kanye West, Key Yemaya Walker, keyboards, Lonnie Lynn, Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., May, music, music video director, neo soul, Ohio, percussion, quiet storm, R&B, Rapper, record producer, sampler, Singer, songwriter, Sony Music Studios, Soul, Spoken Word, Springfield, synthesizer, United States, Warner Bros., Writer

[Chorus: John Legend]
They say “What’s happenin’?”
We say the facts and if, they lie…
We comin’ back for them
They might say… but they don’t know!
(They say, They say…)
They don’t knowwwww

[Verse 1: Common]
They say a n—a lost his mind
But in the scheme of things I never lost a rhyme
The thin line between love and hatred
I’m the black pill in the Matrix, the saturated life
They say life is what you make it
So I wait quick on a spaceship so I can take it
As high as the stakes get when paper get low
I be tellin Derick, “Tell Kara get us a show”
Little Com, I make righteous bitches get low

Blue Lines Blog – Questions for the Author of Blue Lines Part III (Finale)

Tags

Atlanta, Author, Azul Lewis, Beauty (Remix), Black, Blue, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, California, Capitol, Chapel Hill, Chris Carter, college, Common, Common Sense, Creative Writing, De La Soul, Dru Hill, East Coast, Education, Eric Serra, Final Goodbye, Fox Mulder, Fred Durst, Freeworld Records, Gate E, Georgia Dome, Georgia Tech, Gerald Milson, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, iPad, iPad Post, Job, Joi, Kaleidoscope, Kelis, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia, Keypsiia Yemaya Walker, Limp Bizkit, Love, Lysette, Lysette Titi, manuscript, Memoirs Of A Geisha, Missing You, Monica, Moscone Center, music, Naima, Nas, New York, North Carolina, Notorious B.I.G, Outside, Pearl Jam, Protagonist, Questions, Renee Turner, Sacramento, San Francisco, Sister Souljah, Staind, Starbucks, The Fifth Element, The Pendulum Vibe, The Professional, The The Eyes of A Man Born to Life, The X-Files, UNC Chapel Hill, University, University of North Carolina at Chapel

In recent readings, I read Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever, and chose to answer the questions she offerered at the close of her novel. Over the coming weeks, I will offer my answers to her questions (some tailored to address my manuscript) in respect to work, Blue Lines. These questions were answered some time ago, earlier this year. I am providing them in that form.

1. Why did you choose to focus on your book subject?
2. Is Blue Lines a true story?
3. How did you write the story so authentically?
4. Did you, and if so, why did you decide to include yourself as a character?
5. Where we’re you when you first started writing Blue Lines?
6. Which character did you create first?
7. How did you write the manuscript, what method?
8. Why aren’t all of your characters Black?
9. What were you trying to achieve with the novel Blue Lines?
10. Will there be a sequel novel?

8. Why aren’t all of your characters Black?

Blue Lines Blog – Questions for the Author of Blue Lines Part II

Tags

Aaron Lewis, Arthur Golden, Atlanta, Author, Azul Lewis, Beauty (Remix), Black, Blue, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, California, Capitol, Chapel Hill, Chris Carter, college, Common, Common Sense, Creative Writing, De La Soul, Dru Hill, East Coast, Education, Eric Serra, Fox Mulder, Fred Durst, Freeworld Records, Gate E, Georgia Dome, Georgia Tech, Gerald Milson, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, In A Sentimental Mood, iPad, iPad Post, Jay-Z, Job, John Coltrane, Joi, Joi Gilliam, Kaleidoscope, Kelis, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia, Keypsiia Yemaya Walker, Limp Bizkit, Love, Lysette, Lysette Titi, manuscript, Memoirs Of A Geisha, Missing You, Monica, Moscone Center, music, Naima, Nas, New York, North Carolina, Notorious B.I.G, Outside, Pearl Jam, Protagonist, Questions, Renee Turner, Sacramento, San Francisco, Sister Souljah, Staind, Starbucks, The Fifth Element, The Pendulum Vibe, The Professional, The X-Files, UNC Chapel Hill, University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wu-Tang Clan, X-Files, Young Sad & Blue

In recent readings, I read Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever, and chose to answer the questions she offerered at the close of her novel. Over the coming weeks, I will offer my answers to her questions (some tailored to address my manuscript) in respect to work, Blue Lines. These questions were answered some time ago, earlier this year. I am providing them in that form.

1. Why did you choose to focus on your book subject?
2. Is Blue Lines a true story?
3. How did you write the story so authentically?
4. Did you, and if so, why did you decide to include yourself as a character?
5. Where we’re you when you first started writing Blue Lines?
6. Which character did you create first?
7. How did you write the manuscript, what method?
8. Why aren’t all of your characters Black?
9. What were you trying to achieve with the novel Blue Lines?
10. Will there be a sequel novel?

6. Which character did you create first?

Blue Lines Blog – Questions for the Author of Blue Lines Part I

Tags

A Tribe Called Quest, Arthur Golden, Atlanta, Author, Azul Lewis, Blue, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, California, Capitol, Chapel Hill, college, Common, Common Sense, Creative Writing, De La Soul, East Coast, Education, Gate E, Georgia Dome, Georgia Tech, Gerald Milson, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Music, iPad, iPad Post, Jay-Z, Job, Key Yemaya Walker, Keypsiia, Keypsiia Yemaya Walker, Love, manuscript, Memoirs Of A Geisha, music, Nas, New York, Notorious B.I.G, Protagonist, Questions, Renee Turner, Sacramento, San Francisco, Sister Souljah, Starbucks, UNC Chapel Hill, University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wu-Tang Clan

In recent readings, I read Sister Souljah’s The Coldest Winter Ever, and chose to answer the questions she offerered at the close of her novel. Over the coming weeks, I will offer my answers to her questions (some tailored to address my manuscript) in respect to work, Blue Lines. These questions were answered some time ago, earlier this year. I am providing them in that form.

1. Why did you choose to focus on your book subject?
2. Is Blue Lines a true story?
3. How did you write the story so authentically?
4. Did you, and if so, why did you decide to include yourself as a character?
5. Where we’re you when you first started writing Blue Lines?
6. Which character did you create first?
7. How did you write the manuscript, what method?
8. Why aren’t all of your characters Black?
9. What were you trying to achieve with the novel Blue Lines?
10. Will there be a sequel novel?

1. Why did you choose to focus on your book subject?

Around 1995-96 I had wanted to write a work that centered on Hip-Hop music, a love for Hip-Hop and wanted to build that as the backdrop with a love story between a young aspiring artist and the woman he sought and loved, using them as the metaphor of the larger underlying story. With the time periods music ranging from the current Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas and Common, and echoing back to the Golden Age of A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and post artists like Wu-Tang Clan, I wanted to you h the 90’s elements in relation to the story’s timeframe. Over the next few years, I developed only five pages of sparse content with space to fill in a story. Honestly, I did not “feel” or have a connection that compelled me to write. Though I wanted to write a book and loved Hip-Hop culture. I wanted to create a valid and quality narrative that would speak to readers beyond a specific genre and target audience. I wanted a well written project that conveyed a universal story.

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Common Sense – “Soul By The Pound (Thump Mix)”

Tags

"A Chorus Line", "I Like It", "Jazz (We've Got)", "Sneakin' in the Back" Tom Scott, "Tonight's Da Night", 1992, A Tribe Called Quest, actor, Author, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Bruce Lee, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, CB4, Charles Barkley, Chicago, Chris Rock, Chris Webber, Clark Kent, Common, Common Sense, CommonSense, DeBarge, Downtown Julie Brown, Dr. Dre, Ed Lover, Fat Boys, FBI, good music, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Quotable, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Illinois, Immenslope, Instagram, Jolly Green Giant, Key Yemaya Walker, LA Riot, Large Professor, Leroy Brown, Lonnie Lynn, Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., Los Angeles, music, No ID, Omen, Poet, Q-Tip, Rapper, Redman, Relativity Records, Soul by the Pound (Thump Mix), Think Common, Tim Dog, Tim Hardaway, U.S., Ultramagnetic MCs, Warner Bros., YNot

(Chorus)
Boom it and you boom it and you boom it in your jeep
Type of s–t that hit when you pump it in your trunk
Boom it and you boom it and you boom it in your jeep
Babum, babum, make the speakers pop

I’m as bad, bad as Leroy Brown, Brown
I’m a pro p-pro, but not a noun n-noun
If you got beef, beef, you get ground, ground
Cut up in soul, soul by the pound for pound
I’m going downtown like Julie Brown, I’m the brown mound
Not a rebound, but like a hound, I get down
Never wore a leash but I’m a show ya
How loose is my goose, got more soul than combat boots
(I got soul, you got it) That’s why I came
They keep calling me, man, they keep calling me, they call my name
And say, I can’t give it away, give it away now
Or say whiz, say what or say how
Sh, ok, between you and me, man it’s all this white rap
I got the power, hachoo, I’ll just bite snap
Bum ba-bum, bum bum
Think fast, cause I’m the Ramadan
Ahoy-he-hoy-he, I’m Fat Boy
Shibidabibidabee, boom boom, I’ll be the bad boy
Having a party, but I’m not a democrat
Spoiled as a child, but now I’m milk like Similac
Don’t have Cinemax because my cable’s pirated
Bug out with the rhyme, try to swat and I’ll get fly with it
For pest control, I suggest some soul
For a d–k I got it, but I have no breath control
So gimme a T-O, baby like um, Chris Webber
I got myself together
Now I’m straight, are you straight, if you straight, then I’m straight
Rock me tonight, just for old time’s sake

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Kanye West feat Chris Martin – “Graduation”

Tags

2008, Abbey Road Studios, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Chalice Studios, Chicago, Chris Martin, Chung King Studios, Coldplay, Common, Common Sense, Def Jam, Good Night, Graduation, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Quotable, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Hype Williams, I Used to Love H.E.R., Illinois, Kanye, Kanye West, Key Yemaya Walker, music, Photography, Roc-A-Fella, Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc-A-Fella Records LLC, Sony Music Studios, The Record Plant, Warryn Campbell

[Intro – Kanye West]
Yeah.
And you say Chi city,
Chi city, Chi city

[Chorus – Chris Martin]
I’m coming home again.
Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
Cause I’m coming home again
I’m in home again.

[Verse 1 – Kanye West]
I met this girl when I was three years old
And what I loved most she had so much soul
She said, excuse me little homie, I know you don’t know me- but,
My name is Windy and, I like to blow trees and,
From that point I never blow her off,
They can come from outta town I like to show her off,
They like to act tough, she like to tow em off,
And make em straighten up their act, cause she know they soft
And when I grew up she showed me how to go downtown
And at nighttime my face lit up so astounding
And I told her in my heart is where she always be
She never mess with entertainers cause they always leave
She said it felt like they walked and drove on me
Knew I was gang affiliated got on TV and told on me
I guess it’s why last winter she got so cold on me
She said, Ye keep making that, keep making that platinum and gold for me

[Chorus – Chris Martin]
Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
Cause I’m coming home again
I’m in home again
Do you think about me now and then?
Do you think about me now and then?
Oh, now I’m coming home again

Maybe we can start again

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Saukrates feat Common – “Play Dis (Remix)”

Tags

1996, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Brick House EP, Common, Common Sense, Hip-Hop Music, Hip-Hop Quotable, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Key Yemaya Walker, music, Play Dis, Saukrates

[INTRO: Saukrates (Common)]
Word up, Saukrates in the house (yeah, yeah)
‘Bout to turn it all out again
Y’all n—as check my s–t out, word up

check me out (check that s–t out)

[Saukrates]
Amazed dudes to wack crews
Lay it down
Kids could never walk a mile in my shoes
Shorties clockin’ me
Always be coming in the two
From the north
I’m bringing you tracks and good news
My debut was real to the blind industry minds
Who never had the time
Now kids press rewind to the top
But legally I gotta show love
Call me A, B and C, answers D
All of the above
I attack the microphone like Jack Ripper real for stacks
Leaving kids no headroom like Max
Try to react, but you were never clam
And never could kick a verse
When worse come to worse I’m better
Shine like genuine rhine, and black patented leather
On half naked honeys who forgot about the weather
F–k an exhibition, and warm up scrimmage
Shoot more words that Macho Man spit jism in the village

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Common – “Cloth”

Tags

2011, actor, alternative hip hop, Atlanta, Author, Bears, Blue Hurt, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, California, Chicago, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Cloth, Common, Common Sense, Cubs, Ernest Wilson, Fauntleroy, good music, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Quotable, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Illinois, Key Yemaya Walker, Lonnie Lynn, Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., Love, Lynn, MW, No I.D., Poet, Rapper, Riddick, Sidibe, The Dreamer/The Believer, Think Common, Think Common Music Inc., United States, Warner Bros., Wilson

Please take a chance on this. Most looking at my Hip-Hop Quotable posts, are touched by the song, and the lyrics, and how they may have spoken to them during said time period. I can’t remember the last time that a song spoke to, and stuck with me like this (I just heard it today), not even Sia’s striking “My Love” from last year. But the words are so poignant, and actually speak to me and my life, thoughts and feelings, that I had to transcribe and share this today. I knew it, when I heard it during my commute.

Common
“Cloth”
We were from different cities on the same block,
Grew up in different circles in the same spot,
Like rain drops, we fall in love, giving our all,
Showing her ring off, like a player at the ball,
I recall,
The walls that I had up,
Attracted to women for things that didn’t matter,
The clow, boom, pop,
The sound of my heart when it dropped,
The night that I met her,
It might be forever,
I hear people saying that they like us together,
I ain’t afraid to gamble,
Life is getting better with you,
I admit, I had issues,
Like ebony or essence,
Your pedigree, your presence,
Is more than clothes can say for you,
When I shop, I gotta spend more than day for you,
I pray for you and us,
That we infuse through lust,
And accrue the trust,
Lets shake off the dust from the cloth

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Common – “Come Close”

Tags

Blue Lines, Come Close, Common, Common Sense, Electric Circus, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Key Yemaya Walker, Lonnie Lynn, Mary J. Blige

From the artist that Fox News deadpanned yesterday.
[Intro]
[Common:] It’s just a fly love song, what
[Mary J:] Mmmmm
[Common:] It’s just a fly love song, what

[Verse: Common]
Are we living in a dream world?
Are your eyes still green girl?
I know your sick and tired of arguing
But you can’t keep it bottled in
Jealousy, we got to swallow it
Your heart and mind baby follow it
Smile, happiness you could model it
And when you feel opposite
I just want you to know
Your whole being is beautiful
I’m going to do the best I can do
Cause I’m the best when I’m with you

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]
Come close to me baby
Let your love hold you
I know this world is crazy
What’s it without you

Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays – Common Sense “Soul By The Pound (Remix)”

Tags

"A Chorus Line", "I Like It", 1992, actor, Author, Blue Lines, Blue Lines Blog, Bruce Lee, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, Charles Barkley, Chicago, Chicago hip hop, Chris Webber, Common Sense, DeBarge, Dion Immenslope, Dion Wilson, Downtown Julie Brown, East Coast Hip-Hop, Electric Circus, Ernest Wilson, Fat Boys, good music, Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop Quotable, Hip-Hop Quotable Wednesdays, Illinois, Immenslope, Jeep Ass N---uh, Key Yemaya Walker, Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., Masta Ace, Midwest rap, music, No I.D., One Day It'll All Make Sense, Poet, Rapper, Relativity Records, Sneakin' in the Back, Soulquarians, The Beatnuts, Think Common, Tom Scott, Twilite Tone, Ultramagnetic MCs, United States, Warner Bros.

I remember when I first saw the video for this song. I won’t lie, the line from Masta Ace’s “Jeep Ass N–guh” drew me in, and I was a Common Sense fan ever since…well “One Day It’ll All Make Sense,” and “Electric Circus,” took some growing on me though.

(Chorus)
Boom it and you boom it and you boom it in your jeep
Type of s–t that hit when you pump it in your trunk
Boom it and you boom it and you boom it in your jeep
Babum, babum, make the speakers pop

I’m as bad, bad as Leroy Brown, Brown
I’m a pro p-pro, but not a noun n-noun
If you got beef, beef, you get ground, ground
Cut up in soul, soul by the pound for pound
I’m going downtown like Julie Brown, I’m the brown mound
Not of rebound, but like a hound, I get down
Never wore a leash but I’m a show ya
How loose is my goose, got more soul than combat boots
(I got soul, you got it) That’s why I came
They keep calling me, man, they keep calling me, they call my name
And say, I can’t give it away, give it away now
Or say whiz, say what or say how
Sh, ok, between you and me, man it’s all this white rap
I got the power, hachoo, I’ll just bite snap
Bum ba-bum, bum bum
Think fast, cause I’m the Ramadan
Ahoy-he-hoy-he, I’m Fat Boy
Shibidabibidabee, boom boom, I’ll be the bad boy
Having a party, but I’m not a democrat
Spoiled as a child, but now I’m milk like similak
Don’t have Cinemax because my cable’s pirated
Bug out wit the rhyme, try to swat and I’ll get fly wit it
For pest control, I suggest some soul
Porridge, s–t, I got it, but I have no breath control
So gimme a TO, baby like um, Chris Webber
I got myself together
Now I’m straight, are you straight, if you straight, then I’m straight
Rock me tonight, just for old time’s sake