The Time

[Verse 1: Common] Post-apocalyptic, the most hip-hop terrific Young, gifted, and black, it's never monolithic To be non-specific, some pontific On some Z. Elliott, they wanna run with it Overzealous zealots, my alias should to be rebellious 'Cause I deliver on some mail-y ish The message is where the oppression is It's single mothers, pressure, and aggressive kids My rhymes'll be the Ritalin, let's get it And America's divided, the dividend is the middlemen We need to cut 'em, out, 'cause can't nobody govern the route Of my destiny, Ebony covers and lovers, I respect them like they all mothers And I'm... [Chorus: Brandy] Ready and I don't want to wait I know my glory's on the way There's time in life where there'll be tradeoffs I give thanks, I'm not afraid I know my glory's on the way There's time in life where there'll be tradeoffs I give thanks, I'm not afraid [Verse 2: Common] Opps and opulence, pops said confidence Glocks and consciousness, sounds of black optimists Glasses clink, I get cheers like a toast, I'm butter baby, come close Spent years with Mos, Talib, Tariq, Jeru, and Kanye Somewhere in my Top 5 is Nas, BIG, and Andre Soundwaves of underground days We found ways to surface, bringing heaven where earth is Verses become churches, not for you to worship But to find your purpose, rhyme's a divine service Soundtracks to life, the way we find Curtis I play "The Makings of You" for my daughter in the womb Hope she still in tune, time for concrete roses to bloom And I'm [Chorus: Brandy] Ready and I don't want to wait I know my glory's on the way There's time in life where there'll be tradeoffs I give thanks, I'm not afraid I know my glory's on the way There's time in life where there'll be tradeoffs I give thanks, I'm not afraid [Outro: Brandy] Know my glory's on the way There's time in life where there'll be tradeoffs I'm not afraid Know my glory's on the way There's time in life where there'll be tradeoffs I'm not afraid, not afraid I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid I'm not afraid (Not afraid, not afraid, not afraid)