Like They Used to Say

[Intro: J.B.’s & Common]

(Like we used to say)

We're dealing with some (Like we used to say)

Very critical and crucial times (Like we used to say)

Some of the most critical (Like we used to say)

And crucial times I've ever seen (Like we used to say)

I was on Stoney Island with my guy (Like we used to say)

He was telling me about the S.I.E. experience (Like we used to say)

Tried to tell him about the C.S.E. experience... (Like we used to say)

[Verse 1: Common]

Yo, I'm the rap profession, I go to sessions

Study MC's like a God do lessons

Mic testin in the rain (Yeah), I brainstorm

You feelin me out nigga? We got the same form (Ah)

I drop heavy in spots you scared to put your weight

There's only so much ice you can skate on

Shit cats write for you, you say wrong

No time to debate on, who's your pop and who's not

Or who shot Big and 2Pac (Ah)

Or who this stud fuckin or how much this crew got, that's ho shit

That ain't me or the type of niggas I roll wit

I Cold Get Dumb, like a brother in prison

Who hasn't had a chance to hold his son

Sacrificin like Abe did his oldest son

Tryin to hold my come, I think of raps

Seen the BDP cover and I start thinkin back to

[Bridge]

Silly hoes, say what? (Like we used to say)

Kool G Rap and Polo, back again, yeah (Like we used to say)

Ain't No Half-Steppin, yeah (Like we used to say)

Dig it, like they used to say, ah (Like we used to say)

[Verse 2: Common]

I walk through triple darkness wit a childproof lighter

All your homeboys are biters, so what's up wit that?

Your producer pumped the track

Told him, "Naw, I can't fuck wit that"

Nice way of sayin "Big, bring a rougher track"

My boy in my ear said "Enough of that humble rap"

Now every single you drop I'mma double that

Jigga-jigga Joe cut the record down to

My sound surround you like racism, you feel it all around you (Ah)

I go into a soundproof booth and change flows

Track the strange hoes wit headwraps and Bangles

Hip-hop is gettin strangled by this Puff Combs syndrome

Niggas Been Around The World actin like they never been home

I ain't hatin cuz I can only love niggas

It's just outta the game, I wanna sub niggas

I be dub figure rusty to adjust the in-dustry

And speak up, like when my homey's musty

Here we go yeah

[Bridge]

Roxanne Roxanne, yeah, (Like we used to say), dig it, what?

You don't want it (Like we used to say)

F-R-E-S-H (Like we used to say)

My Adidas walk through concert doors and roam— (Like we used to say), yeah

[Hook: Common & J.B.’s]

Yo, ze-ze-ze-ze-ze, ze-ze-ze, ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze

Ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze, ah, ah, ze-ze-ze-ze-ze

Ze-ze-ze-ze-ze, ah, (Like we used to say)

Ze-ze-ze-ze-ze (Like we used to say)

Yo yo, check it

[Verse 2: Common]

Appreciate the art that came through Puerto Ricans and Blacks

Speakin the facts, the sound is much deeper than wax

Dug Inf, the Lumberjack I'm keepin the axe

Layin on passed out nights wakin up reekin wit raps

Geek like the Fat Boys ?produce the feeb? in fat

In shows I get more hoes/holes than a seam in the matt

Raps develop like film (so what?) so call me Instant Common

This business of pimps and hoes, I stick out like Bishop Juan

Talk to my nigga Ron about openin shops

Holdin up cops, I'm from the 'Go, it don't stop

Contract ain't show enough options, it's time to pop guns

It's gon' be some Shook, Lost and popped Ones

Askin How Come like Wyclef, they'll be Gone before November (yeah)

Name'll be in sentences wit the word "remember"

Wrote a letter to '88, let's get back, love me tender

The letter came back three days later, return to sender, damn

[Outro]

Hot damn ho here we go again (Like we used to say)

I want it like that, I got it like that, I have it like that

(Like we used to say)

You gots to chill (Like we used to say)

Boys in the hood are always hard (Like we used to say)

One for all and all (Like we used to say)

Zoom zoom zoom, zoom zoom zoom zoo zoom (Like we used to say)

I get money, money I got (Like we used to say)

Plug one, plug two (Like we used to say)

For all the pioneers, I'm goin way back (Like we used to say)

I think that's about far back as we can go (Like we used to say)

(Like we used to say)

(Like we used to say)

Yo what happened to peace (Like we used to say)

(Like we used to say)

(Like we used to say)