Little Chicago Boy

[Verse: Common]

How should I begin?

This is the story of a boy named Lonnie Lynn

As I say it, the spirits enwhip me

He was raised in the belly of the city

Chicago, discovered by du Sable

A Black Frenchman that I had to mention

Extensions of a young man raised on a low end

47th and Michigan, lackin' a little discipline

Know Grandma Mable did the best she could

You know how young niggas want a testy hood

Yes he stood, taller than most black boys

One of the best ballers out of Illinois

College in Ohio, this is like his bio

Talks that we had, man, they was never idle

He talked about readin' the Quran and the Bible

He talked how he smoked dope and sold it for survival

He talked about the ancestors, in our lives; they're vital

He said y'all niggas love the bang 'cause you tribal

Spiral of life, Chicago to Denver

Anywhere he went, of attention, he's the center

6'9", big heart, big mind

He spent a lifetime wantin' to be big time

He did in a way, he made to the ABA

And the things he say on my record

When I was a shawty, he bought me "The Message"

It was his messages in life I would step with

Didn't see him much, spirits are connected

The Father creates it, the son can reflect it

His perspective: sometimes seemed crazy

His perspective: sometimes seemed brilliant

His perspective: somehow it shaped me

His perspective: undoubted I feel it

He'd walk around in them Air Jordans I gave him

I said, "Pops, them from Mike, man, you better save 'em"

The fight that he had with cancer was a brave one

Took Dr. Sebi's herbs instead of medication

Breathing heavy, he talked reparations

And said, "Son, we live through our generations"

Offspring, coughing, Gene Ammons playing

In the background, he was talking, I was praying

Our Father, take care of my father

As far as he went, may I go farther

May our dreams and legacies live through our children

Though I can't touch him, I can still feel him

[Interlude: Pops]

You know the other day I got a phone call. I got a message says pops you been gon from home too long. So I set my bags down and headed to 87th street. I was just back in the neighborhood ya know cruising the same street that I used to cruise in my long black Fleetwood. Listening to the Minister and Dr. King and my beloved brother Malcolm. First thing is see I'm boundless with spiritual energy. I wanna talk about the moral necessities of human justice. The power and the action of God-given dignity. One can not enter the gate if you hate. You gotta take the lead for the rest of the world, 87th is the street of knowledge. The streets of knowledge are all over the world. We got a possibility again of leading the world. Chi my Chi we gon ask you for safe passage for the kids to walk to school. Alright, my young homies, we got a mission to finish. We got the unborn that we got to provide the truth for

[Pre-Chorus: Tasha Cobbs]

I gotta be honest it's so much different without you here

But I have no fear

I'll see you when I get there

To that city bright and fair

You were all I needed you to be

And now I thank you for all you gave for me

[Chorus: Tasha Cobbs]

So Father, I stretch my hands to Thee

No other help I know

If you withdraw yourself from me

Somebody tell me where, oh where shall I go?

[Instrumental Break]

[Chorus: Tasha Cobbs]

Father, I stretch my hands to Thee

No other help I, I know

If you withdraw yourself from me

Tell me where, ohhhh, where shall I go?