Maintaining

[Intro]

Gotta watch out for them critters...

[Chorus]

I get the party live, Common Sense'll get the party live, huh

I get the party live, Common Sense'll get the party live, huh

I get the party live, Common Sense'll get the party live, huh

I get the party live, Common Sense'll get the party live, huh

[Verse 1]

I was born in Chicago, raised on Planet Rock, talking zuh zuh zuh zuh

Cats knock my tape like boots, I'm as fresh as fruits

You pussy MC, it's you I rebuke

Repent! You burn up, you got me bent

I'm current as an event, got on big hoes at Freaknik

Frequently you're telling me Whoopty Woo can rock it

So? He ain't put no scratch in my pocket

Yo herb, with my hand I cock it

And rock it like that brother in Colors, 'cause I want y'all to live

My crew is too live, we sneakin' to the rear

But I can't get us all in free (What?)

It's just another case of that 2-dollar emcee

I rock the same clothes 3 days straight

To you they wrinkled but to me they straight

Now I'm straight; are you straight?

I'm straight as long as I got beer

I thought about it, Jack, and now I'm outta here

[Chorus]

("Maintain the rock, don't stop the rock") (8X in background)

I get the party live, Common Sense get the party live

I get the party live, Common Sense get the party live

We get the party live, ayo Chicago get the party live

I get the party live, Common Sense get the party live

[Verse 2]

I need me some new socks (uhh), I need me some new drawers

I draws attention, like a letter to a sergeant

There's a few good emcees, the wack I'm giving code red

Slim say I ain't got no body, but when they see me at the party

They be like, "Go 'head, go 'head"

'Cause I got's the cuts like Bobbitt, rappers are dickheads

Shoppin' they demo, I do 'em like Big Red

My office hours are from 9 to 5

While you avoid the party I make it live

The fellas nod and the chicks dance

While I'm coolin' in my jumpers and my big pants

I'm as dope as PCP; MC's see me and they start having flashbacks

I don't flash scratch, I gotta watch my back

Nowadays blacks don't know how to act

Besides Larry Fishburne, Charles Dutton, and Wesley Snipes

Marks wanna test me because I test the mics

But I check 'em like sound, and like Goose, I'm down

Plus I done got better since "Soul by the Pound"; I'm maintaining

[Chorus]

("Maintain the rock, don't stop the rock") (8X in background)

We get the party live, ayo Chicago get the party live

We get the party live, 87 get the party live

I get the party live, Common Sense get the party live

We get the party live, UAC'll get the party live

[Verse 3]

I fall fresh upon the spirit, with the lyric that's overwhelmin'

And house more hoes than Spelman

Words I'm weldin' like James Johnson

My brains sponsorin' speech on the mic, I'm like a Jackson

Rappers I'm fondlin', they try to settle out of court

But I could never be bought

What type of rebel eats pork?

I'll take the cat and never get caught

U-AC together we fought

'Cause I can't see my mellows boxin' and me not boxin' wit' 'em

I don't care who started it, I'mma be a part of it

Regardless of the odds of how hard

It's been many times we was outnumbered and we still got with 'em

I got rhythm from some boogers and some foxes

But a 5 becomes a 10 when a brother's off some gin

I got juice, and this nigga scared

I'll F your head up, like the LA Four

When I flow like cash I go for broke like Melba Moore

Why should a male with a B.A. get more than me?

When Rashid got an MC degree

And a doctorate in rockin' shit, I go to Dock's to get

A fishwich with cheese

I don't mix with MCs, 'cause I just don't like them mother—

But I'm still maintaining

[Chorus]

("Maintain the rock, don't stop the rock") (8X in background)

We get the party live, ayo Chicago get the party live, yeah

We get the party live, 87 get the party live, yeah

I get the party live, Common Sense get the party live, huh

We get the party live, UAC'll get the party live