Common — Maintaining

[Intro] Gotta watch out for them critters... I get the party live, Common Sense'll get the party live, huh (4X) [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 [Hook] ("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 [Hook] ("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 [Hook] ("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