Common, Louis Romain - Microphone Check: No Defense lyrics

When you think of Chicago
Certain thoughts come to
Mind: Jordan waxin’ kids on the court
The Bears puttin’ heads to bed
With the 46 defense, and, uh
House music to tell the
Truth, Chicago is definitely not
Known for quality hip-hop
But that is about to change
Because the Windy City is
Soon going to be recognized as the place
Where Common Sense dwells this former
Winner of The Source’s
"Unsigned Hype" section
Shows and proves the skill
Trade on his debut Can I Borrow A Dollar and
After you get
A taste of his laid back tongue
Style and well constructed tracks
You’ll understand why there’s no
Defense against Common Sense

The Chicago rap scene has been
Going on for a while
And is just now startin’ to get it's props
Right?
Yeah, exactly it just so happened that
House music was in the forefront
And getting it's props but on
The underground tip, there were, and still
Are, a lot of hip-hoppers
Real b-boys you know what I’m sayin’? From
Back when niggas used to be breakdancing
And doing graffiti ‘n shit

Where do you see yourself fitting in hip-hop?
I see myself fitting in right in
The middle it’s tripped out ‘cause
Since we’re coming from the midwest and
You have those that are
On the gangsta tip ‘n some on
The smooth tip i see myself
As just another average kid trying
To get his shit off, you know?

What about your form of rhymin’?
I think it’s original i just write stuff from
My perspective, ‘cause I’m no rich kid
But I ain’t no
Poor kid i’m not trying to come like I’m from
The ghetto i rhyme on
Things that are different
Tryin’ to kick shit
For the everyday people say you’re
Sitting down watching the Def
Jam Comedy show, and some
Comedian says somethin’ dope, i’ll pick
That up
Or something from back in the day from a
Saturday morning commercial ‘n niggas
Will be like "yo, he remembered that shit?"

You dissed kids pretty bad on "Charm’s
Alarm" concerning not stayin’ true
There’s niggas out there that are just wack
That think they’re doing rap but
They’re just doing some bullshit and they’re
Getting props off that shit
Just showing a lil’ muscle or somethin’ i’m
Just not with that phony shit