Soul by the Pound

Common, DJ Soul

About Soul by the Pound

"Soul by the Pound" is the third single from rapper Common's 1992 debut album, Can I Borrow a Dollar?. Its beat, produced by Immenslope, is similar to much production from Common's second album, Resurrection. Its beat contains samples from "I Like It" by DeBarge, "Feelin' It" by Ultramagnetic MC's, "Sneakin' in the Back" by Tom Scott, and "A Chorus Line" by Ultramagnetic MC's (Tim Dog). It is considered to be a "black solidarity" track, but has been attacked for its misogyny. A music video was made for the "Thump Mix" version of this song, but not for the album version. "Soul by the Pound (Thump Mix)" contains samples from "Pot Belly" by Lou Donaldson, "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim, "Jazz (We've Got)" by A Tribe Called Quest (Q-Tip), "Tonight's Da Night" by Redman, and "Check It Out" by Grand Puba with Mary J. Blige. The "Thump Mix" can be found on the Guidance Recordings compilation album 2001: A Rhyme Odyssey. 


Year:
2008
2:00
136 

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"Gimme a pound thank you man"
"Gimme a pound thank you man"
"Gimme a pound thank you man"
"Gimme a pound thank you man"
"Gimme a pound thank you man"
"Gimme a pound thank you man" 

I'm as bad bad as Leroy Brown Brown 
Yo I'm a pro pro but not a noun noun 
If you got beef beef then you'll get ground ground 
Cut up in soul soul by the pound pound 
I'm going downtown like Julie Brown I'm the round mound 
Not a rebound but like a hound I get down down 
Never wore a leash but I get loose 
Producin' somethin' fresher than fruits, got more soul than combat boots 
Diggin' two scoops of raisins for the troops out of some blazers 
So amazin' like Luther everyday Joe but not Bazooka 
I used to be a hooper but now I troop to shoot a free flow 
Me go with mi amigo, to see the Man named Chico 
The legal alienaeno, I roll the instrumentals 
Like Jack I be like Nimble never gentle to a bimbo 
Not your sex symbol so save that soft stuff for the Care Bears 
The way I freak funk oh the monkey's sayin', "Hell yeah" 
Correction, "Hell yes"; old folks want to cuss 
On how I walk talk and dress, they say my life's a mess 
But I'm straight, are you straight, if you straight, then I'm straight 
Rock me tonight, just for old time's sake 
Back to our regularly scheduled program, program 
I am so damn flam, I slam a slam, bam, I slam 
Like Conan the Barbarian, if you talk loud, I'll play librarian 
Cause see I want it quiet in here
I Mark a Markyiana a bunch of funky Uncle Thomas's 
Play like Christopher Williams cause I gotta keep my promises 
To stick to my roots and not dilute cause G this ain't two colors 
I'm tired of seein these non rappin' dancin motherfuckers 

"Gimme a pound, thank you man"
"Gimme a pound, thank you man"
"Gimme a pound, thank you man"
"Gimme a pound, thank you man"

For a record sale a nigga'll sell his soul to go gold 
And reach a large scale, sellin' for the pale male 
And I can't tell, why for a hoe you grow a tail 
And stop drinkin' ale, the booty probably smell 
Ain't no pussy worth a sale at least not for the kid to do a bid 
Shit you musta flipped you lid, you was wit you slipped you slid 
Got doo doo skids on my paper cause I got rhymes up the ass 
If I pass gas, ducks fast or gets trimmed like a mustache 
I must ask what's goin' on with rap, white kids actin black 
It's like McDonald's sellin' fatback 
Get back to your Mac, that stuff is wack with all these dance tracks 
I'm hearin' rap from Anthrax, my time the Caravan cracks 
You're wack, that's the only thing that's black Scooter 
When we was on the streets, you was at home on your computer 
I'ma shoot a dis well like a fist to all these wack groups 
Rhymes are wack as hell! And they sample wack loops 
I'm wonderin' how the hell they get a deal I still can't see that far 
I feel like Cypress Hill, I could just kill an A&R 
Or whoever's in Charge, it surely ain't Charles 
But you ain't G-in hip-hop, cause it's ours 

"Gimme a pound, thank you man" 
"Gimme a pound, thank you man"
"Gimme a pound, thank you man"
"Gimme a pound, thank you man"

It's sick you sick I'm sicker, I flick a flea flicker 
Think of that I boa constrictor but the venom I inflicta 
Is stricter, I stick I stick the stinkin' to a stunk 
If soda was a forty dog, then I would be like drunk 
If if was a fifth I would lift the fifth and a spliff 
It's not a myth about our dick width, I'm swift and I shoot the 
Presents 
In essence count your blessings I got a Wessun if you riff 
I'm a nigga with soul, my last name should be Smith-sonian 
I'm gassin' girls heads, just like petroleum 
Get em ready to bone me and, then I play custodian 
And turn off the lights this is the likes of a 
Ticketing wallowing high jumping radio rumping brother 
Got Seoul like Korea gimme an inch I'll take a liter 
A chick is a chick that's how I treat her 
Never go pop I'm not a two liter 
A true leader, don't choose to follow, choose what I swallow 
Whether water or a beer bottle, of course I play the lotto 
Wear em? No, share em? A hoe 
I like the girls the girls I share a life with a bro 
Cause you-A-see is family, much tighter than foundations 
That holds up the walls, so you better proceed with caution 

"Gimme a pound, thank you man" 
"Gimme a pound" 
"Gimme a pound" 
"Gimme a pound" 
"Gimme a pound"

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Common

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known by his stage name Common (formerly Common Sense), is an American rapper and actor. more »

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Written by: ERNEST WILSON, LONNIE LYNN

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Release Information
"Soul by the Pound" is a single released by American rapper Common (then known as Common Sense) in 1992. It was included in his debut album "Can I Borrow a Dollar?".
Change in Style
This song is considered to showcase Common's earlier rap style, which was influenced by jazz and had a lighter tone, unlike his later work which is more serious and contains more social and political commentary.
Music Video
The music video of "Soul by the Pound" had a fun, lively setting that included break dancing and graffiti, which was representative of the hip-hop culture of the 90s.
Thump Mix
"Soul by the Pound" is notably famous for its "Thump Mix" version that was released in 1993. This version outshined the original and gained more radio play.
Notable Lyrics
The song features a signature lyric "Common Sense, a sign of the times" – a nod to Common's original rap name, Common Sense.
Production Credit
Producer Immenslope provided the beat for "Soul by the Pound".
Career Impact
"Can I Borrow A Dollar?", the album that features "Soul by the Pound", didn't make a big commercial impact on release. However, the album and its singles, including "Soul by the Pound", laid the groundwork for Common's artsy, thoughtful brand of hip hop that would emerge in later works.
Critical Reception
While not a huge commercial success, "Soul by the Pound" and Common's debut album received praise from critics for their clever lyrics and inventive beats.
Sample Use
"Soul by the Pound" includes samples from "Hot Pants" by Bobby Byrd and "Live it Up" by The Isley Brothers.
Changes over Time
As a result of legal troubles over his original moniker, he had to drop the 'Sense' from his name.
Graphical Elements
The cover art for "Soul by the Pound" features an interesting caricature of Common, depicting him with a heart-shaped head and a pound symbol on his chest.
Style Critique
The song has been critiqued for being too pop-friendly and lacking the lyrical depth, which would later come to define Common's hip-hop style.

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