During the late 80’s and early 90’s, numerous West Coast hip-hop acts such as N.W.A., Snoop Dogg, and 2Pac arose, dominating the center of attention in mainstream hip-hop. This was due, in part, to the controversial nature of their lyrics. The advent of these artists marked a shift in the mindset of rap culture, as socially conscious hip-hop gave way for the ‘gangsta’ era of hip-hop.

Lyrics such as,

No matter what the name
We’re all the same
Pieces in one big chess game

Were soon replaced by,

Shoot a motherfucker in a minute
I find a good piece of pussy and go up in it

Common disapproves of these artists, because a great deal of their lyrics may seem hedonistic, materialistic, nihilistic, sadistic and misogynic, giving the genre a notorious reputation that continues to pervade hip-hop to this very day.

“Nobody goes to that restaurant any more–it’s too crowded” –Yogi Berra

Common goes on to complain about how debased hip-hop has become as too many people started rapping in a disrespectful manner

The background sample “Girl, he’s committed” is originally from the Jungle Brothers song “I’m Gonna Do You” off their 1988 debut album Straight Out The Jungle.

http://youtu.be/l2qr8gJRSGg?t=1m9s

While I’ve got a checking account and a bike, X has a couple 401(k)s, several customized cars and enough weed to probably pick up an intent-to-distribute

Pretty sure this is a reference to Onyx' single “Slam” (and, of course, a continuation of the metaphor of rappers debasing hip-hop)

However Common may be saying that rappers and “slamming” hip hop, which may refer to not being careful with it, and also he’s referring Hip Hop as a lady. (Being a gentleman is to be gentle with a woman)

While he used to complain about the ubiquity of rap in mainstream culture, Common himself has now sold out: Common has done ads for, among other businesses, Sprite, Gatorade and The Gap. He also recently made a guest appearance on the Jonas Brothers Lines, Vines and Trying Times

Furthermore, he’s also now technically universal: his records are released on Kanye West’s GOOD Music label, a division of Universal, the largest record company in the world

Common references the 1991 movie Boyz n the Hood starring Ice Cube as an example of the selling-out of hip-hop.

Cube took offense to these lyrics, which sparked a feud between the two rappers.

Actually, what Common was saying here was that he DIDN’T have a problem with hip-hop expanding to the west coast. Supported by the fact that his next line says “That was good for her. She was becoming well-rounded.” The word “salty” was Chicago slang for “mad” or “upset.” The line is often mistaken as “I was insulted she was with the boys in the hood,” which is what prompted Ice Cube to take offense.

This is rose-colored revisionism, I think. People like Sylvia Robinson and Tom Silverman were already looking to cash in, and the late Malcolm McLaren wasn’t far behind

On the other hand, it’s easy to argue that hip-hop is more materialistic than it used to be