Common’s Obama Center Freestyle Namechecks Fred Hampton, Operation Push, Harold Washington

CHICAGO — Chicago’s own Common (Luther High ’90) got the spotlight during the grand finale of the Obama Center’s opening ceremony Thursday, highlighting Chicago in a freestyle performed with four former presidents nearby.

At Stevie Wonder’s urging, Common broke into a rap during Wonder’s “Higher Ground” encore and namechecked slain Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, Chicago’s first Black mayor Harold Washington and Jesse Jackson’s Operation PUSH organization.

He also worked in fellow musicians who performed Thursday, including Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Eddie Vedder, John Legend and Jennifer Hudson. Former President Joe Biden seemed to delight in hearing his name being rapped, breaking into a broad smile. President George W. Bush, also named, was on his feet for the song.

Common also didn’t miss out on the guests of honor, singing “We don’t need no drama, respect Obama. And Michelle.”

Both Barack and Michelle Obama had already been on their feet to dance to Wonder, who had earlier told a story about how he envisioned Obama being president in 2004, long before he launched his first bid for the Oval Office.

Here are the lyrics of Common’s rap (as best as we can tell!):

Break it down, y’all
We can take it under.
I’m on stage with my man Stevie Wonder.

This is how it is,
South Side, 87
On stage with Jennifer Hudson and John Legend

This is how it be in the center, Obama Center.
It’s colder than winter.
So beautiful, so beautiful.

What I came to do, check it out, as usual
Usual like Common for me and you
This is the type of thing that we can do.
Like U2, just like Bono.
We came to rock here live with Chicago.

Yo, it’s like this,
We got the dream.
On stage with Bruce Springsteen.
How can it be, things be getting better.
Thank God I’m here with Eddie Vedder.

We get it all together
We can storm
[Inaudible] you know the whole form.

When it goes on,
It keeps going on.
On and on, yo I can keep lighting
You can say respect to Joe Biden.
President Biden and George Bush
This is how we do, yo Operation Push.

As I push on down,
I’m a keep jammin’
Respect to who? Fred Hampton.
And of course, all my people.
Harold Washington.
You know how we do, we all equal.

Saying the things, this is like this.
This Dr. King.
He did it like this
Common says we don’t need no drama.
Respect Obama
And Michelle.
This is how we dwell,
You can tell.
Check it out, never fail.

This is like this,
When I come down, y’all.
I can say, yo we can stand tall.

Yo, this is like this, Chi-town.
We going take you Stevie,
To a Higher Ground.

Listen for yourself here: