Released: March 28, 2000

Featuring: Yasiin Bey

Songwriter: Yasiin Bey Common J Dilla James Poyser

Producer: James Poyser J Dilla

[Hook: Common]
It's the questions (what..) it's the questions boy
It's the questions (What?) it's the questions c'mon
The questions (WHAT?) it's the questions boy
It's the questions (hah) it's the questions yeah
Talkin bout the questions, it's the questions y'all
It's the questions (what?) it's the questions, dig it
The questions (why?) it's the questions boy
It's the questions (huh?) that's what it's all about

[Verse 1: Common]
Yo, yo.. What is an emcee if the boy ain't got no back?
(I don't know, yo, he must be kinda wack)
What is paper to a nigga if the nigga don't stack?
(Yo, why the hell you askin me that?)
Why do these girls, look so good in the summer?
(I don't know, I'm just sayin this shit)
If you got ta-dat-ta-dat-tap for your lady wouldja wanna?
(Hmmm.. yeah, right)
Cause you answer the phone "peace" do that mean that you not a freak? (Hell no! That's right)
Cause you recognize me-e-e-e-e, yo, I got to speak?
(Why can't you speak? What you big a star now?)
Why you got-ta, act like, nigga, all the time
(Even on SUNDAY's you should..)
Is a nigga yo' complexion, is it all in your mind?
(It's all your mind..)
What's it called y'all?

[Hook: Common]
It's the questions (WHAT?) it's the questions boy
It's the questions (What?) it's the questions, yeah!
The questions (uhh) it's the questions y'all
It's the questions (WHAT?) it's the questions c'mon
The questions, it's the questions boy
It's the questions (ahh, uh ahh) it's the questions, yeah
The questions (yes) it's the questions boy
It's the questions - that's what it's all about

[Verse 2: Common]
Yo, if I'm a intellectual-al, I can't be sexual?
(I don't know, you wanna be sexual??)
If I want to uhh tah uhh does that mean I lack respect for you?
(I don't know you tell me..)
Youse a grown man, why fuck that young girl, are you lustin?
(I might look twenty but I'm 15 - slow down girl)
If you got paper like that, then why you still hustlin?
(Why you still hustlin? C'mon!)
Now you know yo' stomach too big, to be wearin a shirt like that
(Look at your stomach - ewww it's sloppy)
So why, you want, to go and do that?

[Verse 3: Mos Def]
Why ya why ya why ya why ya why ya wanna why ya wanna
Why ya wanna go and do that love huh?
Yo why your girl gi-giddy when my name come up?
{*female giggling*}
How come the industry build careers that don't last?
(Uh-huh, that's right, ask him)
How come niggas don't know but they front and don't ask?
(Mmmmhmmm) Man I don't know, I don't know

[Hook: Common]
It's the questions (WHAT?) it's the questions girl
It's the questions (What?) it's the questions c'mon
The questions (WHAT?) it's the questions Com
It's the questions (hah) it's the questions yeah
Yo we talkin bout the questions, it's the questions girl
It's the questions (the who, the where, the when, the why)
It's the questions, c'mon!!
The questions.. the questions y'all (yo we shoutin it out)
It's the questions - that's what it's all about

[Verse 4: Mos Def]
Yo, why they say never say never, when they know that ain't right?
(What???)
Cause to never say never you done said never twice
(They scrubs, that's why - yeah that's twice)
Why do I need I.D. to get I.D.?
(I don't know, beats me.. beats me)
If I had I.D. I wouldn't need I.D
(Hahahahah, that's right - that's true)
Why do these fine ghetto women got so much ass?
(Why'd you talkin about our ass though? C'mon now)
Why did Dr. J shave his beard and mustache?
(Like this.. and like this)
How you got high expectations but got low patience?
(C'mon, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know)
How come this joint named "The Questions" is so John Blazin'?
(Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh) Man I don't know, I don't know

[Hook: Common & Mos Def]
It's the questions (what..) it's the questions boy
It's the questions, it's just my questions black
Some questions - it's the questions y'all
It's the questions (what?) it's the questions, yo
Talkin bout the questions, it's the questions girl
It's the questions (what?) it's the questions, c'mon
The questions (which?) and we're shoutin it out
It's the questions (huh?) that's what it's all about, yo

Common

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known by his stage name Common (previously Common Sense), is a Grammy and Oscar-winning rapper and actor from Chicago, Illinois. Common’s inspired mix of poetic flow and hip-hop soul has helped him earn his status as one of the most respected rappers in the game.

After being a ball boy for his hometown Chicago Bulls as a teen and attending Florida A&M University for business administration, Common Sense kicked in and he left school to become a rapper. He gained national attention after being featured in the Unsigned Hype column of The Source magazine in 1991. He released his debut album Can I Borrow a Dollar? through Relativity Records in 1992, followed by his breakthrough second album Resurrection in 1994, which features his hip-hop classic single “I Used To Love H.E.R.”

As his career began to take off, he was sued by the music group Common Sense over the name, leading Common to drop the “Sense” and allude to the change in the title of his third album, One Day It’ll All Make Sense (1997). He has released several critically acclaimed albums, including Like Water For Chocolate (2000), which features his J Dilla-produced hit single “The Light”, and Be (2005), which was released under fellow Chicago musician Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint. He also joined musicians Karriem Riggins and Robert Glasper to form the group August Greene, and the trio released their self-titled album in 2018.