Sweet

Album: The Dreamer, The Believer (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • There's nothing sugary about this aggressive track, which is full of furious lyrics. "When I started 'Sweet,' as soon as I started talking on it, I was like, 'Yo, this is hip-hop, this is what I do,'" Common told MTV News. "It was a lot I had to get off my chest on that. And at the same token, I love hip-hop music and raw rap music, for me it was like, 'Man, I'm gonna go ahead and give them this side of me too.'"
  • The song finds Common mocking some unidentified "singing" MCs for getting all "Frank Sinatra" on their records. The Chicago MC denied he was directly targeting specific singer/rappers such as Drake. "The great thing about hip-hop, you definitely get motivated by other hip-hop artists," he explained to MTV News. "You get in the ring and you'll be like, 'Let's go,' but for me, it's like, I'm talking to whoever feels it, whoever when they hear it, they're like, 'Ooh, is that person talking about me?'"
  • The song samples Doris & Kelley's 1967 soul classic, "You Don't Have to Worry."
  • Common shot a video for the song during a visit to Haiti, which features the Windy City rapper driving through the streets of the country. When the visual was premiered on Ustream, fans were required to make a $1 donation to watch the footage. The funds went toward the J/P Haitian Relief Organization.
  • Common later admitted that the song is partly a jibe at Drake's vocal stylings. He told MTV News: "The verse is about me but when you hear some of the stuff on the chorus it's like you can't help but think about [the] dude and I guess that's what he felt. So at the end of day he fits in that category, he already embraced it, so wear it."

    Common went on to recognize Drake's talent, saying: "He's a very successful artist obviously and like I said, he's a talented artist too - I give credit where it's due."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

U2

U2Fact or Fiction

How did The Edge get his name? Did they name a song after a Tolkien book? And who is "Angel of Harlem" about?

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.