On "1,2 Many Niggas.." Common humorously rhymes about the over abundance of people with no direction in their lives. "Being in my video, what's that gonna do for your life? Get you some pussy!?!" He asks of those who don't have there priorities straight. This exemplifies the stage of life Common is in. In "Retrospect of Life" Common's bears he soul about the abortion his girlfriend had. The production, which features the singing of Lauren Hill, is a little sappy. This song seems a little but mishandled. This probably one of the few missteps NO ID, producer of the majority of the album makes. This album is very solid musically. Other highlights are Stolen Moments 1-3, a saga about Commons house being broke into in which the thieves had the audacity to have a meal and smoke a blunt. It kinda flips the coin. Usually mcs boast of their criminal activities not being victims. The honesty is felt all over the album. "Gaining Ones Definition (G.O.D)" has Common and Cee-Lo of the Goodie Mob tackle their doubts about religion. "...Curiosity killed the catechism" rhymes Common. G.O.D. is in the vein of B.D.P.'s Build and Destroy, in that it attacks the notion that the devil is the white man, and calls for people to study religious books themselves to find themselves. But this album isn't solely about confessions, and the struggles of life. There are plenty of party joints and battle cuts. De La Soul guests on "Getting Down at he Amphitheater" a song that utilize an old school beat from Wild Style. On the battle tip, Cannabis offers "...punch in the chest and make your shoulders touch" on "Making a Name for ourselves". Common attacks Immature and other pop R&B acts on Real Nigga quotes.
All and all, this album has original beats and lyrics. It is more then just a product. "One Day" is a genuine look at Common's life. The album has flaws, but they just reflect Common's human imperfection.