COMMON
- Be (GOOD/Geffen)
The solo rapper can be a curious artist in today's association-driven
society. Common is a perfect example. Not breaking out from an
already established group, or aligning himself with any particular
clique, he has been traveling down his own road since his debut,
Can I Borrow a Dollar. Growing in popularity and status throughout
the '90s, his pinnacle would be '97's One Day It'll All Make Sense
and 2000's Like Water for Chocolate. Common's underground scope
broadened with these two records, welcoming producer ?uestlove,
along with Erykah Badu, Cee-lo and Mos Def. All this stargazing
led to 2002's ?uestlove - produced Electric Circus, featuring
a ton of guests (including Laetitia Sadier, the Neptunes and Mary
J. Blige). Some proclaimed this album to be a masterpiece while
many others called it a "psych-hop freakout mess." It
was definitely a record that divided the fans. Like many rappers,
Common had fallen victim to following his producer's lead in sculpting
his musical vision.
Three years later, it seems as if he's learned something from
the process; his newest full-length is an easygoing, warm and
welcome return to form from one of the most lyrical voices around.
Be finds the Windy City resident inspired by, and writing about,
his hometown. Produced by fellow Chicagoan Kanye West (who supplies
plenty of cut up loops borrowed from old soul 45s), and with two
tracks from Detroit beathead J-Dilla, Common keeps it close at
home with a minimal amount of contributors this time: John Legend,
John Mayer, the Last Poets, his dad, and, of course, plenty of
guest verses from Kanye.
Hearing Common can often be like listening to an older uncle's
musings about life and love in the urban world. Delivered in simple,
everyday language yet full of insight, Common's unique style is
filled with honesty, spirit and maturity. Like De La Soul albums,
Common crafts hip-hop for the over-30 crowd, yet his music should
be equally heard by the youngsters. Smart, soulful and enduring,
there aren't any party jams or any rock-hop fusions, just raw,
head-nodding loops and uplifting soul shouts. |
