Hip Hop fans are a funny breed I tell you. Many folks for many years have looked to Common as a savior of sorts. It can all be traced to his seminal cut âI Used To Love Her,â because anyone that capable of breaking down the game like that is surely capable of righting the wrongs, right? But there is no saving what doesnât want to be saved; all he can do is write the wrongs. As Comâs traditional b-boy evolved into an experimentalist, his fans battled his direction and tried to keep him in their nicely constructed boxes. The result has been one of the most talented brothers to ever grace this culture being held to an unwavering scrutiny that would break most men. Like the old adage goes, you canât please them all. It has been apparent Common doesnât adhere to traditional thinking, which would explain why he has gone and pleased them all.
Yeah, yeah, I know. Some of you reading this arenât pleased, but shit, did you hear the reaction to âElectric Circus.â Album number six is Common coming full circle, returning to a vibe that etched his name into the annals of history in 1993. It just so happened that a friend and fellow Chi-Town native has brought back a sound that was the signature of the early 90âs. Some things are just meant to BE.
Much like his PNC Kanye West, Common brings his album to the masses with a single like no other on the radio. Backed by one of âYeâs finest beats to date, Common brings you to âThe Corner.â A vivid cut that mixes Hip Hopâs street sensibilities with Comâs gift for analysis. While many will likely expect the album to follow that sound, âBEâ on the whole is much smoother than its hard single. This will become more apparent with the silky second single âGoâ hits the airwaves. âFaithfulâ and âLove Isâ follow a similar vibe, and both feature Common at his best touching on something close to everyoneâs heart.
AD LOADING...
As has been the case his entire career, Common is at his best when he is getting introspective. Which is why the intro and title track are among the finest moments (the ridiculous beat from Kanye and Dilla doesnât hurt either). The pinnacle comes with; âWaitinâ for the lord to rise/I looked into my daughters eyes/and realize Iâma learn through her/the messiah might even return through her/if Iâma do it, I gotta change the world through her.â Of course Com has never been a slouch when it comes to the art of storytelling and âTestifyâ is no exception. His twisting story of the Queenpin is highlighted by Kanyeâs ever-excellent use of vocal samples. Kanyeâs horns on âReal Peopleâ damn near steal the show too, if only Common didnât keep up so effortlessly with his breezy flow.
Like any great album, there is no shortage of description or accolades that I could fill this review with. I could go on for days, cause I havenât even mentioned the like of âChi Cityâ or âItâs Your World,â but I only have so much room here. So maybe Iâll get to the part that everyone wants to know; is this better than Resurrection? Itâs a great album and some of the easiest 42 minutes of listening youâll ever do, but better than his sophomore opus? I donât know, ask me in 12 years. For now, just let it BE.