Common - one of the best in Hip Hop
I think Common has to be rated as one of the best Hip Hop/rap artist to date. With his latest release "finding forever", in my books, he just put himself in the Hip Hop hall of fame. With his first LP coming out in October of 1992 he has dropped 7 albums since then which are all classics in their own realm. He also has a few features and soundtracks he's on.
He started out with:
He dropped "Electric Circus" in December of 2002. With this album he collaborated with: Cee-Lo, Sunny of P.O.D., Pharrell Williams, Erykah Badu, Laetitia Sadier, Bilal , Omar Lyefook, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Lonnie Lynn, Dart Chillz, Vinia Mojica and Marie Daulne of Zap Mama. This album had more experimental sounds on it mixing Hip hop with Jazz, Funk, Soul, and acid rock elements. The sound was different than all his past albums but he still maintained his lyrical skills and showed that he can do these type of albums.
After such a great album in "Be" he drops "finding forever" on July 31st, 2007. His first single which is produced by Kanye West and features DJ Premier on the cut is the complete opposite to all the bubble gum, commercial ABC rhymes, simple R&B rap tracks that has taken over the rap world. He blazes the album with hard lyrics and he helps keep a balance in Hip Hop. Common proves that you can still do real Hip Hop from the heart. He doesn't have to follow the trend of wackness when it comes to singles and videos. He hasn't lost his soul in his music and is still able to uplift rap fans with his knowledge and pure Hip Hopness.
He started out with:
Can I Borrow a Dollar?
This album showed that a young Common Sense has skills and he can spit. It didn't break any sale records but definitely put him on the map.
Resurrection
He came out with this album in October of 1994, a few months after I opened Fat Beats. This album was an instant classic and gave him all the respect needed as a Hip Hop artist. Mista Sinista was deejaying for him back then and he did a tour with Organized Konfusion, The Artifacts, and The Beatnuts which I saw at the Limelight and it was Hip Hop history. You don't get that type of talent anymore at a show like that.
One day It'll All Make Sense
His next album was the real test. He came out swinging strong and dropped "One Day It'll All Make Sense" He already had the whole Hip Hop crowd and with the battle he had with Ice Cube, the rap world heard him cause he dropped some serious lyrics on The Bi*** In You single, when he went at Cube. He also embraced the neo-soul and R&B crowd with this LP. There was nothing to stop him now.
His next album was the real test. He came out swinging strong and dropped "One Day It'll All Make Sense" He already had the whole Hip Hop crowd and with the battle he had with Ice Cube, the rap world heard him cause he dropped some serious lyrics on The Bi*** In You single, when he went at Cube. He also embraced the neo-soul and R&B crowd with this LP. There was nothing to stop him now.
Like Water For Chocolate
He dropped this album in March of 2000. This is simply a great solid Hip Hop album that shows the transition in age. He got a little older on this album but was still able to flip his lyrics as the true lyricist he is while maintaining his B-Boy image.
He dropped this album in March of 2000. This is simply a great solid Hip Hop album that shows the transition in age. He got a little older on this album but was still able to flip his lyrics as the true lyricist he is while maintaining his B-Boy image.Electric Circus
He dropped "Electric Circus" in December of 2002. With this album he collaborated with: Cee-Lo, Sunny of P.O.D., Pharrell Williams, Erykah Badu, Laetitia Sadier, Bilal , Omar Lyefook, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Lonnie Lynn, Dart Chillz, Vinia Mojica and Marie Daulne of Zap Mama. This album had more experimental sounds on it mixing Hip hop with Jazz, Funk, Soul, and acid rock elements. The sound was different than all his past albums but he still maintained his lyrical skills and showed that he can do these type of albums.
Be
He took some time off and then dropped "Be" in May of 2005. He put out one single, "The Corner" before the album dropped. People were skeptical on what his next album was going to sound like and I think they were hesitant on buying this album right away. He smashed all critics with this album and it went on to sell over a million copies in the U.S. The album has 11 tracks with Kanye West producing 10 tracks and the late J.Dilla on one track. This album seemed to have the best of Common from Resurrection to Like Water From Chocolate and continues to sell decent numbers every week.
He took some time off and then dropped "Be" in May of 2005. He put out one single, "The Corner" before the album dropped. People were skeptical on what his next album was going to sound like and I think they were hesitant on buying this album right away. He smashed all critics with this album and it went on to sell over a million copies in the U.S. The album has 11 tracks with Kanye West producing 10 tracks and the late J.Dilla on one track. This album seemed to have the best of Common from Resurrection to Like Water From Chocolate and continues to sell decent numbers every week.finding forever
After such a great album in "Be" he drops "finding forever" on July 31st, 2007. His first single which is produced by Kanye West and features DJ Premier on the cut is the complete opposite to all the bubble gum, commercial ABC rhymes, simple R&B rap tracks that has taken over the rap world. He blazes the album with hard lyrics and he helps keep a balance in Hip Hop. Common proves that you can still do real Hip Hop from the heart. He doesn't have to follow the trend of wackness when it comes to singles and videos. He hasn't lost his soul in his music and is still able to uplift rap fans with his knowledge and pure Hip Hopness. Thank God for emcees like Common. Because of him, I still listen to rap/Hip Hop beyond 1998. Keep up the good work Common, Fat Beats will always support you.
