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Like Water For Chocolate

Common

2000

Like Water For Chocolate
Album Summary

Like Water for Chocolate is the fourth studio album by American rapper Common, released on March 28, 2000, through MCA Records. It was Common's first major label album and was both a critical and commercial breakthrough, receiving widespread acclaim from major magazine publications and selling 70,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified Gold on August 11, 2000, by the Recording Industry Association of America. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album has sold 748,000 copies by March 2005. The video for "The Light" was frequently shown on MTV, adding to Common's exposure. The album also formally marked the formation of the Soulquarians, a collective composed of Questlove (of The Roots), Jay Dee (formerly of Slum Village), keyboardist James Poyser, soul artist D'Angelo and bassist Pino Palladino, among numerous other collaborators. This group of musicians would also be featured on Common's next album, Electric Circus. The album's cover photo, 1956 Alabama by Gordon Parks, is a photo of a young black woman in Alabama, dressed for church, and drinking from a "Colored Only" drinking fountain.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.97

Votes

10099
Genres
Hip Hop
Soul

Reviews

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Sun Nov 21 2021
5

This album has a few issues, particularly in length and pacing. It’s a bit bloated, both in overall length and in a few songs that really could have been edited down a bit. But all that falls by the wayside with just how good of a vibe it puts out. Equal parts passionate and relaxed. I feel like I’ve been snatched away and placed into Common’s living room, and he is making some tea while telling me about some social issues he is passionate about. That is a feeling I can’t help but love.

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Thu Feb 10 2022
3

I'm not a big rap guy so getting rap albums is always tough for me here. So far all the rap albums mostly come from the US and represent a culture I did not grow up in and have never experienced. This makes it tough to judge these albums given how reflective they are of the society the respective rappers grew up in. However, compared to some of the previous rap albums I've gotten, this is more in my style. The beats are more jazzy and the flow is a bit more my style. Still the lyrics are a bit homophobic, which Common has admitted to saying he doesn't want to use any more which is always good to hear.

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Fri Jul 29 2022
2

I heard he was an antidote to the popular violence and misogyny of the era. I guess homophobia sounds so groovy we don’t mind?

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Mon Feb 08 2021
1

some good beats, but god damn common is an ass rapper and some of the content does not age well, some homphobic themes.

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Thu Jan 14 2021

Classic 80's sound. Love her voice. Full of fun and sad songs

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Mon May 24 2021
4

Very enjoyable, I haven't listened to any common before. I like the jazz influence, the whole thing works well

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Sat Mar 06 2021
3

A lot of this album comes from a place of pain, but it is a thing of beauty. Not as good as Pimp a Butterfly, but still quite remarkable. I, weirdly, mostly know Common as an actor. To hear him in his original environment is a real treat. Not sure that this is my favorite thing ever, but I'm curious to check out the rest of his work.

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Tue May 25 2021
3

It's..okay. Song for Assata is great, but most of the album is a bit of a slog, about 20 minutes too long. Marred by homophobia and misogyny in spite of Common calling his girl his equal multiple times

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Wed Jan 12 2022
1

Very boring, nothing here that I enjoyed at all. And to top it off, it's too long.

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Sun Nov 21 2021
5

So the thing about Common, is the he is an excellent lyricist with a special sound. I feel uplifted, and yet, grounded when listening to him. He absolutely captures a cup of coffee in the middle of the city on a Thursday morning for me. Sometimes it is cheesy, I'll just say that is a little cream cheese on a bagel with my coffee. I can't always put this on, but I can for sure put it on every morning.

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Sat Mar 16 2024
5

I think I’m going to rate this a 5, mostly because of Dilla’s production. Don’t get me wrong, Common’s in fine form here - I think this is his best record - and no disrespect to the other producers on this record, but the fact that Dilla’s Donuts isn’t on this list needs to be remedied and this is the best I can do, with limited sway, to right that wrong.

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Thu Jul 22 2021
4

Another great hip-hop album. Common has great flow and the beats are funky.

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Sun May 09 2021
4

Liked it much more than I thought I would, since Common generally doesn't do much for me. Overlong, but saved by great production.

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Thu May 20 2021
4

Can't believe I've never heard Common before. The production is brilliant in this album, with phased vocals, tasteful use of synths, keys, trumpets and strings, a bass tone that's compressed to a satin chocolate finish, and rich, measured backing vocals. Common's flow is great and the tribute he pays to african american music from the past 50 years is dense as hell. Through Jazz, blues, disco, funk, RnB (especially on the keys), soul, and others, Common elevates the music of black artists onto his own personal pedestal, and then takes inspiration from it to create something really exciting and original. It drags a bit in the middle for me maybe, but that's the only complaint I have - and Common's reluctance to fall into patterns of singing about the same tropes that a lot of 90s hip-hop singers did is not only refreshing, but it also allows him to touch on some really emotional and personal points of interest. "Save the war stories for Private Ryan"

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Wed Nov 24 2021
4

The sound blends a bunch of genres together, including funk and afrobeat, but also electronic to create a product that sounds very much like a product of its time, yet excels in its endeavors with each track. Maintained momentum all throughout, with tracks blending into each other. Only exception is that I found the clarity in its pop track "The Light" to be a sore thumb. Despite this, I found the length to be a huge weakness, starting to lose focus near the middle. Had to drop and come back to the second half later, but it's still full of good tracks. Use of spoken word works well for covering political topics, like "The Questions" to make it super easy for audience to follow along on first listen. Favorite tracks: Time Travelin, Heat, Dooinit, Funky for You

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Sun Jul 17 2022
4

Thought I wouldn't enjoy this as much as I used to due to seeing through the 'conscious' part of 'conscious rap' now (which I did), but the flow and production is lovely. However, ain't no-one falling for the 'I would rather have a meaningful conversation than sex with all these fine ladies" stuff, that's defo just another way to try and get laid. Also, I'm not homophobic, I just don't want them to bring it around me is not exactly conscious rap! However, I don't judge rap albums by their morals.

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Mon Feb 15 2021
3

Eine Platte, die sich nicht so gut eignet um Sonntagmorgens noch im Bett liegend aus dem Nebenzimmer gehört zu werden. Dann klingt sie hektisch und unausgewogen und man möchte lieber Jazz anmachen und eine schöne Tasse frisch gebrühten Bohnenkaffee serviert. Hört man sie aber dann per Kopfhörer zB in der Bahn oder später auf dem Sofa im Wohnzimmer, dann wirkt sie viel ausgewogener einerseits, und edgier/kantiger und geschliffener als die andere Common neulich andererseits. Gefällt mir dann auch gut und bekommt verdiente 3,5 Sterne.

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Wed Jul 12 2023
3

77 minutes? When I look up unfamiliar contestants on Spotify, the record length is all I look for. Pressed play and got ready to kick the shit out of this record, and finally roll out a long-brewing rant about the bloat of turn of the millennium hip hop albums. Unfortunately, the first track's so good and unusual, it quelled my rage and I started listening closely. Sweetly placed afrobeat flourishes from the start made my nose twitch, and while the opener, 'Time Travelin' (A Tribute to Fela)', is a standout, it is not an outlier. The involvement of J Dilla makes sense when I look this up: the record has a wriggle to it. It is overlong, though. I only had time to listen to it once. I may listen to it again.

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Sun Jun 26 2022
1

Hip hop. Why are so many of these albums on this list? Annoyed 1/5

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Wed Nov 04 2020
5

An excellent blend of global sounds that feels as important in the 2020 climate as it likely did in the 2000 climate.

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Sat Mar 06 2021
5

Production: 15/20 Songwriting: 14/20 Innovation: 15/20 Bangers: 20/20 Emotional response: 16/20 =80 Banging stuff

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Tue Mar 23 2021
5

2 - "Freaky like Marv Albert in outfits" 7 - The Questions é MUITO boa 8, 9, 10, 11 - sequencia absurda de batidas PIKA Depois de pesquisar eu entendi o pq eu gostei tanto desse álbum: ele é todo produzido pelo J Dilla. Conceitualmente é muito muito bem feito, liricamente também, as batidas também. Se esse álbum fosse um jogador de basquete ele seria o Anthony Davis. O que que ele não consegue fazer? Você examina a habilidade defensiva, muito bom. Beleza, então ele deve ser um passador ruim? Não. Então ele é um zelador: defende, rebote, assistência? Também não. Ele faz tudo que precisa e faz muito bem. A imersão que esse álbum causa na história que ele conta é absurda. Ele é balanceado, pega fogo no miolo e termina muito bem.

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Wed May 12 2021
5

It's not Be, but it comes close

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Tue Apr 20 2021
5

Che bellissima production! Il beat e` super soft e raffinato e i momenti jazz e funk si fondono benissimo. Hip hop jazz funky super elegante e coinvolgente.

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Wed May 12 2021
5

I should listen to more Common

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Thu Jan 20 2022
5

Awesome album. Lyricism is top notch, and the beats are immaculate. Questlove and J Dilla on production is such a dream team and they really show out. The feature list is great too with Slum Village, Mos Def, MC Lyte, Bilal, etc. It's one of those albums that you have to keep coming back to in order to really dive into all of its nook and crannies of both lyrical meaning and musicality. Also my neck is sore from nodding my head for over an hour straight.

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Fri Jun 17 2022
5

Great album, I’m surprised I didn’t listen to this when it was out 20 years ago, it was exactly the kind of thing I was into. Awesome production, nice tone and flow but I was surprised by the amounts of niggers, hoes, gats and fags included: not quite as conscious I was expecting.

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Thu Sep 15 2022
5

Not even halfway through this and I've already added it to my library. Don't know how I've never heard this before but some absolute heat is on this record.

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Thu Oct 06 2022
5

4.5. Superb album, great mix of excellent music with incisive lyrics. Standouts: Cold Blooded, The Light, Funky For You, The 6th Sense. Thelonius, Geto Heaven Part Two, A Song For Assata, Pops Rap III...All My Children.

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Thu Jul 06 2023
5

Probably his best album although I do have a soft spot for those first 2 records

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Thu Aug 10 2023
5

Fantastic album throughout. It’s definitely a product of it’s time, but Common has apologised for these lyrics and is always trying to improve himself, so I think it’s important to bear that in mind.

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Thu Aug 10 2023
5

Какое-то время мне нравился рэп, но недолго. Потом я стал ненавидеть звучание этой музыки, потому что все песни казались одинаковыми: скучный и однообразный флоу, бессмысленность текстов и наплевательское отношение к миру читающих эту ересь. Но! Этот альбом меня поразил. Он основан на всей той афроамериканской музыке, которую делали в 50s, 60s и так далее. Тут есть и элементы соул, и фанка, и RnB, трубы напоминают о джазе, но не сильно. То, как читает Common - очень круто: под мощную ритм-секцию голос отлично ложится. На фоне играет то орган, то скрипки, то гитара, что создает разнообразие для каждой композиции. Также хотелось бы отметить работу бэк-вокалисток: просто класс, задорно и весело! Думаю, что к этому альбому я еще вернусь, хоть на нем и есть песни, не вызывающие никаких эмоций, как и на любой, впрочем, пластинке. Любимые композиции: «Light», «6th Sense», «Funky For You», «Time Travellin» и «Geto Heaven».

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Sun Oct 22 2023
5

Common is a product of the golden era of hip hop and unfortunately due to his lack of radio play left him mostly forgotten over time by anybody who isn't a big fan of hip hop. It's a shame too because Common shares a lot of the same skill sets that the greats like Andre 3000 have. In songs like Cold Blooded he showcases his lyricism as he crams an ungodly amount of rhymes into a couple bars. For example: "The stylist and violence with vibrance The sign of times with rhyme shit is timeless" And "With penitentiary talk, Coke and Hennessy walk My imagery talks, metaphors and similes stalk" He has the ability to paint a picture and portray thought out concepts throughout a verse. Take verse 3 from 6th sense for example: Some days I take the L to gel with the real world Got on at 87th, sat by this little girl She recites raps, I forget where they was from In em, she was saying how she makes brothers cum I started thinking, how many souls hip-hop has affected How many dead folks this art resurrected How many nations this culture connected Who am I to judge one's perspective? Though some of the shit y'all bop to, I ain't relating If I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean I'm hating I just want to innovate and stimulate minds Travel the world and penetrate the times Escape through rhythms in search of peace and wisdom Raps are smoke signals letting the streets know I'm with 'em He even has the ability to tell a story throughout the course of a whole song. Take A Film Called (PIMP) and A Song For Assata for example. I have always heard about some modern rappers who were heavily influenced by Common but I never really took the time to sit down and digest his stuff. Excellent album with a ton of replay value.

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Thu Nov 30 2023
5

First time I've ever listened to a complete album by Common and this did not disappoint. I can't think of any reason this shouldn't get a 5. The production and rapping are incredible and gel together well. The entire album is great, but The 6th Sense is my favorite.

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Thu Dec 07 2023
5

Really enjoyable, I loved the story-telling in particular. Not sure it needed so many skits and interludes, but I also know this is the way most hip-hop albums flow, so it would perhaps sound oddly like a compilation without them. I think I prefer his debut, but this is still solidly 5 🌟 for me. An underappreciated artist in my opinion, and one who deserves much more recognition.

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Thu Dec 14 2023
5

Seems to me this was intended as a double album, not only due to the length but the abrupt transition from Time Travelin’ Reprise to The 6th Sense. An aside - The static on 6th Sense leading into the iconic “revolution is here” intro had me longing to use it as a lead-in track for the hip hop mixtapes I made for girls in high school. After all Common’s voice is a well known aphrodisiac (it’s not just the nag champa). But goddam Common had to put an annoyingly long interlude at the end of the track about men as hypocrites and smacking hoes. Needless to say the feminist chicks I dug in high school weren’t having that and they were deprived of one my all time favorite DJ Premier beats. Alas! Anyways I wanted to dock the album a star for that and it being too long. I was ready to do so and then A song for Asata came on and I knew this had to be 5 stars. It’s a bit of an all star group with Common joined by the Soulquarians (Questlove, Dilla, etc). The beats are solid throughout ans aside from a few dumbass homophobic and misogynist lines the flow and lyricism are on point.

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Mon Jan 08 2024
5

interesting latin sounding opener, cool guitars in the background, it's also a tribute to Fela Kuti which is cool, overall really groovy and jazzy, nice and long album too, I like that a lot over the very short albums, nice and funky outro on Nag Champa, thought it was leading into the next track, but that took another turn

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Wed Jan 31 2024
5

Great from the first note. Not I would listen to specific songs (maybe), but as an album I could definitely put this on

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Fri Mar 01 2024
5

I had never given Common much attention before but that's two albums I have heard from him now and they are both brilliant. Production on them is second to none.

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Tue Mar 12 2024
5

This is a pretty great album. 5/5

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Thu Sep 03 2020
4

Surprisingly pleasant and skillfully produced hip hop

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Thu Oct 01 2020
4

Ægte hiphop, lyrisk, afslappet

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Fri Nov 06 2020
4

Added to my collection. Very chill and conscious lyrically.

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Tue Apr 13 2021
4

Solid, can't remember comments anymore but ya 4.

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Wed Jan 20 2021
4

Mfer is sense. Way too deep for a surface level listen.

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Fri May 28 2021
4

Awesome album. Introduced me to Common

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Thu Jan 14 2021
4

Solid, absolutely good tunes.

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Fri Jan 15 2021
4

Slow jamming.... altogether nice album for a low key vibe, productive.

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Tue Jun 29 2021
4

Very good album. Common is definitely underrated.

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Thu Jul 22 2021
4

Very much in my "like" territory as far as hip goes, an artist I haven't listened to enough. Especially effective deployment of guest artists.

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Wed Jan 20 2021
4

Not what I usually listen to, but I appreciated the complexity of the sound

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Wed Mar 03 2021
4

very good, quite long but good

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Mon Jan 18 2021
4

Good compilation of well known songs. But seems like cheeting to call it an album

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Tue Mar 30 2021
4

really enjoyed it more than I thought I would

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Wed Jan 20 2021
4

Had some good flooooow. Didn't listen closely, but I liked it and will probably re-listen.

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Thu Jan 28 2021
4

Still not the biggest fan of Common, but super funky beats. Good for driving.

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Sat Feb 06 2021
4

Best tracks: Time Travellin’, Dooinit, The 6th Sense

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Sat Apr 03 2021
4

This album is so good. I liked this a lot more than Be.

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Thu Apr 22 2021
4

Mos def, dj Premier lauter Guade sachan

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Mon Jul 05 2021
4

A surprise find here - Really enjoyed it throughout and will go back and listen again

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Sat May 22 2021
4

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Heat, The Light, A song for Assata

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Fri May 21 2021
4

Classic, smooth hip-hop. Conscious ideas. Favorite song(s): Questions, 6th Sense

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Mon May 24 2021
4

Como Agua Para Chocolate. Más allá de las atractivas influencias jazzeras y de neo soul de este álbum, el lirismo y la producción son los protagonistas indiscutidos. Sin duda de los mejores trabajos de Common. Para mí un sólido 7/10

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Thu Jun 10 2021
4

Jazzy, a la Guru, vocal flow I can’t diagram. Really good instrumentals. J Dilla on production for most tracks.

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Tue Jul 20 2021
4

Definitely a record that deserves a deeper dig… what was happening socially, politically, and around the world in the late 90s? Quite a bit of variety and his voice is top

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Sun Aug 01 2021
4

Tres bon album de new york rap. Dj premiere, une belle decouverte j’ai hate d’en entendre plus. 4.65

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Thu Sep 23 2021
4

Common fucks, and this album is great

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Fri Oct 22 2021
4

Super bon album de rap avec des bonnes influences jazz

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Fri Dec 03 2021
4

pretty cool album, I love old-school hip-hop it does sound a little dated tho, I feel like for a rap album from 2000, he could’ve been doing something a little newer overall 7/10

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Mon Dec 20 2021
4

I really like the groove this album cultivates. Smooth, jazzy, bass lines that are lyrical as fuck. Definitely one of the better rap / hip hop albums I've heard so far. Aside from the groove the raps seem interesting and intelligent, at least at first blush. Bears further investigation to get the full feel of this very good album 4.25 🌟

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Thu Dec 23 2021
4

At first the production is a bit rough and distorted, so it is hard to enjoy, but then it really picks up and some great tunes come out of it. Common is remarkable and technically proficient rapper that can rap about anything and sound great. That should be the focus of the album.

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Fri Jan 14 2022
4

Loved this, smooth rap some really catchy hooks and beats

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Thu Jan 20 2022
4

I will be listening to this album again. Loved the meaningful lyrics with the slow groove. Favourite songs: The Light, The 6th Sense Payback is a Grandmother, Pops Rap III

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Fri Jan 28 2022
4

This was an incredibly enjoyable album. The beats were strong and I could hear influences ranging from Latin music to funk and nineties R&B. Common is also a very gifted lyricist and rapper. My only complaint is the 77 minutes runtime.

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Thu Feb 10 2022
4

Very intelligent lyrically combined with fun beats.

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Thu Feb 10 2022
4

Hadn't listened to Common before. Liked it, not my favorite rap but told some interesting stories in some songs.

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Fri Mar 04 2022
4

Probably a better party album than anything. Common does some of the best story songs

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Thu Apr 07 2022
4

In genere mi fa schifo l'hip hop, ma qua mi devo ricredere, mi è piaciuto.

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