Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Not my kinda stuff
Never listened to Common but was excited because of the Common I perceive today...but this was 25 years ago...sooooo First off the music...The jazz and afrobeats were unique and appreciated it. It wasn't overwhelming bass or samples that were mixed together and overpowering to the lyrics. How he delivered the lyrcis was also good...he wasn't yelling or growling the lyrics in a way that made them hard to hear. He can sing, rap quick, rap slow creating a good unique delivery. Now the actual lyrics...I did not grow up in the same culture so I tried to look at it through his lens, some were trying to make a point of hypocrisy in the culture (end of the 6th Sense and A film Called) but then other times he really incorporates the misogyny into the lyrics without apology or a point, he really means. Then there is the homophobic lyrics, there isn't any point he is trying to make there, except homophobia. I want to believe he is better today...so I will try to not let the last two taint the album too much. Overall its different, good but not great.
My favorites were Heat and Cold Blooded (which looks like those are some of the least popular tracks on this album). I like the subtle funk groove behind those songs. The Light is a good rap love song (don't hear too many of those). The rest of the album gets a little too R&B for my taste. A Song for Assata ends with a thought provoking commentary about freedom. Freedom is the right to grow, to blossom, and to be truly yourself.
The Rap/Jazz and occasional Soul combo sounds incredible to me. Lyrically this leans into Gangsta Rap, with violent verbage tossed around like a salad. It’s good for its genre, but overall it’s not for me.
This album definitely has a "cool" factor to it as he commentates on society and black culture. The songs are creative and well composed, and he's super talented. The guest collaborators add a lot of interesting layers to his storytelling too. Overall, I thought this was super solid!
always like comon's flow and sound. some good colab but not his best work
Love this album so much! In particular, it has many more uplifting lyrics than most of the genre. Common is a national treasure. After seeing the dedication to Fela, I looked it up. It is, indeed, Fela Kuli, and apparently because of his activist movement. I learned after that about Fela's beating after making Zombie, so I listened to that album next. Splendid evening all the way through.
Good rap album. Nice beats, soulful, and funky but for whatever reason just didn't really grab me. Favorites: 6th Sense, Lights
This was ok, but wouldnt listen to again
Honestly, this is proto Kendrick. It should have more of a following. That being said, it's when I kinda stopped caring about him.
Just re-read my review of Be while listening to the opening tracks. Yeah we will see if this remains interesting for 78 minutes. The music is decent, can't say I'm particularly impressed in the raps. But there's a fair bit of Fela and Femi in here, which you know, you can't argue with. All the stuff in the middle about pimping might have had irony or a strong message or it might have been simply garbage but it lost me in the middle. Aaaand, nothing after that grabbed me and the jazz seemed dialled back, so I really lost interest. Song for Assata was quite good to be fair. But too little too late.
This is an early 2000's hip hop album, which is actually the first rap album I got on my album generator, believe it or not. Admittedly, I was not very thrilled when I saw it because hip hop and rap are not exactly my forte. It's not that I don't like it, I just never reach for it and this album made me wonder why I don't. I'm figuring out that I love albums that are smooth and easy listening; albums that create a vibe and an atmosphere. This album definitely does that. I can see the concrete jungle of American metropolitan life, I can smell the bodega coffee, the steam from the subway, I can hear the distant sirens. It's a timeless record with great production and interesting commentary about life on the streets. Though, there is homophobic lyrics in there, some hints of misogyny in there... which sucks. Big time. You could make excuses such as the time this album was made but still, it's disappointing. Though, name me a rap album from this time that didn't use any of that language. I'm going to surprise myself and say this could be a four star album, I could see myself listening to this on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
Dragged a bit.
я не понимаю прикола рэпа в целом, мне тяжело оценивать рэп альбомы и этот альбом в целом. Скажу, что просто прикольно, 3/5, меня не цепляет
Just didn't quite hold my attention, namely bc the genre isn't for me, but there were some interesting beats and lyrics for sure. I did like 6th Sense.
Back in the day, I had some friends who were really into Common, so listening to this album was like a trip down memory lane. The lyrics capture that early 2000s hip-hop vibe, and Common’s smooth style meshes perfectly with the production. What stood out to me the most was the easygoing, smooth, and jazzy feel of the beats.
..
longer, more dated (the pimp skit makes me a lot more uncomfortable than the f slur uses lol), and less potent in overall mood than Be, which i have to admit makes the overall package a bit worse and harder to get excited about, but as neat as peak-era kanye is, he's just got nothing on j dilla in the position of Most Prominent Beatmaker For An Album and that deffo makes me understand anyone who prefers this record. dilla's drum programming is the stuff of legends, and even beyond that this whole record musically is just exquisite and subtle and rewarding. they do frankly often outshine common's presence, but ultimately they work in tandem with his delivery being the anchor that allows the whole beat to reach its max musical potency. definitely still a couple hangups but man...a ton of this has my heart
Really just not my thing.
I'm not into rap or hiphop usually but this one felt kinda refreshing. A little too long but still ok. Can't tell about the lyrics, I'm not a native speaker, so most of the songs especially playing on the background sound like simlish.
Kinda boring sound.
Not really a rap fan, but still enjoyed this album.
Albumi #146, 13.02.2025 Common oli tähän saakka tuntematon rap-artisti. Varsin jees meininki.
I love the layering of the sound throughout this album. The composition and timing inspires me to listen to every word and note throughout each song. This album is for adults.
In the 00s, in the midwest where I grew up, if you listened to Common you were cool as hell. I once knew this white dude with dreads that talked about nothing but Common and consciousness-raising rap. He was actually kind of a douche. I just don't mess with white dudes that regularly join local public rap battles. Anyway this album was nice.
Soulful, deep, and warm!
I'm an unabashed Soulquarian fanboy. Questlove and J Dilla in the same space? So much genius and skill there. And the music on this doesn't disappoint. The beats are so tight and complex. Everything is carefully constructed and dialed in. There isn't a single note out of place or extraneous part. That attention to detail they have here is inspiring. Now, Common on the other hand is not my favorite rapper. He's pretty middle of the pack, and his career is spotty. But man, they do manage to elevate him here. The blatant homophobia and misogyny is really, really unfortunate. It distracts from everything else that is so good. Cold-Blooded and The Light are just phenomenal songs.
I generally dig Common's work, 6th Sense is one of my favorite hip-hop songs of all time, but listening to this album front-to-back in 2025 was a confounding experience. It is jarring to hear someone who is so clearly in tune with and supportive of the struggle to liberate oppressed people causally use slurs. I mean there is a tribute track to Assata Shakur on here for fuck's sake, and the album cover itself plus countless other lyrics I could point to that makes the glaring homophobia seem even more bizarre and out of place. It bums me out to rate this so low, but I also see the argument for giving it a 1 despite all the redemptive qualities.
Standouts: “Thelonius”, “A Song For Assata” As someone that is drawn to whatever the bass is doing, these songs got repetitive with the bass looping over and over for the whole song. But every song has some sort of hook that drew my ass in
This genre was what got me into hip-hop: “conscious” rappers of the early 2000s, with more songs and less focus on loops and samples, and fewer battle raps. Common, The Roots, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, even Kanye all mined that same vein and made some fantastic records. Unfortunately they all suffer the same pitfalls. Weirdly out-of-place misogyny and homophobia, and random swings back into thug credibility. I guess maybe Common was trying to prove he was hard while also including some love songs on a rap recording? I don’t know. Black Thought and Kweli are also incredibly talented documentarians and commenters that can’t resist a few ridiculous detours. Anyway, the songs here sound awesome. The Soulquarians bring a badass live vibe, and the Premier track is a welcome throwback to the previous generation of rap. Common has a fantastic voice and IS a fantastic voice most of the time. I appreciate the Afrocentrism that Common and others were emphasizing. I still think Be is a better record, but maybe that’s because I found it first.
Liked the intro
Some good catchy songs on this album. As with a lot of music in the genre it unfortunately doesn't hit as hard when English is your second or third language since it requires looking up the lyrics and reading along to get the depth of rap and that in turn requires me to get interested enough in the song to look that deep in to it. I still enjoyed the album and the beats bobbing along catching bits and pieces here and there.
I've tried Common in the past, just not my vibe. It was an interesting listen but still not my thing. I gather the message is a good one but too much N word and generic rhythms with a shallow bottom end to catch my attention. It's a popular album with a ton of listens from top to bottom. The biggest tracks were "The Light" & "The 6th Sense", neither of which I'd ever heard. It sounds older than 2024, the music was just weak and not compelling enough for me to dive in and enjoy. Not my genre, not by groove so it's hard to rate this one.
Don't mind the style, don't like the attitude.
Nope, sorry, not for me - I can appreciate the work that's gone into it, but don't like the sentiment behind most of it and just don't want to listen.
Sounds like Eminem
I'd like an instrumental version of this album that was about 30 minutes shorter. Some seriously purile lyrics in there. was looking forward to this one after listening to and enjoying Be.
Well, this confirms I like Common. Most of this album is really really excellent. Wasn't crazy about the opening track, but maybe that'll change over time. It's not perfect, but the music is great throughout and I appreciate most of his lyrics. I'll definitely have to dig through the rest of his work now.
same old stuff
I hadn't heard any of it before. Some good songs in there
Its not a bad album, but it suffers with the 2000's bloated syndrome. The beats are great and Common's lyrics are great too, but there are just too many songs on here and looses it's impact by the end.
A bit too long but nice enough to get 3
I read the Wiki before listening and was excited to realize how involved artists like J Dilla and Questlove were with this album. I love Donuts, so I thought I'd be really into this. I'd say I liked it, not loved it. The length didn't work for me, and has kept me from giving it a second listen. So it sits at a 3 for now.
great relaxed vibe , a few questionable lyric choices , but largely positive. maybe 4 songs too long? 3.5
This misses me by a little. Perhaps the lack of shared experience and the general low key vibe combine to make it difficult to engage. Not bad per se, just that in sitting on a train at the station, and I look out the window and see another train on the other track. The people on that train are doing something interesting, and they all look like they're into it, but I can't tell what it is. Then the trains both leave in different directions, and pretty soon I forget about it all together. Three stars.
Good, with nice smooth beats and a jazzy feel to it, but darn it's just too long
It does sound like "common" rap. Or perhaps it's truly innovative. I don't have much of a baseline for rap to know. I have to hold it lightly until I listen a couple more times. 3/3
I like Common alright but by about the halfway point I was kind of tired of this and ready to be done. 2.5
Hip hop classic! I love those. It's got some nice features too!
The Questions A Film Called (PIMP) Geto Heaven Part Two (with Macy Gray) Sounds like Common influenced Kendrick Lamar
not my genre, but super cool production
The beats are sick, I am not a real big fan of his raps or voice. It was probably of it's time, but definitely some overarching homophobia and similar things. Beats 5/5 raps 1/5 = prolly a 2/5
2nd album from this guy and he still delivers. New favourite rapper. Soulful and good vibes overall. I round down 3.5 stars due to length and skits. Stand-out: Funky For You, The 6th Sense
Like water for passing.
as muck
Partly quit funky - very "Roy Hargrove"-funky, which I like. Partly too much rapping, which I am not so fond of. But ok as a whole.
Not my genre. But I was feeling it.
CD
This is the exact style of hip-hop that is difficult for me to appreciate over the course of an entire record. Taken out of context, there’s probably not a single song here I wouldn’t like fine enough, and I recognize and appreciate the talent of both Common and J Dilla, but the overall sound and atmosphere just proves to be wayyyy too stagnant for me for an hour and 20 minutes. 3/5
I wanted to like this album, but its just not doing it for me. I've never really listened to Common before, maybe I'll come back to him later, but this album felt like a slog to get through.
Ooph this album is LONG. And strangely homophobic I did not expect that to be honest. Edited down some it could have maybe been a 4 but it just doesn’t meet the mark overall.
Given the era and what I know about Common, I expected to like this, but I just couldn't. It's a bit of a mess at times.
нормалек. такой вид хип-хопа (семплированный, ближе к джазу) боле-менее нравится. подойдет для вечеринок)
Ass
Tiene buenos samplings y algun que otro tema bueno, no es malo, es normal; prefiero mil veces mas el album "Be" del 2005 del mismo artista. Mas Corto y mejor producido.
Sounds fun
I'm not the biggest rap fan, and when I am I lean to more of the British stuff, or grime. I do like the jazz inspiration through, that relaxed funkier sound is more my style and I didn't dislike this. As a rapper, I don't know if he stands out, and I didn't listen to the words a huge amount. The album is also pretty long, but I don't actively dislike it. I wouldn't be unhappy if someone put it on. Just super chill background music. Everything blurs together a little.
I think I listened to this album when I was younger a few times but I only remember a few of the tracks. A little to ‘jazzy’ for me at times.
Am really quite enjoying the exposure to genres that I simply wouldn't have been aware of or noticed "back-in-day". Do I love it more than REMs "Out of Time", well, no. But is it a well put together jazzy / funky slice of hip-hop. Very much so.
Good background music, but not really into rap/hip hop
A bit longer than I'd like and overstays its welcome a bit but there are some cool songs and I like the production. 3.5
This is well-crafted, but I just don't like listening to rap music sry
One of my favorite hip hop albums. Dilla forever. Part of the soulquarians sessions w things fall apart, mamas gun and voodoo
I really did not like this album much at all. And there are aspects of it I really dug especially in the tracks. But for the most part, I don't like this kind hip hop/rap. I can't even really put a finger on why, I just don't. I do kinda feel like this is an important album thematically and musically, but even somehow recognizing that did not equate to appreciation. Two songs I did like... "The 6th Sense" and "A Song for Assata" they did struck a chord in me. The most of the rest honestly made me feel in comfortable. If I was more into this gernre as a whole, I could see myself rating this highly, but I really was soaked in a negative reaction to this. (4.85) ★★
I am lot that fond of hiphop, but I like the general songwriting here and rhe jazzy beats. Light 3.5 stars
This is a classic. The amount of talent on this album is incredible, with contributions from the Roots, Mos Def, D'Angelo, Cee-Lo Green, Jill Scott, Macy Gray, Roy Hargrove and more. The production is excellent too, mostly from Detroit's own J Dilla, but additional production from DJ Premier, D'Angelo, and the Roots. Like Water for Chocolate was a welcome shift from the bling era of hip-hop that dominated the late 90s, instead going for jazzy beats and socially conscious lyrics. Highlights include "Time Travelin' (A Tribute to Fela)", "The Light", "The 6th Sense", "Geto Heaven Part Two", and "A Song for Assata". 5 Stars.
Hip hop study beats to study and relax to. And by relax I mean get irritated to and switch off very quickly. Shame because I did want to like this more because of the talent involved but the rapping wasn’t anything special and the production behind it was super headachey and annoying.
Curiosamente, The Light, el single del disco no me hizo tanta gracia, pero el album en general tiene una onda y vibra que es un cambio respecto del resto del rap y hip-hop que encuentras en esta lista.
Jeg hyggede mig mest the 6. Sense. Selv snakke delen til sidst var sjov. Men som alle det andet hiphop, så er det langt..
Hip-Hop der minder om A Tribe Quest og De La Soul. Det kan noget men 77min bliver lige lovligt langt.
While this was bloated in length (20-30 minutes too long with too many fillers) I enjoyed the beats and samples Common used compared to other rap albums of the same era. It’s more soulful and jazzy. Enjoyable for what it was.
Rap would be a much more likeable genre if it was more like this. Enjoyed the beats and music and the rapping wasn't about how much better than everyone he was because he had more money, guns, or bitches.
It gets off to a relatively slow start but gets considerably better. One likes the chill flow as much as the positivity, though like so many hip-hop arists, there is a bit too much in the way of self-reference. "Time Travelin," "6th Sense" and "Geto Heaven" are all terrific. "Pops" is a great closer. Hard not to like an album that comes so correct with its name-dropping – including but not limited to (and Femi), but Roy Ayres, Erykah Badu, Stevie, Tribe Called Quest. Be is the slightly better record, really – tougher, but also sweeter – and it's worth asking if this list really required two Common entries, likable as they are (and he is). Also: seems dumb to name a record after a not especially good book (and even iffier movie).
zzz
#441. Not particularly interesting. 2/5: meh Song added to playlist: The Light I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Banging beats and truthful lyrics. One of the last (?) hip hop masterpieces.
I guess I'm just not a huge Common fan. Oh well. 4/10
a really solid 90's/2000's rap album with some really varied tracks in there. something i can see myself going back to.
I liked this enough that I had an immediate relisten, which is unusual for me. This record has a really wide range of musical styles and yet is held together by the common thread of, well, Common. LOL
This is next level. I love D'Angelo and he's on this. This is basically a hip hop version of his sound, and his sound is incredible. Deep funky grooves with poetic raps that still won't let go of the street. A+
Common isn't one of my favs...don't completely understand his critical acclaim. 2/5
For some reason I like this album a lot more than Be. No tracks really stand out like They Say, but the overall impression is better. A huge problem is the length. After 9 tracks I start to lose interest, and only the odd track picks it up again. Only just 3 weak stars
better than i thought itd be!
unoriginal pseudo-intellectual babble
great fucking album!
I always dig this kind of rap. A little more artistic, and thoughtful. A good time for sure
Really disappointing, especially after listening to ‘Be’ again.
Not for me, sorry
A hip hop beat built on jazz - enjoyable and forgettable all at once
This did nothing for me. Rap is not for me, but that's OK.
I can’t believe I’ve missed this album my whole life, it’s incredible.
Jesus this thing is trying as hard as it can to make me quit
Not for me.
This is my second Common album on this list. I didn't like this one quite as much as the first, though not by much. Lyrically it lacks in a few spots and some of the samples didn't land for me. It's still a good album though.
It wasn’t too bad as background music. 2*
Decent.
It is a very strong album, lyrically, emotionally, beat wise. Its a touching work, but it is slightly too long. Otherwise, its great
Rap is probably my second least loved genre. This surprised me. Compared with other albums on this list from the 90s, this was different with smooth rhythms and talented complex versus. Not just bragging how he’s better than everyone (although there was some of that). Funky for you was my favorite.
the instrumentals and samples sound really fresh and good, but the rapping is just lame and boring. also not important, there was plenty of better hiphop before 2k NNN
I miss this era
Slid through me without any kind of impression
Nope
An excellent album and it’s part of that movement that sees hip hop moderate its sexism and toxic masculinity. Supported essentially by the roots this slaps. Hard.
This is sweet relief after a bunch of gangsta rap albums. Gangsta lost me; it was just too violent, too misogynistic, too homophobic and just deliberately unpleasant. By way of comparison, soulquarian, conscious hip hop is a blessed relief. I love the Dilla/Questlove production on this record. Common isn't the world's greatest rapper, but this record is a breath of fresh air after the violence and misogyny of much of 90s hip hop. The production is A1, which makes this a really wonderful album to listen to.
Even though it's all basic concepts of modern hip-hop and sounds pretty ordinary and conventional, but still it was year 2000. 25 years later still feels good.
There were some bits that were sort of OK. And an awful lot that was plain terrible.
Pleasant surprise! I had never heard of Common, but find rap/hip-hop quite interesting so was keen to listen to it. I was hoping for a good one, because I had Kendrick Lamar last week, with high expectations, and was disappointed. This album I liked. The opening track was a very good start, which helps. The songs are quite varied and not all equally good, but many had interesting samples and good grooves. Common seems to be (like many rappers) a socially engaged person (and I'll take Michelle Obama's word for it). I'll definitely listen again. Is it a 3* (because do I _want_ to like hip-hop more than I actually do) of a 4* (because I haven't heard many better hip-hop albums, but not all songs are top)?
Textbook example of how to do storytelling
Great album, will listen to again front to back.
Darker than any Common project I've heard previously. It's weird, it's baked in Soulquarianism, it's a beautiful work. I expect to love it even more as time goes on.
It was ok
Good stuff, some hints of Tribe Called Quest and even Groove Armada.
This sounds dated even for being 24 years old. Some of the beats are decent but the raps are boring and corny. I also disapprove of him fighting John Wick.
The production is amazing, I love Common's voice and flow, and this album starts and ends phenominally. But I just can't get into the middle of this album at all. Pretty much all the songs after the first song and until "Payback Is a Grandmother" (minus "Dooinit" which is also great) are just crap to me. Can't connect to them, weak choruses, not really saying much. But when Common is telling a story oh man does he really shine. Kinda struggling to rate this, is it a high 2 for its inexcusable bloat? Or a low 3 for its shining moments of glory? I don't know. I'm going with a 2, since I already know "Be" is going to be a 4 or 5
I didn't hate it but I didn't like it either. Rap is just not my thing. I got bored with this very quickly.
Tedious…
I think the production and rapping is a lot better here than the other Common album on this list. I think I like the beats here a lot better too. The problem is that it is just too long. Mid 3.
Not a bad album the music is good the rapping is a lot to take in i just tint see myself digging into it again.
Enjoyable enough Never really got into Common
Thoughts before listening: I feel like Common is one of the rappers that I've always thought I SHOULD like, but I just don't think he's that great. He was always marketed as the thinking man's rapper, but I just find him boring. Review: Yeah this isn't all that great. Common's flow is a little weak and nothing is really grabbing me. I added a couple songs to the playlist, but overall this is a pretty weak. 3-stars
We enjoyed. Recognisably Common, although not as good as some of their other work.
This could have been a four star album if it had been around half as long. It started to drag around the halfway point for me, and that drag just went on and on, until I really got sick and tired of listening to this.
As far as hip hop goes, this is some of the best around. Sleek, soulful and jazzy. Common's rapping style matches the music. Some underground stuff is better but I'd call Common one of the best of the mainstream. As others have said, the album is too long but that was a common problem of the CD era. Had he trimmed about half an hour off, this would be a stronger album. The lyrics deserve some attention here. Common stood out as a more progressive voice around the time of this release. He has numerous mentions of women being equals and calling out violence against women. That's great but it seems like a pretty low bar by 2024 standards. Given the context of the time and the genre, it's still noteworthy. It's undercut a bit by the homophobia and fat shaming though. Overall, not a perfect album but Common is definitely talented.
I dug this, real smooth
Yeah not my usual cup of tea
cool but not for me
Not bad. Some tracks are cheesy, others are good
Great flow, classic rap and hip hop is nice to hear. I forgot how much I enjoyed Common. Funky For You was a favorite for me.
Not to be an old head but it was nice to hear some hip hop that had something to say. The beats are sumptuous and the rhymes are smooth. Lots of great guests too. Pretty good album baby yeah
I did not care for the Common. It insists upon itself
Meh
3.5/5. Conscious hip hop before Kendrick stepped up, it’s not bad but we got better hip hop records down the line.
I definitely dug this. It reminds me a bit of lofi hip hop. Chill with a nice jazzy vibe. I didn't pay close attention to any of the lyrics so can't speak to those, but definitely something I would put on again to enjoy in the background while I am relaxing. A little long, and the vibe is "off" on a couple song so this ends up a 4* for me.
The first half hour or so of this was a drag (and this is too long of a record, it's an hour and twenty minutes long) but everything that comes after makes me get why it's a classic. The lyrics are pretty dated and homophobic but I'll still come back to this
Unimpressive. Did not hold my attention.
This rolled by - a really good record.
This was solid overall, nice variety there
Muck
Some good tracks but a bit long
It was fine. 2/5
This has the potential to be all positivity rap. What’s the over under on “come together as one” being said? I’m taking the over. Early to Mid-2000s rap has a special place in hell regardless, but like anything. We will give this a chance. Jazz tribute to start. Probably an instrumental. I wish we were listening to jazz. Nah this is so lame. Stop. It’s like accidentally discovering your younger teacher is an amateur rapper on the side. This thing blows. We’ve even lost the musicality. Oh it’s returned slightly. And fade. 77 minutes of this, eh? Let’s hope “heat” actually brings something resembling that. I assumed that this album would be heavy lyrically. There would be plenty of time where the lyrics carried everything. The lyrics are fine. Honestly, they’re on the bad side of fine. It’s not that good. He has very little authority in his voice. The flow is middling to bad. This is lukewarm at best, pal. Next. Thi- Thi- This is RAHZEL. SSX TRICKY reference in my own mind is distracting me from the 2004 snap beat. Mixed with Common attempting to sound intimidating, this is another journey through substitute teacher rap. It’s just so cringeworthy to me. “Cold blooded, *ah huh* hardcore” Dad, stop, you’re embarrassing me. Also, I don’t know where rahzel even is. I just want to hear him ask me to do an uber trick one last time. Ok, a better flow. Some level of aggression to the beat. Chorus? Disgusting. Hahahahaha homophobic slur. Sign of the times I guess. Ugh. I hate that this is the best song so far. Oh here we go. This one is about to close the gap between men of all creeds. Oh no it’s a love song. Duuuude. You can’t be like “I won’t call you a bitch” when you did two song ago and also mentioned a “circle of f**ots” like 60 bars ago. Get outta here. The beat is ok here. I think common is so lame and that hasn’t changed here. Holy hell this is so ham-fisted. “Hey girl, sex is cool but you know what, you’re my equal.” Bro. This isn’t a revolutionary thought. Whoa guys. He treats women like humans. Quick. Somebody get this asshat a medal and a girlfriend STAT. You’re not Mos def. This is so 2000s. Stop saying “ah”. It sucks. Funkaaay. Yeah this would fit in real well at like a white millennial woman’s 40th birthday. The rhyme scheme is just meh. I really wanted cool lyrics from this because I thought that’s all we could get. They’re just ok. One or two decent lines on this one. Beat is ok but too much dumb shit surrounding it. I kind of like the r & b break near the end. That’s not bad. Not rap, but that’s probably a good thing. We’re getting an actual Mos Def feature. Mos Def and Mos Def - sugar Free are on the track. Let’s see. When Mos Def isn’t rapping, people should be asking “where’s Mos Def.” I am asking. The chorus actually has some energy so that’s a nice change. Oh boy, talking about being a “sexual intellectual” with a girl who says “I look 20 but I’m 15.” Fuck you. Mos def is better in every way. Even with a dumb verse about saying never and Jerry Seinfeld observations about ID. Reprise. Chance to reflect on how unlikeable this album is. It’s like hold music while you await some horror when the phone is answered. I know writing rap isn’t easy, but these rhymes are always so predictable. Pastor rap. Listen. The lyrics are annoying. Full stop. I wish it was cooler. I’m not trying to hate this, but he’s just not the best writer and his delivery is just so weak. Dude, common included an actress pretending to ask for his autograph. First time for everything. Hold on. Bad lyrics, but this beat is better. MC Lyte is so refreshing here. God. So much more ferocity and intention. This one is good. Cool instruments. Common should just back out like that scene in 8 Mile. Too long and too much common, but hey. Best one so far. And we return to the cold, empty abyss of Common raps. ZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Wake me up if MC Lyte comes back. Homophobic bars woke me up. What a loser. This one is ok. It’s fine. Man this is all so mediocre. Is this a song about crazy grandmothers? Or a PSA about not robbing grandmothers? Jesus. The beat is good. This one is somehow decent. Ugh. I guess I like the joke songs. Noooooo. A really cool intro ruined by more of the same, pandering, oddly sexual, lame poetry. This is one of the worst so far. Oh common, I can sympathize with dealing with “crap rappers.” Maybe he said crab. Ignore the facts for my bad joke. Please . Man. This song is pretty good. The laid back actually works here and I feel like this beat matches common rather than having him strain to be tough and cool. He usually sounds like a mouse trying to scream over a beat, but this one fits him perfectly. Yeah this one is excellent. Fantastic lyrics, great energy. Gets a touch melodramatic at the end but hey, Best performance from common by a god damn planetary span. Common’s dad appears. Why? End on the good song. I want a Time Machine to request this be omitted. This is dumb. 2.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Dooinit, A Film called (PIMP), Payback is a Grandmother, A Song for Assata.
Had never heard common before. Liked the beats, but found myself more intrigued by the featured artists.
im going to show my age and say that I know common as an actor, not a rapper. I’ve tried to listen to common before and just wasn’t the biggest fan.
Good album but doesn’t hold a candle to mos def or nas
Again I say I’m a white male living in the UK now in his 70’s and brought up on a diet of progressive rock and you want me to listen to this stuff before I die? Appreciate millions love this genre but when Mr Common recorded this he wasn’t thinking me so likewise I’ll shut him out of my life. 0.1/5 15/9/24
Smooth and lyrical
gratuitous use of the “n word” and tons of misogyny… nothing new for this genre of music.
This album is pretty good, although nothing grabbed me as a standout song. This feels like the kind of thing where if I heard it playing over a store’s PA that I would enjoy it but not be motivated to use an app to figure out what it is.
I liked this a lot but wasn’t blown away. I really like Be and Finding Forever, but this one was good as well. Not great but very good.
Pretty good! I’d never heard it, and I’m not mad at all.
I only listened to it once, so some of the nuance in the lyrics may have been lost, but I wasn't impressed. There are a few good beats on this album, and I thought "A Film Called (PIMP)" was a novel track, but none of this was enough to make up for the average rapping, surface level insights, and blatant homophobia.
ok. long
Some lines don’t really age well, as in the “safe” Common saying specific slurs, but these bars are good. great even. Common Sense is spittin.
Musical guest on Chapelle’s Show-ass album You just KNOW he was wearing a little newsboy cap while recording this
Pretty alright. The lead-up to the pimp song was unexpected and pretty hilarious.
Toooooo loooooooooooong!
Quality album with solid beat selection and clever lyrics but nothing really stood out to me, maybe with more listens I’d grasp the allure but I won’t give it the chance.
I don’t like hip hop but I’ve heard worse.
A common and monotonous hip hop album about the same three subjects as always.
Hip hop before everything got real shouty again in the oughts and teens. Great flow from Common. Man's got bars for days. Not my primary place of fandom, but it was still a good listen. Unexpected bangers: Cold Blooded, Funky for You, A Film called (PIMP), Song for Assata
I liked the music and beats. The lyrics didn't age well for a lot of these songs. Other than that the length of the album is too long. It felt like a drag at times with not a lot of variation.
Okay, but not for me. Also found it to run a bit too long
I couldn't get into this
I really struggled to sit through the first song. I know Common started out as an singer but for some reason this doesn't feel like the common songs that i've known in recent years.
Common would be better if he acknowledged that he's rhyming over a beat. It's like he writes his rhymes before he's heard the beat, and then just says says them regardless of how it flows over the beat. He was one of the early rappers to flow off-beat, and it became popular and then rap fell off a cliff. Rhymes and beats should fit like puzzle pieces. I will die on this hill.
This was a bit of a slog for me and it’s hard to say why. I liked the beats, and to some extent, the flow. I found myself not knowing what he was saying a lot of the time. Maybe I’m just out of the loop. Nothing really grabbed me here. Oddly enough, my favorite track was the outro with his dad talking.
6/10. The first half of the album featured some really nice rap. However, I feel like the album got a bit dull towards the end. Overall, it's a nice album. :)
Didn't enjoy this one as much as "Be" 3/5
Who am I to judge one's perspective? Though some of that sh*t y'all pop true it, I ain't relating If I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean that I'm hating
Couldn't get into this one
Somewhat enjoyed parts of this but it sort of lost me at the skit where Common beats up a woman. Get that he's poking fun at himself, but it's still weird to listen to. Some of the music's nice.
This is my hip hop. Musical. Conscientious.
Ok so this wasn't what I expected. I've seen him in movies but never heard his music.
Common is just that. Ordinary and boring.
Great production on record and the flow is undeniable, I'm afraid some stuff on the record has aged not so well.
No
It starts to win me over halfway through and then does overstay its welcome a bit. Still a fun vibe throughout and I can hear the influence on a lot of my favorite rappers today. Lot of great intangibles on this one Rating: 3.8
I love rap and hip hop and this one just falls very flat for me. The first song was a very poor start at an album. It sounds like it was recorded underwater. Not good.
My first time listening to a Common album that isn’t Be - it’s real good! Wears its influences in its sleeve, a very openly communal album, and has some really smooth and classic J. Dilla production on it!
I actually really enjoyed this! I kinda think Common can be pretty corny and there is some unfortunate homophobia but the instrumentals and production are just so so nice!
was a big common fan when I was a teen but I think i kinda find this music cringey now... it's very earnest and common is really clearly trying to say 'something' which i find annoying
It is a bit bloated and I'm somewhere on the border of 3 and 4 stars. I'm rounding down to 3 stars because the reality is that I never really felt much desire to re-listen to this entire album since the day it dropped. I certainly re-listened to a handful of the songs quite a bit, but not the album as a whole. Hip Hop at this time was absolutely obsessed with filling up the entire 80 minutes on a CD instead of making things more concise and consistent.
Man...that one particular interlude was extremely off-putting, wasn't it? You all know which one. It really ruined an album I otherwise mostly enjoyed.
It's pretty long but a very easy listen. Common has never done much for me as an MC and this didn't change my mind, I just don't think he sounds good on a beat, clunky flow. BUT he does have one hell of an ear for production. J Dilla on 90% of this, the rest is the likes of D'angelio, The Roots, DJ Premier. That's some serious taste, makes the album super enjoyable even if his rapping isn't to my liking as much.
A more relaxed, spotty release from Common, although spotty completely by design. I just think he gives a bit too much room to breathe to where one gets overoxidised
Derivative Eminem wannabe. The pronunciation and pace is identical. Well produced but nothing special and should be taken off this list I'm afraid to say.........
Amazing
Eh
Common at his zenith.
Decent album and an enjoyable listen. Didn't fall in head-over-heels for it, but I would listen to it again.
Yeah, just OK. I'd read a lot of reviews about the volume of homophobia in the lyrics, and yes, that's terrible. It was a shame, because there was relatively little sexism and glorification of violence (relatively little, as opposed to none). But it was musically fairly good, I'll give it that.
Thanks to this project I know who Fela is, so that's a strong start. Wonderful album art. Explicit content is more explicit than I necessarily look for in my music. But it sure sounds great!
Very good! First few tracks took a bit of getting into but then it took off! Loved it. Felt very ahead of its time for 2000 - never heard of these guys, would love to hear some more. Always interesting when no tracks off this album are in their most popular tracks on Spotify. 4.1
Something was moving in the waters of rap and R&B in the late 90s, especially in the hallowed halls of Electric Lady. The perfect time for a perfect group of people to congregate and concoct a flavor in which the ingredients are simple yet wholly effective in the ensuing chase of replication. Common's Like Water for Chocolate is seventy plus minutes of part Afrobeat tribute, part Blaxploitation detour, part millennium expression of black pride, whole Soulquarian adventure. No corner is left unturned as the individuals scattered all over here are showcased either approaching or having approached the peak of their powers. Like Water for Chocolate cemented Common as the torchbearer of the conscious style of hip-hop that was left by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest and their ilk and he would only go farther to beat the drum of the cause.
3.75
For an artist that prides himself on socially conscious lyrics, Common certainly fails to be socially conscious in certain areas. I think the album excels in many other areas, particularly with J Dilla's production, the incredible features, and the lyrics addressing issues of race. However, I cannot get over the bloated album length and the occasional lyrical pitfalls that shows how "conscious" Common really is.
Moments of brilliance. Moments that are pretty funky. A bit relentless and too long, but some great sounds, including some very funky bits.
C O double M O to the N! 2 rap albums in a row, check it out! I loved the samples used in this album. It has a very pleasant vibe to listen to. I had a very wrong idea about rap and hip-hop albums from the 2000s, but this one is making me change that view a little. Nice surprise!
Smart, a lot of catchy beats, and several tracks where women are respected?? 3.8 stars
Good rhymes, decent beats, didn't set anything alight though. It's nice.
Common isn’t necessarily the most exciting rapper but he always has a good ear for a groove, and the production on this is fantastic as expected. Before the futuristic vibes of Electric Circus and the Kanye-helmed pop-soul smash of Be, the heart and soul of Like Water For Chocolate is that vibrant Soulquarians sound (the production powerhouse of D’Angelo, J Dilla, Questlove, Erykah Badu and more who dominated the neo-soul scene of the early 2000s) Throw in a handful of features from the likes of Black Thought, Mos Def, Macy Gray and Bilal, and Common bringing his trademark consciousness and consistency, and you have a really powerful and clean as hell hip-hop record
I f&^%ing hate rap.
I wasn't a big fan of this album.
Fantastic production. Def need to check out more Soulquarian work. Great stuff 4/5 👍
I like the mix of jazz and hip hop. It sounds very innovative for its time. This is my first time hearing Common and it certainly won't be the last. I love it! Liked songs added: - Time Travellin' (A Tribute To Fela) - Heat - Funky For You - The 6th Sense - A Song For Assata
Long, liked the groove overall. Glad I listened but won't bee returning to it.
A strong rap album for its era. Calls ahead to records like To Pimp A Butterfly that marry social consciousness with dense live arranged live jazz arrangements.
J'aime beaucoup la voix de Common, il a un style assez sophistiqué, assez pour me faire aimer les pièces plus R&B, un genre auquel je n'accroche pas trop d'habitude.
Pleasantly surprised, the jazzy beats were good and the lyrics and flow were pretty good too.
A rap album written by a focus group of "nice guys", but with some pretty solid production. 3 self aggrandizing pats on the back out of 5
Gotta cut the song lengths down. 8 of the 16 songs clock in at more than 5 minutes, which can make repeated listens a bit of a tough haul. It's hard to judge an album that is quality, yet just has too much material in one song. This is classic early 2000's rap and there are good songs here that remind me of hanging out with friends in college. I preferred "Be" to this album and it is almost half the length of this record. The music just fades into the background at times. Just because you have a lot to say doesn't mean you have to say everything you want to say. Cut the album by 25 minutes and I could enjoy it more.
It's American hiphop.
Always heard good things about this album. I enjoyed it, was real solid.
Rap, don't like it and bad language too 2 stars
It was pretty good
i dislike all the coarse language
That is hip hop just how I like it. Boom bap sounds and intelligent lyrics!
Another Common album, okay. It’s got some funk, some soul. It’s okay, it’s not reaching into my soul to shatter it.
Ihan asiallista musiikkia, ei tosin mitään omalle soittolistalle.
I do like some rap acts. But sorry, this did nothing for me. 1/5
I started off thinking ooh this is a better offering from a rap artist on this list. I like the vibe and the production. But they just do not know when to stop
Common is a good rapper, and I like his style and flow a lot compared to his other contemporaries. It's fast and thoughtful, and the beats are suprisingly musical. Some of the lyrics are dated, particularly the homophobic phrases, I wonder if his newer music includes sentiments like this still. My favorite was Ghetto Heaven, though Dooinit, The Light, and The Question were all good too.
I lov common but if were honest this is probably a 4. Be is gonna be a 5 tho. And ya the homophobia in this is sickening and ruins a few songs :(
Funky, but overstayed its welcome.
Hard to stay focused for 1hr 17. Nothing really stuck out to me even after two rotations, but I like the sound and the rap style.
I really enjoyed this album. It feels like a real piece of art but also something casual enough to throw on and enjoy. Common is really profound and painfully real. Extremely enjoyable first listen for me.
I like hip hop. I think Common has a place in the low fi necessarily honest and artistic lyrical department. I like hip hop that makes me feel energy, a deep call to action, and for moments this album does that. On the other hand it is somewhat low key and kind of "too mellow" to cause me to stand up and be counted. I suppose I consider hip hop the urban version of punk, which in both cases means rebellious, angry and satisfying as we team up against the oppressors. Here, we have the anger, but it is more desperate, a losing battle that no one seems to care about, a reflection of the truth of today unfortunately. There is socio-poliitical value to be found here for sure, but musically. It is "OK."
i remember liking this more than i did this round. just never fully clicked could i write poetry to this? n
Pretty solid. A nice blend of traditional Hip-Hop and Alt-Rap.
I liked the music, but the vocals never quite seemed to match.
They say segregation was bad but the woman on the cover looks neatly dressed, wearing airpods, it couldn't have been that bad What makes rappers think their albums are worth the runtime? This rapping is as impressive as leaving the first comment
some good some bad mostly listenable but i couldnt get into the groove
A decent sound but all sounds very similar and blends into one. OK 3*
The rise of the Soulquarians, eh? It’s more like the evolution of the Native Tongues collective, yeah? I liked this more than Mama’s Gun (which put me to sleep), but I like it less than some of the other Soulquarians’ output (like J Dilla, Questlove, or Mos Def). I did enjoy the self-reflective notes of many of the songs. I just wanted more catchy hooks.
Never heard this before. Enjoyed the music and the flow more than the rapping. "Few understand the union of woman and man And sex and a tingle is where they assume that it land"
Not really my thing, but a few interesting tracks. I preferred the start which was more jazzy.
Did the album a day generator make a mistake? Didn't we just listen to Common? I do have to say that I felt this was a better album than Be. The funk grooves grow on you.
Better than the previous album from Common. A little more diversity amongst the songs, and a Black Panther history lesson. I don't really have any objections, but nothing here made me want to put it into my playlist either.
Just not my thing.
Politically charged yet chill. How does one achieve such vibe?
Sounds dated, not sure what year this one was released. 2000. Now I know!
Pretty interesting. The production isn't the best, but the composition is kinda good. 90s rap beats combined with soul/jazz.
01) Time Travelin' (A Tribute to Fela) - 6,5 02) Heat - 7,0 03) Cold Blooded - 6,0 04) Dooinit - 5,5 05) The Light - 7,5 06) Funky for You - 6,5 07) The Questions - 6,5 08) Time Travelin' (Reprise) - 5,0 09) The 6th Sense - 7,0 10) A Film Called (Pimp) - 5,5 11) Nag Champa (Afrodisiac for the World) - 6,0 12) Thelonius - 5,5 13) Payback Is a Grandmother - 5,5 14) Geto Heaven Part Two - 7,5 15) A Song for Assata - 6,5 16) Pops Rap III... All My Children - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,28 (63/100) Current ranking: 189/234 A bit too long and a bit boring rap album without any interesting happenings.
Jemig, waarom zijn dit soort platen zo laaaannnngggg. Beats en babbel, ik gaap van verveling. Als ik gepraat wil, zet ik de tv wel op. Ik wil muziek! Het eerste half uur sowieso geen enkele variatie, daarna zowaar af en toe een ander instrumentje en een ander stemmetje. Maar het laat me verder volkomen koud. Yeah.
De beats en de rapstijl zijn een dikke knipoog naar de bravere raphoek uit jaren 90. Soms een beetje funky, soms meer flowend. Common is geen slechte rapper. Maar hij voegt weinig toe aan een voorganger als Q-Tip. Ook muzikaal is er weinig toevoeging. Pas als Macy binnenloopt kijk ik weer op. Niet omdat het een geweldig nummer is, maar omdat het de afwisseling biedt die nodig is.
Waarom moeten rapalbums altijd zo verschrikkelijk lang zijn? Maak gewoon een keer een album van 35 of 40 minuten man, dat is echt lang zat voor die flauwekul. Aan de andere kant, voelde je je vroeger ook bekocht als je 15 gulden voor een cd betaalde en het bandje raffelde amper 10 nummers af in 20 minuten. Maar voor deze 1001-lijst heb ik toch altijd liever wat kortere albums, het idee is dan wel duidelijk over het algemeen. Naar de muziek dan maar: ik ben totaal geen fan van hip-hop of rap. Het wordt mij te vaak eentonig en saai, zoals anderen dat waarschijnlijk met punkrock of metal hebben. Prima, smaken verschillen. Waardoor ik rap vaak nog wel kan luisteren, is als het iets extra's te bieden heeft. Leuke samples of deuntjes. Dit klinkt op het eerste gehoor wel lekker laidback, lounge-achtig. Er komen wat oude toetertjes in voor, jazzy. De beats zijn verder niet zo bijzonder, de muziek moet het met name van die oude invloeden hebben. Het repeterende van hiphop helpt hierbij niet helemaal. Verderop gaat het meer naar soul. Het geheel heeft dus jazzy invloeden en is best soulvol. Het is niet helemaal mijn smaak, maar op zich is het best muzikaal allemaal. Het heeft wel een bepaald north sea jazz gehalte, dus volkomen begrijpelijk dat het in de snoblijst staat. Van mij had het niet per se gehoeven, maar een 3 wil ik er best voor geven.
Like some reviewers below, I liked the soul/funk groove, but the raps are misogynistic and homophobic. It's the reason why I just don't like rap from this era.
Chill album. Like a lot of hip hop from decades past, it has it shortcomings but overall a really fun listen.
I did like the soul, funk infused samples that gave it a retro vibe. But the homophobic and immature lyrics were a letdown. Be is a better album than this but this is still decent albeit dated.
Common has always been an above-average (in terms of skill) rapper, and the soul and jazz influences on this one make the beats evergreen. Despite the leg up it gets, it takes an axe to the shin on the weird skits (the "pimps and hos" skit and song are... something), and the strange amount of homophobia. Favorite tracks: "Cold Blooded", "Funky For You"
Boring…
It’s good for the time but it’s not good.
These 1001 albums are either hippie weed moods, electronica droll or crap rap. Common is crap rap
It's OK at times I think. I just don't care for it.
I enjoyed the album. Doubt I’ll listen again, but wouldn’t be upset if it came on. The beats can sound a little dated for 2000. Lyrics and production are both solid. Only other issue is that the length isn’t justified in my opinion. 3/5
I’ll give it a 3 because it is good for what it is. But it’s not for me. This is one of those it’s not you, it’s me kinda things.
has a nice flow to it. Common is a top 10 MC in my opinion.
Hip-hop jam session energy. D’Angelo, Questlove, and J Dilla were all in the kitchen. This album was born out of the Soulquarians collective, with sessions held at Electric Lady Studios—yes, Hendrix’s old haunt.
I like some of the beats and grooves, but nothing really landed as being earth shattering. Pretty run-of-the-mill in my opinion.
Eh.
my favorite thing about this album was reading common's Wikipedia page. dude's been busy for the past 30 years! also his dad (featured on the last track of the album) was an NBA player in the 1960s?? wild. oh, the album? it was fine I guess. i really could've done without all the blatant homophobia and the weird "I'm a feminist, I'll look out for you girl, oh and also i'm a visionary pimp and you should really think about wearing less revealing clothing" like ????? dude pick a lane, no one's buying this. seems like he's apologized for the homophobia and really turned things around in recent years but this album's lyrics still leave a bad taste in my mouth. favorites: the 6th sense, geto heaven part two, a song for assata, pops rap iii
Heat // Cold Blooded // The Light // The 6th Sense // Thelonius // Payback Is A Grandmother // A Song For Assata //
Classic 5 star hip hop album. Been too long since I last listened and this remedied that
This was a good listen! I didn't know of Common, Josh and I had this album on in Rotterdam and he knew him. Good storytelling, fun beats and samples, quite long but that wasn't too bad!
Yeah pretty good. Not something I'd go back to really but I did enjoy it.
Can’t say I would listen to this all the time, but I enjoyed it and like the style a lot.
A bit too long but really nice chilled hip hop vibes. Lyrical themes stand out as quite alternative for the genre. Common has a really breezy and enjoyable flow but J Dilla's beats are my favourite element, there are a real myriad influences on show in them. Docked a point because it's too bloated mainly
It really grew on me. The first half I was pretty ambivalent toward it, but starting with the 6th sense it became really incredible. My favorites were the 6th sense, a song for assata and pops rap III. 8/10
Common has smooth voice and delivery. But it’s for a different audience. Enjoyed. Recognized. Appreciated.
Another great socially-conscious hip-hop album. I like this sorta shit. It drags on a bit. But it had some great hooks and beats. Nothing shattering, more of an art project than something I'd play at a party.
Dumb lyrics, n-words, gay slurs, boring music, and way too long.
Common's flows are as cool as a cucumber.
Homophobia don't fly with me.
Common is an artist I haven't listened to a lot but am lead to believe he is very intellectual and deep with his lyrics. This is the second Common album I've had to review and it came off corny and contrived lyrically like the first. I enjoyed the beats but the album was a little long overall.
Really nothing special or memorable
this album was awesome. i don't listen to a ton of Common, but this album i could definitely see myself going back to. introspective rap, smooth beats, and a grace that i think is somewhat of a lost art. this album rocked to listen to, and i am really glad that it came into my listening world
Soulful, Afrocentric, and ambitiously lengthy, Common's release at the turn of the millennium stands as one of the most beautiful fusions of neo-soul ethos and traditionalist jazz rap. The production crew is incredible here, with standouts like J DIll, D'Angelo, and DJ Premier taking notes from similar groups like the Root, Black Star, and the Pharcyde to sculpt these funky, light, and undeniably cool beats. I love the funky drive of the song 'Heat', the stripped-back clunk of songs like 'A Film Called (PIMP)', and that stuttering sample flips on 'The 6th Sense'. Common himself has a standout voice, both literally and figuratively, and it's clear that with this album, he set out to use that welcoming voice to present topics he felt were most important to him. I love his depictions of culture on the song 'The 6th Sense' alongside that slick Bilal hook. 'The Questions' with Mos Def is probably the most consistently enjoyable song here and I love Macy Gray's version of 'Geto Heaven'. I have to shout out 'Thelonious', not only because of how slick the beat and Slum Village features are but also because it has Dilla tearing it up on the mic also. I can't not mention the emotionally powerful and intriguing string-backed story of Black Panther member Assata Shakur on 'A Song for Assata' which has a gorgeous chorus by CeeLo Green. Just some incredible hip-hop that, musically and conceptually, was rejecting the sounds that were being ushered in at the turn of the millennium. So many great songs here that exhibit both Common's lyrical prowess, and the beat-making ability of his peers.
Actually, an enjoyable listen. However, not much on the album that instantly drew me in.
So good
Twee keer Common in deze lijst vind ik wel wat veel, aangezien er genoeg iconische rapalbums ontbreken in deze lijst. Maargoed, als witte persoon van kleur (vroeger hadden we daar pakkendere termen voor, maar ik vermoed dat die inmiddels niet meer kunnen) pak ik wat ik pakken kan. Niet alle nummers op dit album zijn aan mij besteed. Zo'n track als 'Cold Blooded' vind ik lekker, maar 'Funky For You' vind ik vermoeiende kutmuziek. Alles wat klinkt alsof het thuis hoort op North Sea Jazz mag eruit. Op 'The 6th Sense' laat Common horen wat 'ie kan op een heerlijke Dj Premier beat en dat is precies wat ik wil horen. Dit album is minder leuk dan het album 'Be' en daar benoemde ik al dat Common af en toe wat saai is. Dat gevoel is na 78 minuten eigenlijk niet veranderd. Voor mij staan er teveel tracks op waar ik niet enthousiast van word om het veel sterren te geven. Een lichte 3.
Notable Tracks: The Light, The Questions
- Habe ich noch nie von gehört. Scheint ja aber ein richtiger Insider-Meilenstein zu sein. - Fand ich total geil. Obwohl es als HipHop Album jetzt schon über 20 Jahre auf dem Buckel hat und man das Alter vor allem im Rap finde ich immer merkt (Häufiger hat das bei mir eine negative Auswirkung) habe ich das Gefühl, das diese Platte RICHTIG gut gealtert ist. Sowohl musikalisch als auch textlich und technisch - Der Typ hat eine angenehme Laid Back Attitüde. Die Samples und Beats sind super nice. - Habe wirklich nichts gehabt, was mich daran gestört hat. Auf der anderen Seite ist beim ersten Hören jetzt auch kein Track so richtig hängen geblieben. 4/5
- ganz entspannter Kram (gerade für den Hintergrund) dabei gewesen 2,75/5
It gets off to a relatively slow start but gets considerably better. One likes the chill flow as much as the positivity, though like so many hip-hop aritsts, there is a bit too much in the way of self-reference. "Time Travelin," "6th Sense" and "Geto Heaven" are all terrific.
Just like the Be, pleasantly surprised again! Common has a new fan from the generator. Hell yeah.
May 31, 2024 HL: "Time Travelin' (A Tribute to Fela)", "The Light", "Funky for You", "The 6th Sense", "Geto Heaven Part Two" I found the perfect album to bridge this album with 1999 (yesterday's album): Voodoo* by D'Angelo. On one hand, D'Angelo has a lot of similarities with Prince, both in romantic R&B jams and in being a multi-instrumentalist prodigy; on the other, he worked with a group called the Soulquarians to usher soul/R&B into the 21st century. The Soulquarians included members like Erykah Badu, the Roots, and Common. I don't know a whole lot about Badu or the Roots (time enough), but album #197 on this journey was Common's Be (2005), an album which evoked The College Dropout a lot more than Voodoo. I'm curious to see where this album's sound lands on that spectrum. Okay, it officially supplants Be as my favourite Common album! Probably too long, but the big guest list and messing about with genre helps keep LWFC from becoming stale. J Dilla's production is smooth as heck, but the song that jumped out at me the most was handled by DJ Premier of Gang Starr, "The 6th Sense". Like the aforementioned Badu & the Roots, I know I'll be coming across Gang Starr at some point on this website, which I look forward to. *Voodoo was much more enjoyable to me than Brown Sugar (1995), the one solo D'Angelo featured on 1001 Albums.
Love the blend of musical styles. The album is a bit long, def don’t love the homophobia. But Time Travelin’ and its reprise are worth the price of admission. The 6th Sense and The Light are also really good and I’m tickled by the transition from Thelonius to Payback is a Grandmother.
Good stuff. But "Be" by the same artist was more musically accomplished. This music is a bit repetitive. 3.4
I liked the style, but somehow I found it a bit boring
It would be great if the album as a whole was more like "Payback is a Grandmother" and "Ghetto Heaven Pt 2" as those have insightful lyrics and jamming beats. I know Common is one of those quintessential conscious rappers, but many of the bars were just off-putting and corny. Lots of good production on here, but definitely not a record I'd be spinning on my own.