Reviews (page 5 of 7)
This is the second Common album on this list. It was a little long. I had never heard it before and I don't think I was familiar with any of the songs. I didn't skip any songs, not sure I will revisit it though. I guess I will round up.
I really liked the style of of this album, but it felt too long and some of the lyrics were off putting. Though I wanted to give it 4 stars, I’m not sure it’s quite there for me… 3.5, maybe. Favorite tracks: A Song For Assata, Time Travelin’
Good album. Nothing bad here and nothing stand out. Good listen!
Ok.
Mid. I can see why common has more of an acting career than a music career
This was enjoyable enough. I’m not a huge fan of this kind of hip hop, but it was good for what it was. There were a couple lyrics that made me raise my eyebrow, but this isn’t the only album on here where that’s happened, and I know it won’t be the last. “Geto Heaven Part Two” was definitely the best song on the album.
There are so many rap albums on this list and surprised I've reviewed a Common album already, so is he essential? I'm probably not one to ask because I've never been a fan of rap, most of it is adolescent, hateful or just boring. The way I hear it, Common is a step above the typical rapper, there's some intelligence and the beats and music are listenable. The songs don't age well, if you know what I mean and really is 2000 that long ago? I guess it is for the target audience, so they might excuse the homophobia, misogyny and excessive use of the N-word, which I don't have too much of a problem with, but it's soooooo f-ing long! Does the album need to be over 77 minutes? I felt the urge to skip tracks, but I stuck it out, not sure if that was a good decision or not? Essential?...uh, no.
good love songs
For the genre that it is I genuinely really enjoy it.
This album sits on the 3 range of "I can see the artistry but the art isn't for me." A couple of the tracks were very appealing and I enjoyed a lot (Song for Assata) but a majority of the songs slipped into the background and I had to reorientate myself to listen. If Hip Hop is your style give this a listen
A lot of rapping. And uh, uh's and yeah, yeah's. There are some good melodies and samples but it just sounds a bit 'samey'. Well recorded, nice sound and Common does have a lovely tone but I struggled to pick up too much from this 1.
The music and his style are too smooth for lyrics like “deep like a skinny girl’s cunt”, makes it feel grosser than if someone like ODB said the same line
the beats on this one are really cool. i feel like i can take or leave common's rapping, sometimes it was pretty good, other times clunky as hell. the production really saves this one for me. j cole and questlove really knocked it out of the park. a wicked cool sounding album, just wish that the bars did more for me. and you know, the whole conscious rap thing while saying slurs and having a skit where you hit a woman (?) idk, i don't know how well it's aged as a whole but it at least sounds great.
Hyvää meininkiö musta histotiikki kuitenkin tarpeetonta.. luetaan niidtä histotian kirjoista tollaset... Albumi oikein mukavaa wholesome meininkiä..
I like Common, but I’m a tad surprised to see him listed twice (so far) on this project. I’m pretty sure he’s my first repeated artist a couple of months into the list, which is cool. I had not listened to this album before this. I LOVED Be, but I couldn’t get into this project as much.
The only rap albums we've had in the last coupla months were by Eminem and Snoop so Common's Like Water For Chocolate probably had an unfortunately high bar to live up to, and it does a decent job without leaving a tremendously lasting impact on me. It's a decent mix of hiphop over some rnb/soul grooves at times, good production, a very smooth flow and feel throughout, just didn't have anything that leapt out at me and truly commanded my attention and made me want to listen to it again and again. 3.
This is... fine... doesn't really get going at any point, it's not unpleasant to listen to but there's so much hiphop around by the time we get to 2000 that there are loads of records that either have more bite, more soul, more fun, or all three. Very smooth, particularly towards the end of the album, but doesn't warrant anything more than a 3.
Interesting mic
Typical hip hop album that's way too long and is mildly homophobic
Not my thing. Groovy, some good storytelling, but the homophobic slurs and misogyny are a turn off.
Made 6 years after Common dropped one of the greatest rap songs of all time in “I Used to Love H.E.R.” Like Water for Chocolate is an awkwardly placed album. The old rap that Common came out of is getting left behind as we move into early 2000’s rap. Eminem was in his prime dropping The Marshall Mathers LP. OutKast was dropping pop hits. Gangsta rap was on its way. Common’s album is in between. He has a similar style to the older records, but has also somewhat adopted the new styles. “The Light” “The Sixth Sense” and “The Questions” are all great songs, but I can’t help but feel that Common got left behind. To me he feels like a dad trying to rap with the kids. It feels disingenuous to hear him saying the “pussy n words” and the “f words.” It’s jarring and makes the album less timeless, while in an arena where he couldn’t/wouldn’t compete with the other rappers coming out. In the skit at the end of “The Sixth Sense” he acknowledges the hypocrisy by intentionally saying that he is out to represent women, followed by him smacking a prostitute. It’s oddly self aware, but also a good example of his hubris. Common has always seemed to have that “holier than though” rap style, but I feel like he also brought himself down to everyone else’s level. Aside from that, aside from the standout songs, the album is bland and forgettable. I don’t think Common had the ability/motivation to ever really leave the early 90’s style behind. 3 stars due to an overall bland album with some standout awesome songs.
I’m assuming this was the first full Common album I’ve listened to and it was on par with what I expected. A laidback feel, smooth flow, and overall excellent production. Common is definitely overlooked when it comes to 2000s rap and shouldn’t be, but I think the low-key sound plays into that. Nothing that blew me away, I think it would be really good to have on in the background.
A common (ha) thread that I noticed about myself with hip hop albums is that I really like the beats, but couldn't care less about the rapping. When that's such an integral part of an album like this, it puts it at a disadvantage for my rating. I guess I need to start paying more attention to lyrics. I did hear the hard f words though.
this was good
A very strong entry from Common here. I love the production on this record, I’m a sucker for the various singing choruses that remind me of classic hip hop. To me I really don’t see a true “concept”here, we get heavy themes about the struggle of a woman, etc. I think this album could’ve been lifted to a true 8 had the runtime been a bit shorter (I know, I know, classic hip hop and 4 min songs is normal) but it does drag on certain tracks that I didn’t enjoy as much. I absolutely love the Intro and it serves as a great launch pad for a fun album.
Common the actor has has better records than this but this being his first major record is what makes this so special the jazz and funk behind this is incredible. Hearing early Jill Scott makes me so happy. Yeah some of the stuff is problematic and I don’t think he’s the greatest wordsmith but I think this feature heavy hip hop was and is important more to a 5 than 6
Ok 3/5
Goodies: The Light, 6th Sense
stark trea
S'pk. not my bag. Common is better as an actor
The production is solid and Common is definitely a great lyricist. Personally, I'm just not a fan of his voice which makes it hard for me to appreciate the album. I feel like I would get into it more if a lot of the track lengths were tightened up.
Favorite Tracks: The Light A Film Called (PIMP) A Song for Assata
Never knew that I must listen to one or more Common albums before I die
Common's cool and he has cool friends (like Questlove) on his album. He's unique in the sense that his music is kinda beatnik rap, but I dig it.
Dooinit, The Light
Couldnt get into it. Maybe it's the early 00s production and hard to understand lyrics (for a non native speaker). Gave it one shot only tho.
Not a fan of the production on the opening track. I like Common's sound. It's pretty unique. But I've always found that he has a limitation in expressing a range of emotions through his voice. This makes the songs start to feel repetitive. I'm more of a fan of his album Be. Favorite track on this one is The 6th Sense. I like what DJ Premier brings to it.
Pretty neat how collaborative this album was
2.5/5
Not bad I guess
I like common, and this album had some good tracks on it, but none that really stood out to me. It’s also a little long for my taste.
Before common was a spokesperson for AI, he was a rapper
Long album bug didn't drag. I perked up at the song Cold Blooded and then went back and forth in my engagement throughout the rest. The Questions and Thelonius were my other two favorites. 3.5, rounding to 3.
this one rly benefited from the full speaker setup i had access to this day. 3.5
This is an exceptional example of what Common does so well. A modern poet and lyricist that truly can sew a tapestry of words together and make an overall quilt that tells the stories he intends them to. While it lacks some of the pop music polish of his later releases and the catchy quality to boot this speaks a different language to those entirely.
Nice back ground music but in the long run gets on your nerves
Without really standing out it was an OK listen so it's bang in 3 stars
Starts great - devolves into regular hip hop hood
Klinkt lekker, vooral Cold Blooded.
Smooth and resonant, surprisingly influential to next generation artists
I finally got a rap album. Without knowing too much about rap, I don’t feel like I can comment on this too much without coming off ignorant. So I’ll suffice it to say that this was a fun listen, if a bit dated. Rap and hip hop have always seemed rooted in their present. This album is no exception. The styles, some of the production choices, and lyrical themes feel old. Especially some of the lyrics. That’s to be expected with something more than 20 years old, of course.
Me reviewing rap is about like me grading gymnastics. I can't tell the good from the bad. The fact that this album is here at all helps me know it should at least be decent just as an olympian should be pretty darn good. So it was about as expected. I can identify it as a rap/hip hop album, and some of the collaboration tracks were pretty good. But if I don't like it I don't like it, that don't mean that I'm hatin. Favorite track: "The 6th Sense" 3/5
It’s OK
Jesam iz Dubrave, al mislim da trebam biti više ghetto da mi ovo sjedne kak spada. Nice beats tho.
Not bad. 3.5.
Hip-hop alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.
I liked Common better when he wasn’t pushing AI. The Light is a standout track for me.
Dude was so much better before he rebranded.
The music on this album is very listenable and some good collaborations too. A number of quite clever lyrics, but some of this feels quite stale and not so keen on the profanities. Worth a listen for sure, but not one I will be buying
The first bit of the album really turned me off, but as the songs progressed they got better and better. Still it's only fine. 3/5.
Extra star for the light which is a classic. Rest of pretty boring.
I took a break about halfway as k found it very dull/samey. Coming back tonit for the back end was like listening to something altogether new and very very good. Do a three seems like a fair split.
Did I choose rap? Not my kind of music ...
I don't like Commonality this isn't even his best album. 3/5
nice rap
The highs were very high on this album but there were parts that really brought the whole thing down for me. Favorite song: The 6th Sense Least favorite: A Film Called (PIMP)
Common is one of those hip hop artists that I've never looked into too much, but I've been more curious about him since I learned about neo-soul and his connection to it. The music on this album is excellent. I haven't heard a bad track yet, and each one has its individual style. I don't find Common's rhymes to be terribly compelling. They aren't bad, but I would consider him a second tier rapper. However, this album is from 2000, which is not a particularly good era for rap in general 3/5 this was close to a 4, but the lyrical style (and several of the words he uses) haven't aged particularly well
This will be my first time listening to this. Common has been on my radar for decades, but I've never really liked his flow. There are a lot of talented features on this album. This title has always confused me. Hopefully I'll finally understand the nod to Como Agua Para Chocolate... either the film or novel... Maybe it's just the album cover? First of all... I've always disliked the single "The Light" that's probably why I never gave this album a chance. My favorite tracks are 1, 3, 7, 11 & 16. The end of The Big Payback ruined the track for me. Mos Def is always a treat. Roy Hargrove was blessing to hear. About about a month ago I learned of his passing. Check out his RH Factor releases. Especially Hard Groove. I appreciate Common's positivity and vibe, but most of this album is only slightly above average.
On paper, I should like this album a lot. A groovy, moody, "authentic" hip hop effort at a time when the rest of the rap world got lost in bling and gangsta b*llshit. And I have nothing but respect for the musicians of the "Soulquarians" playing on this record (including The Roots' ?estlove). The thing is, some of the tracks don't click for me, I'm not sure why, especially on the first side (mostly "Dooin It" and the odd west-coast undertones in "The Light"--undertones that are quite surprising given where Common hails from and how he seems uncompromising about that elsewhere). And if it's nice to have an introductory cut paying homage to Fela, the effects on the voice there are just plain horrible, dated and useless. On the positive side of things, I still like a few moments from the first half of this LP, especially the intricate jazz layers of "Cold-Blooded", the "classic" feel of DJ Premier's boom bap contributions for "The 6th Sense" (not to mention Common's shout-out to Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" at the very start), and I also enjoyed "The Questions", with Mos Def. Speaking of Mos Def, it seems to me that the latter's *Black On Both Sides* is the very example of an album in that particular subgenre that's musically stellar from start to finish--holding your attention or making bob your head without interruption. Even if it may sound unfair to some, I think we're still a notch under that quality level with "Like Water For Chocolate", as sophisticated as some of the arrangements are, and as interesting as Common's topical lyrics are as well (in keeping with the historical picture on its cover). And when the rapper indulges in a quick homophobic line during the course of "Dooin It", he totally loses me, that goes without saying. Fortunately, most of the "conscious" lyrics are beyond reproach elsewhere. On that note, "A Film Called (PIMP)", a hilarious battle between the rapper and MC Lyte, is worth your attention, thanks to lyrical contents that are hilarious in the way they mock the gangster world while saying something about the battle of the sexes AND music industry--the metaphors used by both rappers on that one are quite impressive. "Nag Champa" is rather good too, and "Thelonius" reminded me of important A Tribe Called Quest cuts (mostly thanks to Slum Village's contributions?). "Payback Is A Grandmother" has a superb instrumental hook at its very center. There's some Outkast psychedelic shenanigans going on in "Geto Heaven Part Two", and "A Song For Assata" is a moving tribute, as controversial as Tupac Shakur's godmother is. So the second side is superior to the first, clearly. This is what garnered an extra point from my initial assessment. Yet, let me repeat that: Mos Def's *Black On Both Sides* is the album from that specific era to go first to if you like that sort of "conscious" hip hop. And it better be in your list, Mr. Dimery. Now I'm looking forward to listening to Common's *Be*. That one's on the list, that's for sure. 3/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential albums". Which translates to a 8/10 grade for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: 350 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 295 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 156 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 208
Best lekkah
Different than what I expected coming from Common but was good.
– His fourth studio album and major artistic breakthrough as part of the Soulquarians collective, featuring the hit single "The Light".
I feel like this album requires a quiet night of focus and a nice liqueur. More of a poetry jam than specific entertainment, but a lot of good rhymes and flows here. I wish I understood the subject matter better. Fav tracks: The 6th Sense, Thelonius, Geto Heaven Part Two
Hip-hop still doesn't speak to me...
Some great production but I don't like Common and his lyrics much
It's enjoyable, but it doesn't stand out. No idea why it's on this list.
The music on most of these tracks was cool but some of the lyrics... i may have missed something but i was expecting more from Common
I enjoy the style and music of Common. This album didn't really grab me though but it was still an enjoyable listen. Fave track: Pops Rap III...All My Children.
Como hip-hop.
Hip-hop alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.
Como hip-hop.
I am mixed on this album. Common is a great writer and he has some really positive an nice messages on this album. He also has more than one instance of clear homophobia. And basically every song on this album could have been 1-2 minutes shorter and it would have improved the tracks. Every hook and chorus nit sung by a feature was unmemorable and just him saying the song title 30 seconds. Production throughout was great though. Best song is a song for assata.
"My mother likes Kraftwerk?" That was a bit random. Rhymes are good, but there is a bit of stuff that doesn't carry very well anymore.
A lot of this isn't really my jam, but you can tell it is "crafted". There's intention and layered with a soulful hiphop R&B vibe. The rating is mostly for giving credit on the artistic output though i don't expect to listen to this much.
There was much to like and admire about this album, but personally I also couldn't wait for it to be over.
The album wasn't difficult to listen to, but I just couldn't connect with it.
I was exposed to this album a few years after it came out. It’s something I liked and a decent rap album with lots of observation and reflection. In some ways more interesting than a lot of rap albums we’ve had on this project, although it isn’t my favorite musically.
2.5 - The length is a doozy, but it's alright. I think I like Be more, but it's been quite a while since I listened to Be, so I don't know. I like a couple songs on here, but I don't find most of it to be memorable. Not bad, just not really my thing.
This had a few good songs but I preferred the other Common album
Really good hip hop album like the jazz influence, feels ahead of it’s time, but also already dated with homophobia. Worth place on this list.
A nice listen
I was immediately curious from the beginning. Time Travelin' is such an interesting start to an album. Fela Kuti is a name newly familiar to me, but I've really enjoyed his work thanks to this project, so to come across an album paying tribute to him is a rather nice bonus. Heat lost me somewhat. I kind of just wanted Common to sit back and let the bass take the center stage. Especially considering how ... experimental the song it follows up on happens to be. It feels as though this album is shaping up to be a hit or a miss. Cold Blooded fares better, but Dooinit I find obnoxious. The Light is also more than decent. So on and so forth, some good and some bad. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel as strange or experimental as I hoped. Instead, it is somewhat bloated, with some unfortunate instances of poorly aged bullshit sprinkled throughout. Nevertheless, when it is interesting, it is really interesting.
Nice jazz influenced rap,
Knew some of this from pop radio - quite jazzy and tuneful, although more of a vibe than full of bangers; closer to Maxwell than the Wu-Tang. Wasn't quite feeling it at the beginning, but it won me over. Pretty good! Docked a point as some lyrics have not aged well at all..
Not bad for old rap. 7/10
Hard to explain why, but I have never been able to get into Common. I enjoy the vibe of the album in general -- laid back and jazzy -- but nothing about it really pulls me back for more. He has a good flow and there is depth to the lyrics that run the gamut from treatment of women in rap culture (The Light), systemic inconsistencies (The Question), a story of payback (Payback Is A Grandmother), and a back and forth study of pimping (A Film Called (PIMP)). I think ultimately, I find myself sort of bored by his delivery and preachy overtones. It doesn't help this album is super long making it easy to lose attention.
I like the flow and beats but I agree with a lot of reviews that it was a bit long and lost me towards the end
Pretty chill but couldn't get super into it. Definitely enjoyed but also a bit too long.
Delightful
Superior hip hop. Don't mind the swearing, glad it's not gangster rubbish. Enjoy the jazzy samples.
Very backpack, don't think it's aged especially well.
I like a lot of this but a few songs aren’t for me. 40 minutes in I thought it should be almost over but had another 30 minutes left. Too many songs went on for too long. Best songs are: Heat, Dooinit, The Light, Payback is a Grandmother, Geto Heaven Part Two and A Song for Assata.
There's some solid songs on here, especially Payback is a Grandmother, but it didn't grip me. Mostly boring and didn't feel original, even for its time. 2.75/5
It kind of dragged on for me. It was alright I guess. Probably wouldn't listen to much of it again.
Good album. I hear a lot of good about common, expected better.
I feel that I should have liked this more than I did - it seems to tick all the right rap/hip-hop boxes for me, but for some reason it didn't grab me. Maybe it's the production - everything is muddy, the drums seem to clip, and the vox is buried underneath everything else.
Great production makes the band sound great. Common's flow and verses sound as good as ever but I think I'd like the featured artists to have a bigger impact on this album. The grooves are exemplar of the "turn of the millennium conscious rap" sound that was just emerging. For that reason it deserves its spot on the list but there are other albums that did it better -- including albums by Common himself.
Some of it didn't resonate with me but great music.
A bit too long. It's very chill and slow paced and I would prefer if the album length was shorter. I've actually never listened to Common before but I'm familiar with his acting work. He's not a bad rapper but not really my taste.
Meh. I enjoyed it for the first half. It was punchy and fresh. As it went on though, the rubbish tracks were left for last. If it was half the length, and the goodies kept in, it would have been an entirely different scenario.
I think I'm discovering that I only like laid back cool jazz inflected hip hop in small doses. I don't dislike anything here, but a whole album feels backgroundy. The second half gets better, though.
Yeah quality hop that hit
This was ok, if a little generic 2000's sounding
I'd have thought the opening tribute to Fela Kuti would have been much more vibrant, felt far to subtle to celebrate a legend. I'm 50/50 on this album, bits I liked, other bits not so much. 2.5 I wasn't familiar with Common, but checked his filmography, turns out I've seen him in a bunch of movies.
Interesting hip hop with deep low bpm feelings
Not as good as I was expecting
Hip hop clásico con toques jazz negros. Para amantes del estilo
I really enjoyed the jazz accent on this one. Still, maybe a little too long and it got boring in the end.
Another hip-hop album with great songs, flow and beat in it that are unfortunately drenched in a too long and samey overall work. It's sad, because there were very nice moments in it.
hyväyt VAIBAT.. VIBES. VIBAT. VAIPAT... joo liian pitkä ei dirversifikaatioitua musiikkia tarpeksi koko albumi vähän sitä samaa niin joo leikkaappa... heh.. persujen mallista.. LEIKKAAPPA PUOLET POIES.... silti.. hyvää settiä, vihaa homoja a film called... prostituutioesque biisi.. but that beat tho...
Kind of a miss for me. The first half was disorienting and hard to get into. At least in the second half the songs were more focused. Too long. Light 3.
Hasn’t aged as well as I thought I would tbh but a solid effort enlivened by some top beats
I was hopeful after the first track of lounge beasts. It took a turn for cranky wordsmithing after that and I wasn't as keen.
Ths started badly but definitely improved. Apparently after this album Common promised to stop using homophobic slurs in his songs so that is kind of admirable in a fucked up way.
Enjoyed this one. Never listened to Common before, but several of the additional artists I was a fan of prior.
I'm not too much into rap, but some of these beats are real nice. Complex intellectual shit.
Top 3 Songs: 1 - The 6th Sense (8) 2 - The Light (4) 3 - Geto Heaven Part Two (14)
Como hip-hop
Another album where, having listened to it merely yesterday, I can remember almost nothing of. Let's play it again. OK, so yeah, this seems really quite well produced. I'm not exactly grippered by it, but it is diverting. Perhaps it's a grower?
Decent sound. Mark it down due to crudeness of lyrics
Very average. Common’s rhymes were very run of the mill, music comp was generic 90’s hip hop. Solid 3. Probably only listen once.
I like it! I'd give it, like, 3.5, but I'm going to choose to round down on this one.
I liked this album, but it's pretty long. It's interesting to see how many different hip-hop styles we have only in one album. It sounds exactly like what I expected for one 90s/2000s hip-hop album. The cultural mixes of the end of the XX century are all here. Reducing 30 minutes and being a little less repetitious would be one of the great hip-hop releases from the last decades.
Ok. Open minded but it's 77 minutes long which for any genre makes me roll my eyes. Interesting mix of funk and soul rap. Overlong. Not my thing.
Enjoyed the flow and vibe. But the homophobia stood out like a sore thumb and spoiled it.
I' not that much into Hip Hop, because hearing that much text feels pretty exhausting to me, especially on such a long album. I can appreciate the art, but it's not something I can listen to regularly.
After being surprised by how much I liked "Be", I was hoping to enjoy this one more than I did. Not bad but nothing stood out.
I really liked the first half of this album. It's super catchy and funky. Sadly, yet again, this is way too long. I don't know what's with rappers and their need to make albums that are 70+ minutes long. It loses focus near the halfway point and the last few songs are just kind of forgettable. 3/5. Cut out some songs and it's a 5/5.
2-3, not my prefered genre
Hip hop pausat i amb molta influència del r&b i el soul. Molt de tarda urbana passejant en samarreta per un loft industrial amb un mug de café ben calent a les mans
The album had a nice vibe to it. I liked the beats. They were funky. Altough it was much of the same kind of songs.
Meh! Not bad, not good, just background noise
Good messaging/lyrics. Wasn’t a huge fan of the beats and the vocal level seemed quiet compared to the beats
not really big on hip hop and this wasn't an exception. overall ok, 2,5/5.
Had a bit of good shit, enjoyed that some of the album flowed into each other.
Common is stone keeper
I feel like I should like this more than I do. It's a head scratcher. I like Common. I enjoy Be a lot and I was into Finding Forever when it dropped, even though I don't return to it often. I don't know why this album never did anything speical for me, and listening again has yielded the same result. It's not bad it's enjoyable enough. A bit on the bloated side but aid rather just listen to Be.
Like water for chocolate by common (formerly “common sense”) is dope, 3.9/5. Some good conscious rap, great flow and soulful beats. It’s cont common’s best album, that would be Be, but it has its moments: The light🔥 Funky for you 6th sense
J'aime beaucoup ce type de Hip Hop. Common, tout comme J Dilla et Mos Def, est un membre périphérique du collectif Native Tongues, collectif qui regroupe entre autre De La Soul et A Tribe Called Quest. En plus tu rajoutes la participation de Questlove à l'intérieur du collectif Soulquarians et il y a tous les éléments pour me plaire. Donc cet album est bon, mais il est vraiment trop long et n'a pas assez de moment forts qui se démarquent. Pas assez de différence pour soutenir l’intérêt tout ce temps. L'album suivant, Electric Circus est plus intéressant dans son éclectisme et l'album Be paru en 2005 est dans la lignée de cet album du jour, mais plus concis et avec plus de moments forts. Par contre il y a tout de même d'excellentes pièces comme The Light et Dooinit produites par J Dila. The 6th Sense produite par DJ Premier est aussi très bonne. J’aime vraiment comment il mixe. Il y a des bonnes collaboration, mais peut-être que ça en aurait pris plus pour soutenir la longueur de l'album. J'aime beaucoup comment est traitée la fin de A Song For Assata avec le discours philosophique à la fin. La finale de l'album aussi est un moment fort en laissant la place encore une fois à son père, Lonnie "pops" Lynn, qui partage ses expériences et opinions. C'est un concept qui a débuté sur l'album Resurrection où il a commencé à laisser la place à son père pour la dernière pièce des albums. Je trouve que c'est vraiment chouette comme idée.
loved the beats and other aspects of the production in this but it was a little bit too long for me
The album started off great then kind of slowed down near the end. Very cool listen but I probably won’t relisten anytime soon.
It was tough to keep my attention going through many of the songs. The lyrics are decent, but not much in terms of hooks or catchy beats. 5/10
I enjoyed “The Light”
Nice rap. But sometimes too long.
How you can tell this is a rap album released in the year 2000: (1) Themes of racial injustice (2) Macy Gray appearance (3) Casual homophobia and misogyny played for laughs (4) It's about six tracks too long (5) So many references to pimpin'. Best track: A Song for Assata
Commin on maballs
Hip hop is not one of the genres that I listen to a lot, and I honestly usually don't care that much about it, but I have to say I really like A Song For Assata, it's my favourite and I got chills. I also liked The 6th Sense. I thought some of the lyrics or words being said were funny, and even if I don't usually vibe with hip hop, I can appreciate the clever rhymes.
La Fouine est toujours en forme.
Ok
interesting mix between instrumental and jazz rap
Beter als verwacht hiphop album met jazz invloeden, zeker niet verkeerd
Didn't blow me away but enjyable enough
Doesn't quite click with me. Has some high points, but lots of middles.
This is sweet relief after a bunch of gangsta rap albums. Gangsta lost me, and the soulquarian, conscious hip hop is a blessed relief. I love the Dilla/Questlove production. 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.
On the one hand a strong solid album… it flows well, maintains the level of quality throughout, smart rhymes, wonderful guests. On the other hand it has few standout tracks - it doesn’t peak and through it just marches on, albeit a good march - you’re not going to walk away with favourite tracks - but you’re very likely to like the album as a whole. It is also a tad overlong, but not tiresome.
Ha! I don't need to listen to this... I heard Common's latest song on the radio a few weeks back and I think I cracked my issue with him. He's got flow, he's got skills but his songs are just not terribly interesting - for me at any rate - except for those ones with the catchy samples expertly woven into them. So on this album, it's The Light and everything else... just doesn't really grab me in the same way that it does. I want to like Common more, I really do - even if he did try to kill John Wick.
Common leaves me feeling underwhelmed. He's trying out alot of different things here, and he's assembled quite a production team, but it never quite coalesces.
Never can get into Common, I always hear he's "socially-conscious" then I hear him calling people faggots and yeah... no thanks. Everything else is fine.
There are a few songs with great messages, but most of the album is pretty average.
Musically this album is good, really good.. However the rapper is very inconsistent, I think fewer songs would have helped.
This is a lengthy album clocking in at 1 hour and 17 mins. Regardless, there's enough variation in the tracks to keep listening. Some resonated stronger than others and some, (like Funky For You at 5:50) completely change direction for the worse. This album is mostly relaxed vibes, simple beats and easy listening. Never spent any time with Common but enjoyed this more than I thought.
I don't know what to make of this mix of two very different styles of hip hop. Musically, it is a great example of alternative hip hop/jazz rap, and stands out with some of the better examples of the subgenre. But lyrically, it is not from that world. Too often eschewing the positivity of alternative hip hop for language and themes that are cruder, "Like Water for Chocolate" disappointed for failing to live up to it's potential.
More aggressive and harder than the album Be. I like Be better but I generally like his flow.
I tried really hard to like this. Musically the beats are solid but by the end of the album it began to feel like they were on a loop. I also found Like Water For Chocolate over-long which is probably what caused the album not to grab me. Maybe it is my background but I found some of the lyrics like Common says in the last track "not for me". That is fine, I can't for a second say that I know what a black person in America goes through. It is a form of Common's story telling fair enough but I found the more gangster elements of the album a bit false. I also found a couple of lyrics a bit sexist and couldn't work out if Common was being serious in what he rapped. A good ablum overall but one that isn't going to go on my high rotation list.
Somewhere out there, among our music reviewing colleagues, a 20 year old black woman is doing her very best trying to make sense of Pink Floyd’s 'Dark Side Of The Moon,' but to no avail. Not her fault. That’s more of a 62 year old white guy’s jam. Her generation, along with her culture, race, puts her at a comprehensive disadvantage with an album like 'Dark Side Of The Moon.' Same thing with me on 'Like Water For Chocolate.' Too much of this experience simply went over my head, not the fault of Common and crew. But while my young friend out there and I struggle to understand each other, and these musical artists who represent us, it doesn’t mean that we still can’t feel what’s going on in each other’s world. 'Like Water For Chocolate,' to me, felt positively Afrocentric. Musically, mostly R&B flavored Hip-Hop, and lyrically exploring an alternative response to life in America among its Black citizens than what, for example, the gangsta rappers advocate. Common and company are fighting for a larger, selfless good, justice and righteousness, with counsel like: ‘… give back what you receivin (‘Time Travelin’’).’ On ‘Doonint,’ the claim is the spitting of ‘something different’ from the typical violent, misogynistic rap that seems to be normative- ‘I rap for the hungry and underprivileged,’ albeit, ‘with a chip on my shoulder.’ Common and company will not have you mistake their kindness for weakness. They are still just as dangerous, as deadly, as the gangsta rappers. For what has proven to be more deadly to the damaged status quo, wherever, whenever, and among whomever that occurs, than Love? Even Common’s father testifies to the positive, healing power of love on the final track, ‘Pops Rap III – All My Children,’ as the most successful solution to the issues confronting the black community. Again, I don’t really feel very qualified to review this LP, or rap in general, I’m discovering. That said, I do appreciate the amazing spoken poetry set to really cool music that this LP shares in abundance. These are talented and skilled artists, masters at their craft. My favorite vibe was actually on the very first track, ‘Time Travelin,’ with its quite unique and spell-bounding hybrid of R&B, Hip-Hop, and psychedelia, of all things! The strong echo/reverb put on the vocals truly gave it a psychedelic sounding component that I’ve never quite heard in this genre, and I liked it so much that I found myself increasingly disappointed that they didn’t use the entire LP to explore it further. Inagodadavi-vi-vida.
Never heard this before, I like it.
I enjoyed this album. Never really listened to Common but thought that this was an album I’d re listen to. Some of his songs are catchy and most are upbeat. He does a good job of not being a typical 90s gangster rap and has his own flow and style. Similar to the roots and tribe in my opinion. 7.6/10
Not a bad rap album but not a geeat album
I'll give Common credit where credit is due, his vocals are so smooth and gives a great vibe for the beats that accompany him. The feature are really good too, particularly like Pops on the last track. Some really good songs here with the favourite being The Light. Not something I would listen to whole as its not my thing but definitely some songs will be added to the playlist.
I was pleasantly surprised. Although I didn't vibe with all of the songs, I did enjoy listening to most of this album. The production and storytelling were solid on all the tracks.
Decent rap album that is too long and lacks any standouts
I'd love to vibe to this with all the guy's vocals cut out. The musicality of it all is pretty nice.
Like Water for Chocolate by Common (2000) If the listener can get beyond the seemingly obligatory profanity, braggadocio, and revolutionary apocalypticism, he/she will discover some serious thought. This is a plus. Now the music lacks the innovation and intricacy of, say, a production of Kanye West, and the rapid pace of the delivery precludes a full understanding of the message on a first listen. One needs to slow way down and listen repeatedly to get the excellent effect of Common’s meaning. This characteristic, however, diminishes its quality as an album. There’s beauty to behold here, but it takes work. 3/5
grand
Was ok, some nice instrumentation. Vocals got a bit tedious. Not awful, not great
Ihan lepposaa menoa. Ei herättänyt tunteita. 2,5*
Good grooves.
There's an opening section, between Time Travelin' and its reprise, where jazz-rap beats manage to stay together despite the low level of melody in the production. It feels simply-right, but my sophomore analysis is that the mix of straightforward flows, old-school beats, and many collaborators is actually quite deft. (Defter by far than that sentence.) The second half reads much poppier, but there's an attempt to pimp square the conscious circle, introduced by a quote of Gil Scott-Heron. "Clumsy" is the wrong word, since A Song for Assata is so successful that it integrates hip-hop self-reference, too. But the half doesn't quite work. But I still like the project: It's strong.
Kolejny dzien pod czarna flaga, jak woda na czekolade, czy moze jak woda dla czekolady, co moze sugerowac okladka albumu, tym razem zaskoczenie jest wieksze, bo artsta dobrze znany, a jednak wybor albumu z jego dyskografii dosc nieoczywisty, bo poklask podziemnych hardkorowych glow na liscie otrzymalaby plyta resurrection, natomiast jego najlepiej sprzedanym materialem i nadal sluchanym, jesli luknac na spotifaja czy last fma jest zdecydowanie bardziej popowy, a mniej consciousowy be z 2k04, a tworca listy postawil na kompromisie pomiedzy tymi dwoma stylami, chociaz juz sama oklada czy tytul rowniez moze miec cos wspolnego z wyborem tej pozycji, bo o ile common zawsze byl raperem ktory otwarcie mowil o problemach murzynskiej spolecznosci, tak w tym albumie jest to motyw przewodni, ale jednak troche z mniej krytycznej strony patrzy na spoleczenstwo niz chocby na wspomnianym resurrection, wiecej tu gloryfikowania czarnosci, ale takze holdowania wczesniejszym pokoleniom, co juz mozna zobaczyc po samych tytulach trakow, jak otwierajacy time travelin a tribute to fela, tego samego feli ktory mial juz swojego picka z swoim zombie, theloniousowy traczek tez jest oczywistym nawiazaniem do monka, niezrozumiala hajpowosc tej plyty moze wynikac z dwoch powodow, ilosci featurow, bo na 16 trakow, tylko 6 jest ich pozbawiona, a nawet na trakach bez featurow samplowanie bywa tak mocne, ze czuc obecnosc samplowanego artysty, co nie zawsze jest zle, ale gdzies w tym wszystkim traci sie sam kontent commonowy, a skoro o samplach, to na produkcji sptokaly sie legendarne teraz postacie, to jest j dilla z slum village oraz questlove z the roots, dodatkowo pojawiaja sie kawalki wyprodukowane przez dja premiera, czy chocby pana di angelo z poprzedniego picka, jaki ten murzynski swiat muzyczny jest maly, like water for chocolate plyta z pomyslem na siebie, pomyslem ktory zostal wykonany, bo sprzedac politycznie swiadomy hip hop w roku 2000, to sukces sam w sobie, ale jednak godzina siedemnascie czasu materialowego jest zbyt rozciagnietym konceptem, ktory caly czas sie powtarza, featury takie jak mos def na the questions pomagaja, ale co za duzo to niedobrze po pewnym czasie, na plejaka wrzuce wlasnie the questions i chyba najbardziej z rozpoznawalnych kawalkow plyty, czyli the light i ten dosc nietypowy jak dla tej plyty, bo bialy sampel pana caldwella z open your eyes z 80, oba kawalki wyprodukowane przez mistrza J
Simple beats, fun lyrics over top.
Very early 2000's, I think I can hear the Snoop influences and the East Coast origins.
I had no idea what genre I was listening to at the start of the first track, but overall a pretty decent story driven album. The 6th Sense was the highlight for me.
Starts off good for me, a lot of the music is all actually played by various other musicians which makes sense as is not typical repetitive hiphop beat/s but commons rapping is not the best but it is an intro so makes sense. Quite dated at times like you could never say "Deep as a skinny girl's cunt" now and also "In a circle of faggots, your name is mentioned". The music is good, but commons rapping is not great at all really but I like his voice but not saying much really. This is getting a high rating for ?questlove, j dilla and other collaborators/featrures like dj premier, macy gray and cee-lo. I always liked the light, has been in my liked songs since my ipod probably. I also recognised and liked 6th sense, but again is more about dj premier than common. Didn't do a lot to keep me engaged, could have be 10 tracks really. Low 3.
Rätt bra. Bra beats och lyrics. Men blev lite väl långtråkigt. Men finns guldkorn. Bästa låtar: The 6th Sense The Questions The Light
Good production but didn't really connect with the feel of the music
2000s rap, okay stuff.
This music isn't for me.
I’m writing this hours after I actually listened to the album so I don’t have much to say cus I don’t actually remember too much. Rap isn’t usually a genre that holds my interest and this was a long one so a lot went over my head from my lack of attention which again, I feel like is crucial for rap. There were some good bits like the pimp battle and I love that his dad has his own track on the album. Main gripe is length.
I had the album on shuffle and didnt realise until 40 mins in. I enjoyed the album, a lot of these albums, I listen to on the side and see if anything stands out, nothing did, but I still enjoyed it. real rating 3.5/5
This was a long album, it kind of felt long for the sake of it. However, I love the instruments in this, they create a vibe that I really like. The instrumentals on their own are really smart, and I enjoy the rap also. There's some clever lyrics in here, I liked "I'm Morpheus in this hip-hop Matrix". Shame about the homophobic lyrics, not aged well and were uncomfortable to hear, that alone loses this a star.
Jo men den var inte så pjåkig
While I was happy yet not surprised to see Be on the list, this album was definitely not expected. It's a good listen - I prefer the Questlove production - but I had to remind myself several times that it was Common and not Q-Tip. Really could have been an ATCQ tribute album. The Light and Sixth Sense are strong tracks but the album lacks an overall flow and several songs try too hard to be edgy compared to some of Common's better lyrical work.
A solid 3. Similar to the last Common one, I enjoy the more musical and jazzy accompaniment. As usual, I'm listening while working so the lyrics don't get as much attention as they should but what I picked up was good.
Echt, ook dit weer een met predikaat Hele Leuke Plaat. Neeext! Wel opgeleukt met aardige geluidssamples.
Wow, this is really smooth, interesting, catchy stuff. I had not heard the album in full before, and I like it. To state the obvious, Common has certainly gained so much visibility since this album, and deservedly so. Solid, well-thought-out, jazzy, captivating stuff here.
Buen rap
Jaunty with a smooth tip
Interesante la cantidad de estándares referenciados en unas bases que beben del soul, del jazz y del R&B. No me mata líricamente a priori, pero tampoco le he prestado toda la atención del mundo.
Inget speciellt liksom, bra vibe men inte mkt mer än så.
Good for scatting over!
Goeie rapvibe, toffe beats. Maar niet echt heel vrouwvriendelijk. Daarom een sterretje minder
Viel me niks tegen. Op een gegeven moment had ik het wel gehoord, maar dit soort wat meer user-friendly-gangster-rap kan ik best hebben.
A lot more lo-fi than the other Common record on this list - no hits so far, and far too long at 1hr17. With some serious trackless editing, could be excellent
well produced album with some good tracks, but common’s raps and delivery are pretty corny, and this album is reallllly long. 6/10
Some interesting ideas but I didn't think it sounded great and was so long. 5
Good flow and nice background music
Good but very long
I wanted to like this. The production is good and the concept is there but it’s way too long. The beats don’t stay fresh over the course of 5-6 minute songs and Common’s delivery is hard to listen to. 5
Naa
Solid stuff
Fue refrescante no oír sobre puros balazos muerte, dejando las historias de guerra para Salvando al Soldad Ryan. Varias de las letras se me hicieron genéricas, que no dicen mucho aunque son de letra kilométrica. También fue refrescante escuchar cosas como tratar a las mujeres bien y llamarla mi igual. Es demasiado largo y de la canción 12 en adelante me perdió consistentemente. 3 estrellas porque sí lo puedo volver a poner, aunque sólo 2 canciones me parezca que realmente sobresalen. Songs: The Light, The 6th Sense, Nag Champa
The beats on this album are great and I fin it interesting but the rapping is very boring.
Solid debut. The Light is still a great song. Love the production.
Listened while working, which is probably not the way to listen to rap.
Not super fan of lyrics, but cool rhythms and sounds.
7
El tributo a Fela Kuti es fantástico, y que haya pocas letras sobre balazos y muertes es un plus. Al ver el título del disco pensé inmediatamente en la película y después leer que Common tiene el mismo sentimiento que Tita es de admirar. Más 1ue tener muchas canciones creo que son muy largas, pensé que iba a la mitad del disco y resulta que estaba terminando la tercer canción, me gusta la idea de tener canciones temáticas (payback) en diferentes discos y voy a buscar las demás para darles un rol. Se va con un 2.5 que sube a 3 está bueno para poner de Fondo y que no sea molesto
"The Questions" was terrible. Most songs are a bit too heavy in bass to listen to at a comfortable level without disturbing the neighbors. True to it's A Side, "Time Travelin", many references and loops from classic songs. I liked "The 6th Sense" even though the sample was repetitive. I was 10 when this album came out but really impressed by some of the players on the album Ceelo Green and Questlove to name a fee
Very relaxed ambience, but suffers from sounding like one long song instead of an album of songs.
Interesting rap album including great songs like the light. Great culture references that cement this album in rap history.
Felt very common
Common has flow but didn’t love the album
lyrically its nice but rap just doesnt seem to inspire me
Spotify. It was fine. Not for me
Who knew that common the actor could rap so well
It was okay, common's rap style is more like reading poetry I feel
repniški repniga repniški repniguje, i to više od sat i petnaest minuta... sami semplovi znaju biti dobri, al šta sad kad je repanje slabo... jedva dvojka
the misogyny and homophobia is such a turn off for this album. I'm not a rap person, but I like the flow and the beats. Unfortunately the flow and beats are not enough to rate this higher against the misogyny and homophobic lyrics. Also way too long
Largely uninspired hip-hop with soul interludes - Common’s “Like Water For Chocolate” is a clear two-star case: not really bad, but at best unremarkable among the 1,001 best albums. Next, please
Def too long, generally not a fan of rap so I wasn’t crazy about this. Kinda got boring after a while
There were maybe a couple decent songs but it’s still rap
Didn’t outright hate this album, but Commons style is definitely not for me. 2/5.
Hm.. Hatet det litt, likte det litt etterhvert. Ga meg egentlig ikke så mye. Steng toer.
Gode, runde beats (som blir litt kjedelig i lengden). Får ikke grep om tekstene, de virker ganske generiske. Trekk for lengde.
Did not catch my attention.
I just don't BELIEVE Common is as "street" as he tries to come off.
my first rap album – still waiting to change my mind about this genre
So mediocre.
Hægt að þykjast vera kúl í 10 sekúndur í hverju lagi, en ekki meira en það.
Didn't catch me at all, even though Common is a good rapper and the beats sound competent. The songs don't seem to go anywhere and most of them are just too long, like the whole album. You don't have to fill the CD if you don't have enough ideas for it! One extra point for the 6th sense, that sticks out with a great beat by Primo.
Excited when new rap pops up but wasn’t for me - not bad by any means but just okay. Doesn’t age well with some of the slurs and references
This album was dull, with a mild sprinkling of homophobia, but at least it was unnecessarily long.
Common's rapping is a little better than his acting, but both are sort of mid.
Inte min musiksmak. Flera låtar med samarbeten med andra artister. The Light är den låt som känns bäst. Resten är sådär. Extranumret med Macy Gray också ok.
Like an old tired animal this album should just be led out to pasture to die peacefully. This “skits” were tired. The parents parts were old and the rapping was plodding and uninspired.
3/10 It was fine background music. Just boring and not my type of genre.
probs like 4.5/10 = after being criticised i will be more concise in these reviews. good to listen to in background but not enough memorable ones to revisit.
conscious hip hop not for me
This is quite nice
If this album wasn’t so long, it might have won me over a bit more. The problem is that, even before the halfway mark, it’s already too much "R&B-saxophone-sofa-avant-garde" and it gets tiring. At one point, I kind of liked some of the samples (or maybe it was actual instrumentation), but that was sooooo many tracks ago that I can't even pinpoint which one it was. 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. Most of the tracks honestly made me feel uncomfortable. If I was more into this gernre as a whole, I could see myself rating this highly, but I really was not in the mood for this.
I found this to be a slog. Musically and lyrically uninteresting. Just nothing to come back to for me.
I thought I rated this already but I guess it didn't save. Didn't enjoy it that much because of how long it is. Its still a fine rap record but I liked the other Common one better.
Meh, I've never gotten into Common and this did nothing to convince me to change my opinion.
Somehow we get two Common albums in this list? This one is as enjoyable as his acting in Silo... totally painful. Sure, the jazzy production from guys like Dilla and Questlove is technically great, but it can’t save the record. It feels super bloated and drags on for almost 80 minutes of filler that’s a total chore to get through. Common’s "conscious" vibe just comes off as preachy, and his flow really lacks the energy to keep things interesting. To make it worse, the supposedly soulful message is undercut by some pretty gross homophobia and misogyny in the lyrics that hasn’t aged well at all. Even with the nice beats, the whole thing is a tedious, problematic slog that I was dying to finish. Definitely not a classic to me.
Kieltämättä tykkään tämän aikakauden rapistä. Mutta common ei koskaan ole ollut sitä, yksittäisiä biisejä lukuunottamatta.
Well it doesn't do much for me..........
dont get it
Meh
Desperately mediocre. Cannot think that anybody needs to hear this before they die.
This is my second common album. My first, I asked the question "what makes this stand out above other Rap/Hip Hop artists" now I am asking what makes this stand out to have 2 albums in the list! throw in a bit of homophobia and question it even more. that said it was a bit better than the first album i had. I still wont remember this tomorrow. In fact, I did not remember that I had already listened to an album of his. 6th Sense or Geto Heaven was the standout track, or maybe it was just because it was nice to hear Macy Gray. 2.5 stars
What a waste of pino palladino and questlove.
I feel bad when I score most hip-hop cause I just can’t do it. My wife has heard of this guy, but I had never. None of the musical part appealed to me and I’m not a lyrics driven listener, so this was a no go.
I’ve got one of his albums which I’ve probably played 3 or 4 times in 28 years! What does that tell you?
Started out really interesting instrumentally, but ended in what I thought was a pretty basic R&B place.
An unapologetically black album that has a beautiful second half. However, I don’t know if I would listen to the whole thing again. Parts of it also didn’t age very well.
The Light pulls out a 2 star rating.
Don’t like rap, but it wasn’t TOO bad
This is fine I guess but there were so many better rap albums that came out in 2000. For Common, I think Be is the only album they really need on this list. If we could do half stars it would be a 2.5 exactly mid.
I couldn't really get into it, the beats were good but I wasn't feeling his flow.
escuché mitad de disco. Acompaña, que se yo. No es rap pesado así que se deja. Pero no me dijo nada
I did not listen to this during a great moment of anxiety and it did help increase my anxiety. 2.5/5
Common is Stonekeeper... and Zendaya is Meechee
It’s not you, it’s me. I’ve tried and tried. My brain is not wired to enjoy the structural elements of this genre.
I gravitated to the track where the Soulquarians sound the most like a real band in a room — warm, spiritual, groove‑first. If the whole album lived in that pocket, it’d probably be a top‑tier listen for me.
Here we go, more hip-hop. As usual, I don’t know how to talk about hip-hop. Hell, I don’t know how to talk about metal, but I at least have a better frame of reference. I can only tell you what I like. I know Common, but I couldn’t tell you any of his songs. I do like his acting. He seems decent enough. This album came out in 2000, and during this time, I was probably into Kid Rock and nu metal, a period of my musical life I’d like to erase or at least refocus. This was Common’s fourth album and first major label release. Ooooh, now here’s something cool. This album was the catalyst for the formation of the Roots, who were known as the Soulquarians at the time. The Roots were definitely an upgrade in band names. Seems like this album saw, if not the creation, at least a huge collaboration with the neo-soul movement that started around this time. D’Angelo was a collaborator on this album. Now, I’m really interested in what this sounds like. Hopefully, not a huge amount of samples and a lot of funky real music. The album has 16 tracks and is over one hour and 15 minutes long. I’m betting we have our share of bits and interstitials in it as well, though, looking at song lengths, it appears that isn’t the case. Maybe Common realized the comedy bits were becoming hacky. Track 1 is Time Travelin’ (A Tribute to Fela) and I assume the Fela is Fela Kuti. I listened to his album Zombie and loved it. I highly recommend it. The music almost sounds like it’s just wafting through the ether as you’re walking along the beach. It’s far off, but right there too. Now we get a more familiar hip-hop beat coming through. Common begins rapping, but there’s an effect on his voice. It can make it hard to understand him. But years of headphones, earbuds, and loud concerts have taken a toll. The song turned into a simple hip-hop song, just a beat and a rapper. Though quietly, in the background, there is music. Track 2 is Heat, and this had a funky groove starting off. I like the music fine, but it does seem like the song is built around a sample. There’s a certain note that hits every couple of measures that really irks me. It just sounds like it shouldn’t be there. Track 3 is Cold-Blooded, and all I can think about is Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories with Rick James. Apparently, the song contains elements from the Parliament song Funkin’ for Fun. Common is a good rapper. He’s easy to understand, which I think is key. These days, I’m not so sure that’s as important. Track 4 is Dooinit, and I have to admit, I’m not into this. Hip-hop just isn’t my bag, baby. I don’t really hear anything that gets me fired up. Today, just might be one of those days. Track 5 is The Light, and it has a bit of Jay-Z’s Hard Knock Life to it for me. The song contains elements from the Bobby Caldwell song Open Your Eyes. It’s fine. Track 6 is Funky for You featuring Bilal and Jill Scott. I always loved Scott’s voice. She could belt it. I have so far been kind of disappointed with the music on this album, but I do like what is going on here. It’s kind of a cosmic hip-hop groove. This is one of the first songs to really kind of catch my ear. Track 7 is called Questions and it’s a song about questions. It’s kind of the 2000s version of Things That Make You Go Hmmmmm. It is a cool little song. The music on it is chill and laid back, with a nice electric piano playing. Two decent songs in a row. Track 9 is The Sixth Sense and this was a single. I have no memory of it. Common said this is “real hip-hop music from the soul.” I guess. It’s just more of the same with a sample repeating in the background over and over. Track 10 is A Film Called (Pimp), and it features Bilal and MC Lyte. I guess Common is a pimp looking for his trick, MC Lyte. Except MC Lyte isn’t into being pimped. The song is a bit goofy, but it’s fun. MC Lyte is great on this song. Track 13 is called Payback is a Grandmother and it’s about Common’s grandmother, amongst others, being robbed on a boat. It’s insane, but great. Easily my favorite song on the album. "There was a Hardy Boy mystery I tried to solve again Dude that broke in my crib, it wasn't involving him Four in the morning, my phone ringing I'm thinking, "Who the f*** is this, " on the other line screaming Told em, "Keep down, " but they was breathing hard It was my grandmother telling me that she had been robbed I told her hold (hold) tight (tight), I'd be right over Freezing but this situation made the night colder Knew this was the night (that what?) that she played poker With some friends in a club at the boat getting bub' Said she seen these thugs on the boat for a while Not gambling but every now and then they'd smile Then blow! They had Mag's And told everybody, ‘Put your s*** in the bag’” Brilliant. Adding this song to my singles list. Track 14 is Geto Heaven, and it features Macy Gray. Ah, Macy Gray. She blew up, then crashed hard, then just disappeared. The song is fine. Gray sounds like Macy Gray, which is to say, she sounds weird. Track 15 is A Song for Assata and it features Cee-Lo Green. I really enjoy Green’s voice. The song is about Assata Shakur, who was Tupac’s grandmother, though apparently some doubt that. Whatever the case, she sounds like one hell of a woman. Check her Wikipedia. She lived a life. I really enjoyed this song. Critics loved the album, and it was on most best-of-the-year lists in 2000. The album ended up going gold and sold around 800,000 copies, when album sales still existed. Now, me? It was all right. I just don’t know what to do with hip-hop most of the time. It’s not for me, but I like funny, I like cool. This album is cool and has a funny song, but a must-listen? I don’t think so. I’m sure hip-hop fans want to boil me in oil, but it’s okay, we all like what we like.
kalo sxetika. stin arxi apla mou fanike ligo vareto gt den sunuthizo na akouw tetoia fasi alla meta mou arese kai epsaksa gia ton tragoudisti
I preferred Be. I like his laid back delivery but found the production on this a bit too vanilla/ laid back and lyrically a bit cringe.
nothing special imo
This is #day641 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to closing out another artist on the list, as this is my second and final record by Common. Honestly, I've no idea why this list needed two albums from him. It also just happens that this kind of soulful hip-hop isn't really my jam. Much like the previous time, this gets a 2 out of 5 for me. Looking forward to #day642.
okay i think is a rap album. not sure. doesnt sound that bad with the saxo the first song. up until song 3 the album seems cohesive the light is good the sixth sense song is good, reminds me of kanye west
It’s a crooner! Long, mainly boring. Probably a milestone in Elvis’s career, but 2 good tracks (In the Ghetto, Suspicious Minds) don’t lift the album as a whole above 2 stars.
This album had really good bones, but kinda annoyed me. The music and beats were very good, with nice jazz influences and interesting moments, however I really didn't like this guys flow. He seemed to take breathes at the oddest moments. Also the homophobia broke it for me too.
Okay so to start, the homophobic themes weren't it for me. The rhythm and flow very very lacking and it constantly took me out of the songs. I did like that this album had more jazzy tunes, but there was still a lot left to be desired.
This album had a few interesting tracks (A Song for Assata being the standout) but on the whole it was far too forgettable to be so long.
Overstayed its welcome.
Not my genre, but I appreciate this is well crafted.
Not my kind of music
The collection of people on Common’s major label breakthrough is like a who’s who of intelligent, socially conscious millennial hip-hop. With the amount of quality with all the people, this album has quality tracks BUT what with them being sooooo long they do occasionally seem a bit of a mess. This mess is also linked to how bloated this album is; it all gets a bit too much in one sitting – someone should’ve edited this down. Best Tracks: Heat; The Light; The 6th Sense
I went in thinking I would like this album, but truly meh