Be

me encantó, muy rap, todo perfecto, la base muy juicy perfecta

Love, love, love it.

It’s Common’s album, but Kanye is the one of the best producers ever.

now THAT'S an album! fucking loved the lyrics and the beats, very 00s album, will probably listen to it again

This was great! Like listening to early Kanye, I enjoyed the production, the lyricism, scene-setting, and overall propulsion of the project. I have always slept on Common, but this hit like nostalgia even though I had never listened to it before. The inclusion of him and Kanye's Chappell performance (which was the only track I knew) was the cherry on the top.

i like it

Sonido ultra sofisticado, propio de la mano de Kanye West a lo largo de todos los tracks. Líricas afiladísimas, existencialistas, abordando temas sensibles de manera punzante, honesta y representativa de una comunidad. Tiene todo lo que un gran disco de rap puede tener y fluye perfectamente, un problema habitual que suele habitar hasta en los mejores discos del género. Un 10/10 y una victoria para el hip hop la existencia de este disco.

So in 2005 Dave Chapelle made his Block Party film, in which he, well, organizes a block party with some of his favorite artists. Chapelle has great tastes and all artists there are highly recommended (Mos Def, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Dead Prez, The Roots). Common was also in that film, apparently at his peak. This is a great album, catchy songs, interesting production also very varied musically and emotionally. I really liked this one so easy five stars, and in the spirit of other reviews, I actually have a STEM PhD as well.

I have a STEM PhD and enjoyed both the lyricism and melodies of this. Some would say my intelligence is right around the middle of the bell curve though, so maybe that's why. Trolling aside, this is my second Common album this week, and this is so different. Hip hop that's more like old Kanye, which I really enjoyed. We need more albums like this on this list, fresh, great sound. 5* Highlights: be, faithful

be di common of which I am a big fan one of the best albums in the history of hip hop that goes from political street themes to romantic ones that is helped by productions from jazz to bum bap with 2 of the best producers in history j dilla and kanye west sensational

Relisten One of my favorite hip hop records. Common/Kanye were kind of unstoppable back in the day, and there's even some Dilla sprinkled in here for good measure. Kanye's production is definitely scaled back from his solo stuff, nothing quite on the same level of bombastic as College Dropout, and I think that better fits Common's more laid-back style. Only nitpick is that I'm not sold on the spoken word segments of The Corner - not out of lyrical content, I just think it feels at odds sonically with the rest of the track. Still love that song though. Favorite Tracks: Be, Go!, Chi-City, They Say, Real People Least Favorite: None 5/5

muy buen álbum, me encantó se nota mucho q Kanye produce el álbum y empieza a ser el auge del rap experimental, no falla una canción.

Every word and rhyme felt meaningful and purposeful. Great vibes

Ive always loved this album sm

Badass intro and deep groove rb rap. Loved every minute

Lovely

183 likes for the PhD theory dude. Too bad he only listened to 17 albums. It would be interesting to read his thoughts on other genres his math brain couldn't compute. Easily accessible and completely entertaining album.

As much a golden age Kanye album as an incredible Common project. Unlike a lot of rap projects, it is actually pretty concise and avoids a lot of the bloat that makes other projects worse. I can definitely hear a bit of inspiration from J Dilla in the beats as well.

Orgasmic

That PHd guy is gonna lose his mind when he finds out about Mos Def. Really great album, very empowering and uplifting. Hearing Kanye and Dilla collab is crazy, I can't believe I never heard this before.

Not sure what was in the water in Chicago in the 2000s, but I think some of the best hip hop albums ever came out of this scene. Be is no exception. Maybe the peak of conscious hip-hop, Be employees the services of Kanye West before he got in a car accident and turned into an insane person. The whole album just oozes cool, with banger after banger. Highlights for me are the title track, "They Say", "The Corner", "Faithful", and "Go!". Easy 5 stars.

Much better than the last entry. He’s definitely still trying to impart wisdom on me but I like the beats a lot more this go around and his flows are more appealing. Something heavenly about Kanye producing with J Dilla that’s nuts. That PhD in mathematics review is hilarious, I want to give this a 5 just to mess with them.

Un clásico del hip hop de los 2000's y de los mejores dentro del mundo del conscious hip hop. Sus líricas, su beat con esa mezcla de jazz rap y soul. Muy recomendado Canción favorita: They Say

Damn, I would likely never have heard this album if not for this list. It feels like the samples were specifically for this album.

Kanye before he discovered Nitrous Oxide and Swastikas.

Iconic

Common — Be (2005) Long before I participated in this challenge, I already made up my mind towards this LP. Tracks like Be (intro), Faithful, Go, They Say, The Corners, It's your World and most recently Testify and Real People all are in my rotation. I liked the overall production which was during peak Kanye; as one Rolling Stone writer said "This is the College Dropout continuation". Kanye's production is undisputed especially on intro. Who can forget John Legend and the Last poets and the late Dilla. Also Common rapping ability was absolute masterclass so this a long standing 5

You could put this on while hosting anyone in the background. The drum breaks are excellent, horns great, samples curated. Verse comes flying at you but also leaves breaks to breathe for the music. Lofi these days has moved towards lo-effort. This is chill but there's so much going on under the surface.

This would get a 4 for The Old Kanye producing the entire thing, if nothing else; thankfully, Common matches these beats perfectly. Then again, I never did too well in Math class, eh?

love

Classic

Me gustaba siendo chavalito y más me ha gustado siendo menos chavalito

One of my favorite albums of all time

Can't deny the brilliance of this. Smooth beats, smooth raps, soulful vocals. A superb hip-hop album.

I have a hometown in common with Common. Awesome. 5

i love how you can tell every track belongs to the same album but still feels like each song is different and unique. The message is absolutely lovable, and i think ending the album with "it's your world" is truly an amazing choice. although i'm not a big fan of rap, i believe this album is wonderfully executed

Love this album I can’t say anything bad about it

Testify is one of those songs that takes you back. Story telling hiphop songs are always fire. Kanye appears in several songs, it's almost a duo album release.

Amazing. Like someone is handing you memories.

Focused and cohesive, this album balances reflective lyricism with warm, soulful production that never distracts from the writing. The sequencing gives it a sense of purpose, and the performances feel intentional from start to finish. It works as both a personal statement and a tightly constructed hip-hop record.

Great album from start to finish Standout songs: The corner Testify Chi-city

Lindo album, da pra sentir o dedo do Ye

This record! Incredible. There is one track (Testify) where the repeating sample gets annoying, but wow was I blown away.

Know what, surprisingly good

5 stars (…even with the appearance of Kanye)

very good album, bars go crazy

Really enjoyed! Such a vibe!

classic Chi town record, production by Ye was peak

2nd best Common album IMO. Very very good all the way though.

better than i thought, lots of smooth beats and funky hooks

Absolute stone cold classic that I know from childhood well. Such a shame to hear so much Ye here; in particular, the really optimistic and upbeat version I used to love so much. Sigh.

Brilliant from beginning to end.

Fell good Ola gia playlist

9/10

so good very knit mafia

Albumazo

Wow, que álbum por diosssss!! El simoel hecho de contar lo que envuelve Chicago lo hace fascinante y no sin mencionar que este disco es producido en gran parte por Kanye. Soul, Jazz, Rap ¿Qué más quieres?

Great lyricism and wonderful production from a pre-problematic Kanye. In keeping with the reviews already here, it gets a bonus point just to spite that maths PhD bore.

Love this album. So much soul to these tunes. Had a copy on an old IPod that I ripped courtesy of the Indianapolis Public Library. No duds on this album. Favorite Tracks: Go, Faithful, Real People, They Say, It’s Your World.

Incredible beats - amazing lyrics and flows. Could listen to this one all day - even the outro.

Wow!! How have I not heard this album before.

While looking at what others thought of this one I was blindsided by the man who thought he was just too good at maths to enjoy rap, going after a cabal of humanities graduates who have, apparently, been dictating people’s tastes from the shadows. I noticed he stopped relatively early on, which we can only assume is the doing of someone with a geography degree who felt the need to have him silenced. Regardless, it’s a fantastic album.

Hip-hop can be an acquired taste, with its best songs, albums and artists taking months to truly be appreciated by a given fan. This album was no different. When I initially rated it, I’d given it a 3, due to my lack of exposure to the genre. I would soon change it to a 4, but it stayed like that for a while after. However, since listening to and falling in love with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Kanye West, and J. Cole, I just have to bump this up to a 5. It’s weird how music tastes change sometimes.

Enjoyed

waaaahhhhhh i used to really love this album!!!! and it's funny cause i completely forgot how much kanye was alllllll over this. crazy how talented he was dang. anyway go is one of my favorite rap songs and probably one of the first few albums/artists that made me realize that like indie rap/soul genre is probably my favorite of them all (juyeon knows what i'm talking about, i've given him certain songs).

One of the only albums I'd listened to before, its amazing, a classic for a reason. Lyrics, beats, samples, whats not to like?

One of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Incredible beats. Just incredible. Common is on top of his game here and the songs stand the test of time. 5/5

funky bassline I'm actually enjoying this way more than I thought I would

I mean, what's not to like? The message is simple, actually it's the most simple word there is. Common demonstrates through song (and killer Kanye and J Dilla production) that aspiring to be something and simply just existing can be awesome, and Common can deliver the words to inspire anyone. I like this album a lot, not only is it inspiring, but its just so chill in production that even if you're not looking for inspiration, you can use this album to just relax on your couch on a rainy day and enjoy your existence. 10/10

Best Song: Real People / Faithful Worst Song: GO! Blends 90s lyricism and performance with early Kanye production. Feels warm & somehow nostalgic. The sound on this album rivals Kanye later work though much more subtle and calming imo. The album is strong from start to finish. As perfect as a hip hop album can be.

10/10 Best: Worst: Be is a truly timeless work of art, the entire album is filled with so much soul and authenticity, the warmth I feel listening to it is quite cathartic. Top ten favourite albums of all time: rhythm, beat, lyrics, vocals - everything is perfect. IMO this is one of the BEST collaborations in HH, Commons lyrics with Kanyes production is immaculate. On top of all this, Be also has one of my favourite intro tracks ever, opening up with the bass that sets the tone for the entire album in such a simple way then blending in the piano and kit so perfectly is beautiful work.

My first experience with Common was on Like Water For Chocolate, which was a very good album, especially the song The Question. But fuck me, this album takes it to another level. By the time you get to GO!, you instantly know this is a Kanye album. The production on this goes fucking insane and carries this album. That's no fault of Common, but just simply down to the fact that Kanye West WAS so talented back then. This album was incredible. Well deserving of such a high average rating. Every song on this thing hits, Common and Kanye really go together so well on this thing.

Very good. Felt like an instant classic and immediately brought me back to some good old days of hip hop. Kanye West at his peak in production.

I'm not sure how I never listened to this album before, but it is a classic. I heard the singles off the album and they are great, but the rest of the album keeps it going as well. I am a sucker for that era of Kanye, so it was right up my alley.

listened twice and definitely will listen again, it's phenomenal

One of the better rap albums I’ve ever heard. Always forget how good common is

Smooth

Went in with low expectations and was blown away in first listen. Great lyrics, great flow and beats, beautiful voice, slightly self deprecating at points. Would listen to again.

Just absolutely beautiful and uplifting. No skips.

Cool album

Great album, very lyrically impressive. Feels nice.

Bangin

Fantastic gem

l'effet d'un bâton de pluie dans le corps

4.5 il est super cet album, pour dessiner ecouter tranquillement en pensant a la revolution, beaux messages superbe casquette que demander de plus si ce n'est 10 tracks de plus ??

It’s Common, the best conscious rapper. This is not my favorite album though so wondering what else is included in the list.

9/10 Favorites: Be (Intro) The Corner GO! Testify

GOOD music.

One of the best rap albums I have reviewed off this list so far. Every song had his own thing going for it. It was also my type of rap with it's symbolic lyrics, great rhythms and type of voice. I am not a big aficionado of rap so I didn't even know who Common was before I listened to is. I am a big fan of his work now.

Unbelievable vibe, this is probably my favorite from this generator so far. I'll definitely be listening to more Common. This did make me really sad that Kanye has become who he's become. I understand the whole "I miss the old Kanye" thing now

Love

Great beats, great flow, A+ production.

So fucking good. Common is a great rapper. The religious tone can be a bit much, but still fits within the lyrical context.

Fuck me this is good.

It's always a great day to listen to Common & J Dilla & (old) Kanye!! This album is absolutely amazing from start to finish. Will never skip a track. Common shines on every track but Kanye is also a standout, makes you miss the old Kanye 😫 Production is so immaculate on every single track that i would even listen if it was an instrumental album. Much love

Just insane. Kanye and J Dilla has the producers for the project is a crazy duo, which leads to this albums insanely good production. This is a great album, but i have to say, i dont currently understand the hype of "Be (Intro)". Not that its a bad song its just i dont see why its the highest rated track here. Regardless, this album is top tier. Go! Go! Go! Go!

Perfect hooks, perfect style, perfect samples, no bullshit

I was familiar with multiple songs on this album but hadn’t ever dug into it in its entirety. The samples used and Common’s unique approach to rapping made it standout for me.

Sumptuously produced, brilliantly delivered, really loved this one

I was familiar with Common the actor/celebrity more than the rapper growing up. I knew Chicagoans always hyped him up. And I think I had listend to this album once in college and didnt think much of it at the time. Amazing what a few years can change. This is an album from a time when hip-hop was rapping. The lyrics and flow carry the album with production that compliments and elevates them. Stand outs: Faithful, Love Is, Chi-City

Neither do I listen to a lot of hip-hop in general nor do I have a PhD in Mathematics, but man, this is good. Incredible production and great rapping. Made my day

Classic

I'm a sucker for 'conscious rap' or whatever this would be classified as, but even then - 'Be' definitely stands out. The performances are top notch, but good lord, the producing is something else. Hearing Kanye at the top of his game, before he lost his mind, with Dilla is special.

Go! One of my favourite songs atm

Holy. This album is nothing short of immaculate. This is my first project involving Kanye West and man, he was such a musical genius. I'm not too religious but Common shares his beliefs in such an amazing way. Definitely a new favourite for me.

Mmmm

Such a classic, filled to the brim with sophistication and consciousness.

Outstanding. SO many great songs from this album and I didn’t realise they were born together.

Every moment of this album is super easy on the ears, perfectly mixed and complimented with confident lines from Common and Kanye who also dive just as heavily into introspective themes. Just super smooth overall.

Classic. .

Peak Kayne production really is something else. Haven't heard these songs in a long time but was really digging everything about em. Lyrics, samples, vibes, all of it. Like a little time capsule of a certain era that holds up really well. Amazing album

Lyrical masterpiece, production is top tier.

Iconic Kanye 2k production sound - you can hear it in an instant on The Corner. Super smooth album, easy to listen to - background or foreground. Listening to this now, I realize how much of it I know, but at the same time, am fully aware that I never gave it an intentional listen at the time.

Deep interesting thought provoking

2 + 2 = Perfect album rating. Can someone check my math on that? I miss the old Kanye.

Gave this a 3 the first time. Gotta wonder what I was thinking. The production on this is flawless. Also, pre crazy kanye was fantastic. What a fall from grace Kanye has become. I dont think its fair to knock this though because even though you can feel kanyes DNA on it it is absolutely Commons album. Also worth mentioning I am glad I am an idiot who only has a bachelor's degree in Music Business so I can enjoy hip hop!

Common creates the kind of conscious hip hop that can hit you were you live. Coming at a time when mainstream hip hop was dominated by the lyrical stylings of Lil Jon, Ludacris, Nelly, Usher and Outkast that often celebrated more boisterous and celebratory rap, Common provides an album that merges modern sounds and sensibilities with the a back bone of jazz rap. Songs like "The Corner" expose the issues facing people in the city while still celebrating the culture. Class struggles are brought to the forefront in songs like "The Food" and "Chi-City". Beautiful songs like "They Say" can disarm you with beautiful melodies provided by John Legend and enhanced by Kanye West, but still cuts through with deeper messages. All in all, this album definitely marked a shift change from the hip hop culture of the late 90s and early 2000s to something more cerebral and deep, if at least for a moment.

This era was something else

I really love this album! The peak of punk music

I really like this, especially being from Chicago. So thanks, man. Also, screw you, PhD guy. I have a PhD in Education, and I am a woman. So I really wonder what you think of me. I think the whole point of this experiment is to listen to music that is outside our comfort zone. Is this my usual genre? Nope. Am I happy that I got to hear it? Absolutely, and it expanded my horizons. Let's try to have an open mind.

Loved this album, the instrumentals are awesome and the collaborations too, something i totally can play to listen while working!

One of those hip hop albums that is just a much better experience when listening to it straight through, rather than just the stuff that landed on radios. It’s also an album that reminds me of just how good Kanye was back in the mid 2000s with his beats. I miss that version of Ye.

The album was good, smooth and classic. It'd have to grow on me but I definitely enjoy the uses of the beats, brass, and more. I give this a solid 8/10, maybe a 10/10 if I were completely up for it.

I really enjoyed this album!

I could understand every word but it still felt tight. Tons of tough fronting but still had the occasional uplifting vulnerability. Perfect production

Pretty great! Similarly to sound of silver there just came a point where I hit a wall of: Yeah I’m not getting this fully. Which is great! The way to that point was amazing tho, “Be” was amazing to listen to, the beats and rhythms connected beautifully, both familiar and odd. I am so unbelievably clueless about music production but there was something both extremely familiar and unknown to the music itself, it was perfect to listen to both while paying attention and listening to some songs in the background. Some songs like Testify , The Corner and Chi City really stuck with me. Yeah I guess I just talked myself into a five star rating here. Like this was awesome , definitely an album I’ll return to! Also Faithful took me out like a pile of bricks the first time I heard it. what do you mean you would date god if she was a woman??? (Great song tho it just made me spit out my water the first time)

Mega!

Wow...

one of my faves. i love this album so much.

Perfection

Woahhhh, I didn't know this album had a lot of Chicago influence and is produced by Kanye West!!

really good

"Like Water for Chocolate" is still my favorite Common album, but this is a close second. 'Ye and Dilla done give Questlove a run for his money on the production. So many great rhymes, too, like "the chosen one from the land of the frozen sun." Last Common album I really cared about, and, well, I stopped caring about Kanye a long time ago, but this is album is a testament to his talent as a producer.

This takes me right back to 20 years ago, sitting on my couch watching the fresh music video of "The Corner". I consider this a REAL patriotic album because he highlights the flaws of urban life in the United States Of America. This album has bangers from start to finish, and is a Hip-Hop masterpiece. Interpret this album however you want it to be. Favorite Track: "The Corner".

Common’s lyrics are great but I think this album is really made by Kanye’s (and occasionally Dilla’s) production. Incredible tunes back to back, 4.5*

This was delightful :)

Wow, there isn't a single skip on this album!

Common is good, great lyrics, a storyteller. I love Like Water for Chocolate. I liked hip hop better when every producer didn't have to put themselves all over everything they touched. There's a lot of Kanye on this album. The sample on Testify gets annoying really quick. He's definitely underrated as a rapper. I like Kanye and him as a guest MC is a good addition. I could do without the John Legend guest spot. I get it, the album title is Be.

Perfect!!!! I'm not even a huge rap/hip hop listener, but this was great. The production takes me back to the early 2000s and it still sounds so good and soulful. I say this as a STEM major lol

Long-time favorite. Favorites: “The Corner”; “Chi-City”; “The Food”

Fav: GO! Least Fav: The Corner Don’t need a PhD to tell you that this is a flawless album

Love it

I really would hate to be one of those "remember-when-Hip-Hop-used-to-be-Hip-Hop" guys, but I fear that's what I thought when listening to Common's "Be." Everything about this album just felt right. This is how Hip-Hop should sound. Maybe it's because I was a teenager when this album was released, so I perhaps I have some nostalgia holdover for Hip-Hop from that period. But, if I'm being honest, this was how I felt. Unapologetically.

Separating the man and the music is hard for a lot of people. I get it. But Kanye was at his absolute peak here. So subtle, yet such smooth production. Common’s vocal style and bars are a perfect combination with Kanye’s early production style.

Sehr nah an dem, was ich eh höre

17 year old hip hop head when this came out blew me away. Kanye and Dilla doing all the beats was always going to hit hard. Common absolutely killed it as well. Didn't need to listen to this again for 5 stars but was a beautiful journey to be taken on once more. Brilliance.

Great album!

Ótimo álbum, com muitas referências a cultura negra norte americana e muitos samples de jazz. As participações com o Kanye West são excelentes, uma pena ele ter virado um nazista kkkkk

A masterpiece. Never would have heard this if I hadn’t done this project. This one feels like a gift.

A fantastic album, for now it is a 5 star album for me, but i have to give it a relisten. The rapping was greeat and so were the beats.

One of my favorite hip hop albums ever, immaculate vibe and extremely solid in both production and performances

smooth

Wat een heerlijke zachte stem en harmonieuze plaat met goede teksten en heerlijke ritmes

kind of blown away by this one. common's flow is terrific and he is lifted even further up here from the production of kanye west and j dilla here. every song on here is great and common's sensibility really lands with me. it's a shame that a lot of the people involved here have subsequently fallen out of peoples' good graces (kanye, john mayer, a random appearance from dave chappelle) because this is a truly great record!

This was fantastic. It was produced by college dropout era Kanye so this makes sense. He is an awful person but he was a master of the craft for a time.

Unreal album. Kanye when he was Kanye. Shame.

Loved it

incredible album with a guest appearance by adolf hitler

Good album. I enjoyed it. Prolly not one I’ll go look for often since it’s not much my style of hip hop normally but I did enjoy it.

Woah really enjoyed this more than i was expecting!

I would subtract a half star for Kanye’s involvement if I could.

Good beats and good flows. I liked that some of the songs had some inspirational lyrics. Really enjoyed this album a lot.

I wonder if Common and Kanye still talk.

Really good beats, definitely enjoyed, listening to it, appreciate the messages of the song. And the throwback to Chappelle show, definitely want to save it on Spotify and listen again.

Finally some Chicago boys! Kanye on the beats and Common on the mic is a killer combo. If only this album could've come out 2 years later, adding Lupe as a collaborator would've completed the Chicago trifecta. The intro is one of the best of the era imo. Plus this album can have goofy verses like those on "The Food" and then drop flawless bars on Real People all supported by a light and breezy jazz beat. It blows me away how Common effortlessly addresses the traumas of living in south side Chicago, acknowledges his own temptation to pass on the trauma, and still challenges himself to humanize his abusers and the abused all in the same song. "I wonder if the spirits of Bob Marley and Haile Selassie Watch me as the cops be tryna pop and lock me They cocky, plus they mentality is Nazi The way they treat blacks, I wanna snap like paparazzi" ... "Told to go beyond the surface, a person's a person When we lessen our women, our conditions seem to worsen" It's Your World is also one of my favorite outros. Rap isn't my go-to genre, but no genre can amaze me lyrically as much as rappers. My dad argues that Sondheim is the best social commentator, but there's nothing that inspires me more than the most abused members of society challenging everyone to be better. 5/5

This reminds me a lot of the early 2000s in a great way. The contrast to what was the prevalent production style at the time really grabbed me; I think there are ways in which these lyrics feel old AF, but in contrast to a lot of the gangster rap we were coming out of, I found the album comparatively tame and perhaps that's why I enjoyed it so much.

Ugh, this album just feels like a montage from when Kanye was grounded and had friends. Pretty amazing that Kanye's production and features overshadow Common. Really enjoyed this album though. Feels like a snapshot of a beautiful era of Chicago hip hop. I do appreciate Common's POV too. I can feel a little 'pastor dad' haha but hey, he's doing what he can to make the world a better place. Can def feel the positivity and love. "I want to be a duck" is so wonderful 😂 PS: CHILL PHD dude! Lolol. 4.5

Well alright, Common…get it!

JAPIERDOLEEEEEEEEEE JAKIE TO DOBRE

I'll be honest it straight up didn't occur to me that there might be hip hop on this list I've had all old mostly white men so far. I only know common from that one song he did with Joss Stone lol. This is good midday listening so far, GO! is familiar actually. Oh i was having a great time and then Kanye rocked up saying Dave Chapelle's name. Ffuckin jumpscare. Ahhhhhh it's fuckin good tho. Look i don't know enough about rap to analyse this too deep but I really fuckin like it. It's your world is so good man. I'm not gonna let it repeat but I might come back and listen again in a bit. I need to remember that I like hip hop more often.

When this album first came out, I overlooked it. My friends were really into Common at the time, and since I was always trying to find something new, I just passed on it. Looking back, I wish I had given it a proper listen. One thing I’ve always liked about Common is that he has a smooth flow and doesn’t come across as arrogant or overconfident—something that turns me off with a lot of rappers. The production from Kanye West is excellent, mostly sampling 70s soul and funk, which gives it a dusty, vintage sound, while still being rooted in modern hip hop. It’s also worth noting that J Dilla produced two tracks on the album, which only adds to how solid it is overall.

Solid jams! very listenable and fun. At least 4, maybe 5 if I relisten.

Amazing.

I really liked this. I've always thought I should listen to more Common, and now I know I should.

It turns out I've enjoyed all the songs on this album without realizing they were all on the same one.

Je sais que j'ai dis que j'aimais pas le rap l'autre fois, et effectivement, y'a beaucoup d'éléments que j'aime pas du rap: l'incessante vulgarité abrutissant, le style «gangster», la perpétuelle vantardise et rabaissement des autres, les instruments réduits à une note de bass, un default setting drum loop et la mauvaise utilisation de samples de vraie bonnes chansons. Bref, la liste est longue. Par contre, ici, ont est vraiment ailleurs. Je me concentre rarement sur les lyrics, mais le flow est comme du beurre sur chaque tracks et les rimes sonnent juste bien à l'oreille. Les back vocals rajoute énormément au niveau mélodique, ce qui manque habituellement en hip-hop. Mais SURTOUT, l'instrumental est TRÈS solide; ont sens l'expertise derrière le mix et le sampling est très bien dosé et incorporé avec minutie. L'esprit soul éclipse grandement l'attitude gangster qui me rebute habituellement, et n'importe quel album qui incorpore du sax et des trompettes gagnent des points dans mon livre. Ok, bref, 5 étoiles, je peux pas juste écrire cette review toute la journée

Hadn’t really listened to Common before but really enjoyed this album

This album was amazing, absolutely loved it.

As a polymath with PhDs in maths, physics...only kidding it was a very good album if that is your taste stylish and very well produced 😁

“Be… eternal” This is one of the most soulful hip-hop albums ever. You get prime Kanye on production, with clear J Dilla influence and Dilla himself appearing on a few tracks. The beats are warm, rich, and full of life, and Common is rapping beautifully over them, calm, wise, focused. It’s an essential hip-hop record. It feels comforting, but it isn’t soft or empty. Common is talking about purpose, love, faith, growing up, responsibility, and what it means to live right. It has that feeling of walking through a city at night and thinking about your life. The opener, “Be (Intro)”, is honestly one of the best hip-hop songs ever made. It sets the tone immediately: hopeful, emotional, and powerful without trying too hard. The ending of the album is so brilliant. The final track, “It’s Your World”, is perfect. The first part feels hopeful, like anything is possible, like the world is open for you. Then the second part switches to a spoken monologue talking about struggle, pain, limits, and harsh reality. Dreams meeting the real world. It doesn’t lie to you. It says nothing is easy, life hits hard, but you still have to try. Hope and realism together. Soulful beats, great message, amazing rapping, no filler. A classic.

This definitely has Kanye's hallmarks all over it, and Common rises to the occasion. Great lyrical hip hop, steady hard beats. Kanye I hope you get yourself help before its too late, because its hard to hear what you did and what you were capable of at one time.

fire

reflections, sex, faith, community and black pride. this album is confident, conscious and full of deep thoughts. it's always nice listening to hip hop writers who occasionally throw listeners with real antidotes to ponder for weeks. if that wasn't enough to convince you, this entire album is produced by kanye west. say what you will about his insane views and personality, but you'd be lying if you said he couldn't make a beat.

Really enjoyed this! Can absolutely hear Kanye’s influence as a producer on this album. Was also cool to hear connections between tracks on this album and Kanye’s later stuff (Chi-City —> opening of Homecoming). Common is a legend and I enjoyed the chance to hear more of his solo stuff

really liked it, the beats are good, and it's actually such an optimistic album toward the end. feels like something childish gambino would have drawn from. I don't listen to hip hop at all so this was a nice change

CHICITY BABY dope album

Holy shit this is awesome.

Very chilled album. No fillers

great album, liked the melody and young kanye features

One of Common’s best albums in my opinion. His smooth voice and Kanye’s beats were meant to be together.

This album has one of the strongest intro/outro combos imo. I’m particularly fond of It’s Your World, feels like a summation of the album in its entirety

Album #12 (After almost a year of breaking from this!) - 5/5 Hell yeah. Great sound. Amazing lyricism. Beautiful themes. Rad album art. Fuck Kanye West.

4.6/5

Yeah

F*ckin great. Go! is one of the few songs my daughter and I can both groove to. Just great. Listen to it!

Another classic here. An incredibly smooth listen thanks to Common’s delivery and production from Kanye on the top of his game. Everything from this period that he touched is just incredible, which makes his recent output just seem so much worse.

I loved this album at 14 without quite “getting it”, having had only a clean version, and being 14. Still luminous, now powerfully nostalgic—remember when Kanye was only known for rapping?? Simpler times.

I love this album, everything is just perfect. I don't like Kanye West because he's a nazi (even though he is struggling with mental health issues currently) but he's a talented person regardless. What an incredible album.

Dope

Favorite Track: Be

Great album to have playing in the background. I really listened to the lyrics the second time listening, and Common might be one of the greatest storytellers of my generation. Great great great album.

Easy 5. Good vibes, amazing production. Ye COOKED with them beats. Common's rapping is fun and overlays on them nicely. No bad tracks here for me. Definitely open to revisiting this one in full (already listened 3x times). "The Food" was my standout fave, but I gotta shout out 'Chi-City' and 'They Say'.

Common's 'Be' is timeless for the reason that while it may have dropped in the mid 00s and exhibits plenty of 00s typicalities, it may just as well have been a somewhat forward thinking 90s release, and a not at all out of place current drop.

Arguably the coolest rap album I've ever heard. Such a soothing and satisfying listen. Has a very modern sound that was fresh and engaging throughout. No weak spots either. Top tracks: The Corner, GO!, The Food

Loved. Very chill r&b / rap. Great throwback to 05.

Produced by Mr West. Really good flows and amazing beats as to be expected.

- This is exactly my type of rap/hip-hop. I fully own that. - Lyrically solid. Melodically interesting. Contains deep messages. But still a bop. Common does a good job of mixing up rhythms and keeping me invested, no matter his speed. - Like most of the tracks on here. In particular, "Be," "GO!," "The Food," and "It's Your World." But honestly, I am more impressed that it all blends without feeling monotonous.

WAY better than i expected, listened to it three times yesterday. Apparently I actually like (old) Kanye??????

Absolutely one of the best albums all time with Kanye again doing a masterful job on the production.

Why haven’t I listened more to Common? I guess I lack Common sense! Great album with silk smooth beats, slick bars and he flows like hell. Only track I have heard before is the Kanye-produced GO! Hard to pick a favorite as all tracks are great. The intro that builds on one layer at the time is clever! This really reminded me about pre crazy Kanye times!

Simpelthen røvhamrende lækkert

Man, that opening baseline always gets me going! Really timeless production. Thoughtful lyrics. Great flow from track to track.

Very pleasant, easy music that hits in the right places with cutting lyrics and well placed breaks. I'm happy to be introduced to this album as it's not something that I normally listen to. It might be now, though.

Banger of an album, no doubt produced by Kanye

Classic album. While Kanye really molded the Chicago hip hop sound into what we know today, it was Common who provided the clay. It's a jazzy twist on the 90s New York sound. Where Common's style lacks in flash, he more than makes up in a cool, smooth delivery and buttery beats. I enjoyed how he ends the album with an empowering message to the listener to be their best self.

Instrumentally - This is Kanye at the peak of his high-pitched soul sampling beat production. He took what the likes of Just Blaze and other producers were doing and reached an entirely new level by himself. Lyrically - Common shows us the experienced craftsman he is, which given this is his 6th album should be no surprise. To add, Common sounds just as hungry as ever on this. This album is the cherry on top of a great run of albums.

Before this album to me Common was just a good rapper but never really liked his flow or producers arrangements, enter Kanye West who 100% produced and arranged the beats for the tracks. Common finds a beautiful flow where you can listen to the lyrics be above most rappers at the time. A revival of a dying career and a push into another level all at the same time. This is really one of the best rap albums Ive heard in a lo g time as its sounds biographical life of a black man in america. Common is a god in Chicago but never had that commercial success like I believe he can specially with this album which is flawless. Great to sit down listen and think about everyones privileges.

sem palavras mano plmds muito bom

5 - art. Especially where he treads the line of spoken word and rap. Lots of bangers. It was kinda funny to see how much influence early Kanye had on this record though

love

It was very good and I liked the lyrics

One of my favorite rap albums. I love this record. I think what really works with this record is that its never trying to be more than it is. The beats and bass lines are smooth, jazzy and chill. The lyrics are smart and important but also visceral and deep. The guests artist never take over or are overbearing, they show up and do their thing to elevate each song. The tracks with Kanye honestly might be some of my favorite Kanye songs. I also feel like this album is a good transition between new rap and old rap, but more than anything its truly just *rap.* He's not really getting experimental or trying anything new. He's just really executing on a style and genre that he's obviously mastered. In some ways this reminds me of Neil Young. Neil Young is a masterful songwriter who definitely has interesting tracks with cool guitar, bass etc, but that's not why you listen to Neil Young. That's exactly how I feel about this record. Its the storytelling and songwriting. He kind of just opens a door for you to live in this record and live in these songs. Nothing is ever too much but I'm never underwhelmed. I love the themes on this record. He challenges masculinity, family, relationships, conventional perceptions of god and deity, law enforcement, racism. He kind of packs it all into each song, but tells it in story form that it draws you in. -I think Be (Intro) is probably my favorite song on the record, but really each song in the first 5 tracks just really catches my attention. The sampling behind the bass lines and drums is so groovy, but the lyrics are my favorite. -The Corner is deep and thought provoking -GO! is so fun and deep. I also love the Kanye versus. -Faithful is such a wild ride and play on words. Its deep, punishing and thought provoking. -Testify is perfect follow up. Its interesting, because I really see his influence on rappers like Macklemore in that song. -Chi-City is so sick. I like that its more than just an ode to the city he's from. Again, the story telling and meaning behind is what changes everything for me. -The Food is a perfect duet with Common and Kanye. I love it. -Real People, again super deep. Love the beats as well. -They Say. I love how this switches between John Legend on the chorus and Kanye on different versus. -Its Your World. Chills. Perfect ending to a record.

I venture today into an album from one of the Soulquarian movements strongest MC’s. Common is an artist that not nearly enough people have spent time with. But you can really tell the difference between a hip-hop fan who knows him and one who doesn’t. Be is by far the most acclaimed record he’s ever released. And it represents the transition that hip-hop was going through in the early 2000s. Remnants of the 80s and 90s gangster rap era were still floating around, but we were also starting to see artists like Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, The Roots and the aforementioned Common take center stage. They were revitalizing the boom bap sound of the 90s with a refreshed and modernized pop rap twist. And Common immediately makes himself out to be an impressively charismatic rapper. And he does the whole album with very few features. I was also surprised by the length of the record. A flaw many 2000s hip-hop albums suffer from is just being too long for their own good. This is honestly the perfect length. Now, say what you will about what he has gone through and the circumstances he has ultimately led himself into, but Kanye during this time period was on top of the world. There really wasn’t anyone like him. The College Dropout had come out the year prior, and Late Registration would release only a few months after this. And this is simply some of the best work he ever got credited for. Although he is technically only listed as a feature on one song, he plays an instrumental part in almost every track. The only two songs not produced by him are Love Is… and It’s Your World, which were done by J Dilla. I haven’t really had a chance to properly talk about him here before, so I’m taking that opportunity now. I have a very personal connection to his work, and really value just about everything he ever did. And that closing track genuinely made me emotional. Those kids talking, plus the beautiful poeticism backed by the gorgeous piano honestly almost got the tears flowing for me. It’s what cemented this in my mind as a true passion project from two of 2000s hip-hop’s most talented artists. Rating: 9/10

Jo en een Roald album hoor Wouter

Good.

Really nice.

Surprisingly great album. I wasn't expecting to be vibing to this. This album slaps

A masterful blend of soulful production and introspective lyricism, showcasing the rapper at his best. Kanye absolutely nailed the production; rich, soulful samples that perfectly compliment Common's verses.

Kanye at the peak of his chipmunk powers and some of the last J Dilla on this plane? This album is a love letter to the Aughts: Dave Chapelle, John Legend, John Mayer all on the same disc?!? DAMN. Seriously, Kanye steals the scene with most of his flow but Common is an honourable silver medallist. I knew of this album but had never listened until now. Turns out it was aimed straight at me.

anal bum a day 3 LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOO! I'm so glad that whoever made the list included this one, Common used to be one of my favorite rappers a couple years ago, and this was my favorite from him. I'm familiar enough with Be to say that it is one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever created. Riddled with Kanye West and Dilla production, the instrumentals are extremely uplifting and soulful. "I was rollin' around, in my mind it occurred What if God was a her? Would I treat her the same? Would I still be runnin' game on her? In what type of ways would I want her? Would I want her for her mind or her heavenly body?" Common's verses are fantastic and his storytelling is inspiring. I can't hear these songs and be in a bad mood. 9/10

Be was such a great album. Everything that came out of commons mouth you could tell came straight from the heart and I love it. Alongside Common was he amazing production. This album was awesome.

actually insane production by kanye and really incredible flows and lyrics. genuinely goated

Go!

this really took my by surprise

Be (intro) is probably my favourite Kanye beat of all time, and that is saying a lot. (Number two is probably jay-z - this can’t be life). I never got past the opening on earlier listens of this album as it’s too hard to follow. It’s such a perfect track. But after keeping this on rotation several times today I see my mistake. It’s a great album from Kanyes golden era when everything he touched became gold. I’ve always liked common but never loved him. Although he is technically a great rapper his voice register is rather monotone. But Be is a treasure trove of soulful jazzy hip hop productions topped with good lyrics and delivery. Such a nice vibe.

Great album, fantastic beats. I forgot how much I love Common.

Classic.

Production quality going crazy, and the rhymes are out of this world

love the sampling - this is GOOD music, and you can tell it's old Kanye producing it. extremely solid album, with extremely solid bops. fight me.

Yes. Yes. Absolutely yes.

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Klassikkoalbumi vailla turhia fillereitä.

Super good album really enjoyed it. A teir. Rhymes are super retro, feels like 90s hip hop which is a great vibe. Beats are great and that Kanye feature is out of nowhere and super fun to hear. Very early 00s.

I was going to give this 4 stars, but the Ph.D. student in mathematics review was so cringeworthy that I'm going with 5 to offset it. Truly a really fun hip hop album on its own merits, either way.

Damn, I love Common... this genre of Conscious Hip Hop appeals to me a lot, but I've never listened to this one all the way through. This is a phenomenal album. 4.5+ tier for me I think.

I listened to the album a lot in my late teens and still listen to it from time to time. I love the beats. Such a good mix of oldschool sampling and more modern production. Creates a nice mood for me. And I like Common's voice and his way of rapping. I haven't paid much attention to the lyrics so far and now I've found that he's very good at telling stories that create very vivid images in my head.

Gets an extra star for not being filled with pointless filler and skits like most rap albums.

Wow this is fantastic, one of if not the best hip hop album I've got so far. It just has such a warm feel to it, like I'm listening to it and I just feel so calm and immersed in the music. Not a lot of albums can give that feeling.

Easily one of the best hip-hop albums of the 00s.

One of the best 2000s rap albums

THIS CAT RAPS AS SMOOTH AS A PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH.

I like this album. This is the era of hip hop that really pulled me where there were lots of samples and overall influence from soul music. And the fact that mid-2000s Kanye is all over this album is 💯 The longer I listened to this album the more I liked it. This is one of the few albums I've felt like that about on this list

The flow is CRAZY

perfection, i have nothing else to say. no standout tracks because they were all 5/5

One of my favorite hip hop albums. Strong lyricism, strong production. Good album flow.

There's a very good argument that this is the best hip hop album ever made. Incredible production by Trilogy-era Kanye and the late J Dilla, fantastic writing throughout, and some of the most powerful songs ever made in general. Thank you to Ruff Criminal for putting me on to both this site and this beautiful album.

this was so groovy. am i allowed to say that word in 2024?

This is good as hell! I love this and I am only 4 songs in. Just finished! Very good! Some more current songs sample this album! 5/5

One of my all-time favorite albums. Kanye and J-Dilla at their peak as producers, Common returning to the top after somewhat of a slump with Electric Circus to deliver an incredibly tight, enjoyable album from start to finish with some of the sweetest melodies and strongest beats of his career.

This is a huge contrast from Like Water for Chocolate from 2000 which had a more indie underground aesthetic and chiller vibe. This is much more accessible, and you can tell it's produced by Kanye, with a sample style reminiscent of his other Kanye works at the time. This album puts more emphasis on the sample and production, which sounds fantastic. His rapping is a bit weaker here on many tracks, but you can still hear his incredible talent in "Be" and "Faithful". With a richer cleaner sound, several hits and collabs, creative ideas in all the cuts, and a suitable 42 minute runtime, it's by far one of the best and accessible albums of the period. I was impressed one after the other with the engaging diversity. Excellent track ordering with a powerful opener, some strong follow up tracks to keep engagement, and an emotional satisfying closer. Only a few complaints. "Testify" had an annoying sample but it still sounded cool and fortunately was the shortest song. "Love Is..." and "Real People" were pleasant and had good lines but didn't add much. "Chi-City" is the weakest, skippable but not bad. Really, no complaints about any of the others, which puts it at near the top of mid-2000s hip hop.

This has always been one of those flawless albums I "forget" exists. In many ways, that's because when I was first getting into hip-hop, this was a typical ✨introduction✨ album. Plus, with time, Common has become a bit of an Award Season Man™️, which I think makes his classics easier to push out of your memories vantage point. Most of all, though, I think this album was very purposefully trying to fly a bit under the radar, at least as much as it could. But it's an album produced largely by Kanye in his prime as a producer, and the two songs that aren't Kanye are by the greatest producer in the whole genre's history, J Dilla. And every single song just hooks me. They're both gorgeous, like flowers in my ears, but also complex while still remaining actually fun to listen to. And the same goes for Common's rapping here. Always technically proficient, most of his discography is filled with unfit bravado or annoying holier-than-thous, and therefore boring. While both of those issues are still present here and may be the albums sole flaw if you look at either to closely – "Go" is a bit awkward, many songs are preachy, most notably "Faithful" and "Be (Intro)" – they're mostly forgivable because Common's storytelling is peak here, arguably the best in the genre's history, and it's only elevated by the context of the production. In many ways, Be is the Platonic Ideal of a hip-hop album: socially conscious, poetic, insightful and observant storytelling, with angelic production and a varied vibe throughout that could be rock a party and a church equally. Sometimes, that idealism can be its own Achilles Heel depending on your mood, but even then, I imagine it's hard to straight-up hate this album, because try as I might, I really can't see this as anything but perfect.

Common is simply a talent. I love his work, particularly this album. Dilla's influence shapes things....Kanye's popularized it. (And he got more lost afterwards).

I love this record. Great production all round, just a joy to listen to. Had it on repeat for 5 days now. Favourite tracks: the whole thing.

All time album.

Solid!

Be should be called Ye since his hands are all over it. Great album though very fun.

Common's magnum opus

TYKKÄSIN. Tää oli jopa koskettava, yllätyin.

This Is my first experience with Common. I listened to Be three times in a row. I liked the jazzy feel of the music, especially the terrific bass. Common's delivery was vey appealing, mostly laidback. On the other hand, Chi-City is delivered like a flurry of blows landed by an aggressive welter-weight. Good stuff!!

Man. This was incredible. So melodic, so intense, so uplifting. Early on in this experience, I’m realizing that I might really be into hip hop and rap. Which I knew, but it’s rewarding having data to start backing it up.

I had never heard of any of these songs previously, but I loved every second of this album.

Can’t believe I hadn’t heard this before! Dug the entire production of the thing, common’s lyricism, and the message of a lot of these tracks.

smooth lyrical flow from common feat. kanye at the top of his production game. Honestly dont know what else i can ask for in a hip hop record, its like it was made for me. This shit is beautiful and amazing and im so glad to have discovered it.

I have never heard a Common album before and I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I would have added this album to the collection of my favorite albums, but the last track is half-spoken word. I am very picky and don't have time to wade through all that. Regardless, this album was very pleasant and I really liked much of it. I'm going to probably investigate more of Common's back catalog now.

Incredible

Phenomenal

Smooth rap goodness. Will be adding this to my playlist

What an opening! So far, I'm really digging this. The middle - very strong. Wow. What a great album. So smooth, such a mood - this is amazing.

Not my normal genre, but really enjoyed the album. Listened to several tracks twice. Favorite songs 'The Food' and 'They Say'. 5/5

My favorite R&B style, just enough hip hop with musical melodies.

Impeccable production and the most I like common at any point in his career. 4.5

Fantastic fucking album. Definitely add to the rotation. Melodic R&B/Neo-Soul backing underneath poignant and thoughtful rap/hip-hop. Probably want to listen to multiple times to let the words sink in.

Classic record. This era of Kanye has always been a favorite of mine, and this album is no exception. Jazzy, clean, and soulful. Grateful to get a chance to listen to this again all the way after so many years. Realisitically a 4.5

Incredibly produced and performed. Every track here feels like it was given full attention in the studio. Kanye really knew what he was doing here with Common

Like the lyrics - not a big rap hip hop fan

Classic 2000's sound, featuring the familiar voice of a young Kanye, years before the cultivation of the "unpredictable" modern character. Hard hitting bars with a lightness of production that makes this album perfect for easy listening, or as a pre-gym hype up track.

Song: Be (Intro) I'll preface this by saying I have never been a rap listener. Most of the hits I heard in day to day life weren't appealing to me, and my one exposure to any type of rap by choice was the musical Hamilton, which definitely doesn't really count. I never had anything against rap, but just never felt like it was my type of music. I might have to rethink a few things. From the first few seconds of this, I was in love. The bass was full and resonant, the synths were cool, the keyboard gave it this lightness. the rhythms were layered and sounded so good together. (Side note: Kanye West may have completely flown off the handle, but man, he knows how to produce a good song.) And then Common entered, and I was blown away. If you don't focus on the words, it's an art unto itself, a percussive beat lying over a really interesting instrumental, crafted to fall into complimenting rhythms, flowing into each other. But then you listen to the lyrics, and the song comes alive with references to history, the political landscape, Common's life, and so much emotion. I want to listen to this again and dissect it a little, find all the details in the lyrics. When I said I wanted this project to expand my music taste, this was what I wanted—genres, songs, and artists I had avoided or never thought twice about, hidden gems that ended up being incredible. The moment where the instrumental drops away and just the bass remains and Common raps about looking into his daughter's eyes and wanting to learn through her is my favorite musical moment of this project thus far. My only complaint is that I actually wanted to hear more from it! I was not expecting to like this song much. I'm glad I did.

Such a beautiful and inspiring record. Melodic and comfortable production that makes it sound so seamlessly woven together. Common is and will continue to be a legend.

Production on this was really good, I enjoyed it very much!

I wish this album was longer. This whole album put me in a certain headspace which was just calm and serenity. Common raps good, but I'm not sure how much of this album is actually his, because I just hear so much Kanye in it. The beats, the samples, and of course the songs he raps on. This one is going in my library.

DIT. DIT is de shit! De geweldige productie, de bars van Common erover heen, dit is naar mijn mening dus echt 1 van de beste albums ooit gemaakt. Ik vind de productie zo ongelooflijk fijn, wat niet raar is met Kanye als executive producer. Maar daarnaast is dit 100% het meesterwerk van Common, met een kwartier is het precies lang genoeg, de samples worden ontzettend fijn gebruikt, het is soulful, het is boom bap. Ik heb dit album vroeger wel eens geluisterd, maar dat is echt lang geleden zeg. Geen idee waarom, dit is absoluut fantastisch. FAVO: The corner, GO!, Faithful, Testify, The food, They Say

5/5 yes more of that boom bap

Daaaaamn

the top review can go fuck itself. showing off their “intelligence” instead of just saying they don’t like the music. just say your racist while you’re at it. fucking hell.

didnt listen ahh!!

Still sounds amazing

Stellar

still a great listen!

zero skips

I absolutely loved the early Kanye Beats and the mature lyricism of Common in this album.