Be

Really enjoyed this album. The beats were so cool (I liked the jazzy feel on some of these tracks) and his flow and style were great as well.

Enjoyed this.

Surprisingly good

I've heard of Common a lot before, he's done features I've heard and he's been in a couple movies I liked, but this is my first time listening to him on his own. And I thought it was a lot of fun, Kanye was a really amazing producer in his heyday, and Common has a really nice flow when he gets going. Definitely an album I can see myself throwing on a lot. Favorites: Love Is..., The Food (Live), They Say

Smoother than a smooth thing, not too heavy on the n, f or b words, not too long. Why aren't all rap albums like this? Very enjoyable indeed.

I mostly know Common by his acting work. This is some good hip-hop. Good beats with nice samples and a smooth flow. Not my favorite subject matter but some good stuff right here.

The conscious hip hop you have when you're not having a conscious hip hop

Enjoyed this a lot, great flow

No lo termine jaja.

I was expecting this to be pretty good and it turned out to be really good. Beautiful beats and production here, the first track is a stand out especially. This album somehow manages to make a live song in the middle of the tracklist fit in really well. Beats are great, lyrics are thoughtful and there are some great guest stars as well. Will for sure listen to this in the future. Math guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

now i understand why people like common! i will give this a 3.5

Smooth, lo-fi hip hop with some great flow, even though (pre-brain damage) Kanye’s production is better than his rapping. A very melodic hip hop album. Something that someone with high quantitative intelligence should be able to appreciate.

A very important album

Common’s poetic lyricism really shines through on songs The Corner and Testify. Also, hearing Kanye on brought me back to the time period. He was such a big producer at the time. As Ye says on “Life of Pablo”, I miss the old Kanye. Especially his verse on “They Say”.

Super enjoyed it. Thought to give ot 5 stars knowing Phrenology will eventually be in the list

Cool chill album. The intersection of Hip hop, soul/R&B with serious spoken word vibe.

i can definitely see why this is in the list. i’ve seen this album cover a lot, and it makes sense why.

Just a great soulful rap album. Hearing old Kanye is also always a treat.

Nice album. Was wonderfully produced and lyrically tight. A classic of the gangsta era.

Common? More like exceptional! The whole album just sounds smooth, from the beats to the lyrics. Blessedly, it's a hip hop album without skits in it!

Good album, some classics, also some skips

como se me dan mal las matematicas le pongo un 4

Progressive rap from a time in the past. Enjoyed some songs/enjoyed the perspective. Kanye jumpscare!

I really liked this album. The music is fabulous and I love his voice. I want to listen along with the lyrics to better understand them in full context. A solid 4.

I don't need a PhD in math to appreciate music - I even like prog rock! And guess what - this is really, really good music. Beautifully produced, engaging lyrically and musically, smooth with an edge. It's a great listen and captures its moment in time perfectly, too.

Surprisingly good. Not a million songs like most rap albums.

Crazy good. The feel and the real. A few absolute killers and a few smooth and a few more experimental. Lyrics, beats, and flow are great for it's time while being influential and listenable. 4+

I have a PhD in biology and I think this album is pretty great, even though hip hop ain't my normal bag. Cool vibes, some Mayfield-esque arrangements (which I'm a total sucker for), sweet rhymes, and overall a great message. From hanging around other STEM PhDs I can attest the the order of weirdness and social awkwardness of science academics is: math heads > chemists > physicists > biologists. Ya, us bio peeps are the cool kids of the bunch. Totally explains that one star review. :-)

Thoughtful, reflective.

I can see why this is a five for some people.

Nice vibes

8.5/10

I like Common, but something about this didn’t quite hit as hard as I was hoping for.

7 need more time

Had this on CD, but didn't listen to it too many times. Really enjoyed this listen. Cool guest appearances and fun to remember when Kanye was just an innovative producer. His verse is great on They Say.

Pretty good. I liked the jazz vibes on the later tracks

I am not known to listen to much Common. The few songs of his I have listened to are really just features and aren't long-lasting interests of mine. I am pleasantly surprised by the bright, hopeful tone in the album, delivered beautifully by kanye and j dilla's production. The inclusion of a live song is a wild choice that I don't think anyone has done in this way.

Super Album, Beats sind nice, Flow auch cool. Anscheinend Magnus Opus von Common. Produziert von Kanye West. Mit geilen souligen Samples.

Uno de mis primeros álbumes de rap , me gustó mucho la vibra en general lols

Great rhymes, great vibes. The Corner is especially good. Quite a few songs above average. Not all of it resonated with me and was a little too long if you have the version with all the instrumentals.

I listened to the album throughout the entire day yesterday, and I really enjoyed it. I especially liked the intro. It was cool to hear how much Kanye influence was in it, and some great samples were used. The only thing that appealed to me less were the flow and the lyrics, so I’m giving it 4 stars.

Genre: Conscious Hip Hop 2005... What a time to be alive. Hip hop was truly exploding. Even a guy like Common, a guy with no sort of "gangsta" image, or even any sort of pretty boy, rabble rouser energy. Just a churchgoing, smooth-talking Chicago artist who seemed to slot in quite nicely in the middle of all the rap riff-raff of the time. Kanye's beats, which make up a large majority of the album, are a true highlight, with iconic sample flips and classic sped-up vocals, making this album sound timeless and timely all at once. A really tremendous record from top to bottom, concise and perfect for any rap fan. Testify fucking rules. 4/5

Very positive, very cool. And feel the fingerprint this had for years to come. Kanye’s feature shows how influential he was at the time as well.

Reeeeeally good. Love the jazzy background. Love the storytelling. Would definitely listen to again.

Yeah I like 2000s hip hop.

skate rap, boombap beats fire, relaxing.

4.5. Really good album and much better than I expected.

Lyrics are clearly outdated but the beats are freshhhhhhh

I like the flow and storytelling of Common in this track. Another classic rap album that I'm just now experiencing thanks to the generator. Also, knowing that Kanye produced this album makes my listen more enjoyable, he snapped with these beats!

not usually my type of music but i fw it

I like this album a lot, with the beats that the music starts with and then the raps. It is just a perfect mix of both.

Other than the song “The Food”, I was pretty Unfamiliar with Commons work. Very enjoyable album. Amazing beats with strong bars.

Klinkt heel lekker. Goed rap album en heel fijn om Kanye en John Legend aan het eind van het album te horen. Ik kende de term "Chi City" van Kanye's Homecoming, grappig om het hier ook te horen op een album dat 2 jaar eerder uitkwam

This isn't my favorite album, but I can totally see why it might be someone else's. I really liked the production (there's no denying that Kanye West is a good producer, despite what I think about his views), and the use of samples weirdly reminded me of The Avalanches. The last track was beautiful, and the other ones were fun as well. I liked the Jazz, Funk, and Soul influences, and they made it feel almost like proto-To Pimp a Butterfly. And I'm pretty good at math, so I guess it's really a wonder that I like this album so much. Favorite Track: It's Your World - Part 1 & 2

I was surprised by how much I liked this one - to such an extent that I've listened to it everday since and saved the album! I think I enjoyed it so much because it was very easy to get into and all the components seem to flow together very naturally.

Didnt't think i'd be a fan but i actually am!

ya pretty good

Goes down easy- was proud I recognized Kanye

Never heard about that man before but i really fell for his vibe He's rapping good and he got the groove ! Go! is so smooth i swear...

Beautiful lyrics ranging from hope and optimism, to pain and weariness with the state of the world. An emotionally raw record with some good production, on par with Dave's Psychodrama.

This is an artist and album that I was interested in listening to, but never have before. I'd heard Common was a rapper with a style I'd probably like, but only really have known him through his acting. Musically this is exactly what I was expecting and hoping for. There's a lot of great old school R&B grooves, something I totally love. Common's rapping was also very easy to listen to, and I really liked his voice. I also like that he includes women in his lyrics that aren't just there for sex purposes, but he addresses them as partners or just...women. And even possibly god (which I found very cool). Standout songs for me were Be, The Corner, Faithful, Testify, Love is, and It's Your World. A very solid album and I'm glad I finally listened to it.

Very solid beats and lyricism. Really enjoyed this. Will be listening again.

hey that's a vibe I really liked it

Big fan. Real classic 2000's rap. 4.5/5

I like rap and rnb a lot, and I would say I’ve listened a good variety. I really love a lot of the songs on here, but they doesn't jump out at me compared to the other stuff I generally tend to prefer. For that reason its a 4 not a 5.

Good flow.

4/5

I think it’s a good album, although I don't think that any song was a standout. Powerful messages are always enjoyable to listen to.

Smooth. I dig it

I liked ‘Water For Chocolate’; I love this. It’s a lean, confident, smart record and Common’s performance and writing is supported by great production*. It’s a life-affirming listen. Glad to add this to my rotation, with one reservation: Ye jumpscares abound. *It’s also full of classic Kanye beats. Yes, I do miss the old Kanye. Chop up the soul Kanye. This record is a perfect example of what made him so special as a producer. I say again: what a fucking waste.

Nada fuera de lo normal

vec slusano

essa go! é putaria demais, mt bom me lembra MUITO MUITO nujabes, que é um mix de rap/hiphop com uma batida mais leve/diferenciada do que o que é mais comum pra mim é um otimo album pra relaxar/estudar porém, acho que acostumei com o estilo e as outras não tem um fator muito diferencial de GO! e testify

Listening to this, not a shock Kanye produced this, and not a shock its so damn good. But Common is great here. Don't got a whole lot to say, but this album is chill as hell, got a very April/May Spring vibe. Just a damn good hip hop record. Plus, with it sitting at a svelte 42 minutes, it doesn't wear out its welcome like a lot of hip hop albums did (such as My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye five years later).

Intelligent rapping with excellent production. Not my favourite genre, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Excelente álbum, la producción es exquisita, se nota en todas las matices que presenta una producción muy detallista y dedicada, los instrumentos muy jazz/blues en general, un poco de hiphop en el bajo, por supuesto mucho rap también con la voz. Los instrumentos acompañan de una manera envolvente a lo que transmite Common con sus letras, por último, los samples con las distintas voces que vamos escuchando en el álbum son excelentes y generan lo mismo o mejor que los instrumentos, acompañar al artista, complementarlo, resaltarlo; técnicamente encuentro que está excelente, nada que decir, mucho sampleo estilo kanye west (como colabora me imagino que es por él este estilo o las ideas, los samples de las voces sobre todo). De nuevo, desconozco la historia pero el sonido es muy 2000s cuando se combina rap con jazz/blues, mucha producción y los samples característicos de este mismo género y cuando escuchas a Common te transmite el rap de los 90s, la combinación de estas épocas se logra muy bien de principio a fin en el álbum y con algo muy importante: no ser repetitivo. Personalmente el álbum tiene todo lo que busco en un álbum cuando me imagino la palabra rap o hiphop, también pude encontrar similitudes entre el estilo de este álbum y artistas del género aquí en Chile como tiro de gracia por ejemplo. Este álbum le voy a poner un 4 más tirado para 5, pero siento que el 5 debe guardarse para un álbum sensacional, nada más por eso, si no fácil para mi es un 4,6 o 4,7 por temas de gusto. Citando a mi compadre Chino también daré mi canción favorita y la menos favorita. Canción/es favorita/s: Chi-City, The Food - Live Canción menos favorita: Love is...

Me parece un álbum con toda la esencia de rap gringo de los 90 y 2000. Perfectamente pudo haber estado Nas, Snoop Dog, Pharrell y tantos otros íconos de esas épocas. No le puse atención a la letra, pero melódicamente y en cuanto a beat me parece muy bueno. Esas bases características que mezclan el r&b con rap te hacen mover la cabeza al instante. La colaboración con John Legend y Kanye West notable, los tres funcionan muy bien. Mis canciones favoritas: Faithful y Testify por el sample. Mención honrosa a la transición entre Real People y They Say.

Very listenable (both Common's raps and peak Kanye production)

rap/hiphop alegre y movido, se deja escuchar pero tampoco es rap duro

Peak early aughts consciousness/storytelling rap

A bit repetitive but very charming. As someone who isn't well-versed on hip hop, I found that Common's verses are complemented by very well by Kanye's production. Of all of the tracks on here, They Say was the only one I found to be particularly weak. I was going to give this a strong 3 but after a couple of listens (even the fact that this warranted an enthusiastic repeat listen) I thought it would be absolutely taking the piss to not give it a 4. Highlights: Be, Go!, Faithful, Chi-City

This album showcases classic soul and R&B as the bedrock of the production, some of J-Dilla’s best chopped beats, and Common’s smooth delivery. They all work in perfect harmony. More spoken word slam poetry than rap at times, Common manages to cover similar themes to other hip-hop artists, but delivers them in a more, intelligent subtle way.

Honestly, I like it. Loses a star for being produced by Kanye (for being Kanye, not the quality), gains a star for songs produced by Dilla. Ends up at 4, so not bad at the end of the day.

Great

Bon, mais un peu inégal.

released 2005. Commons 6th album and a ‘magnum opus’ hip hop album with Kanye, it balances broader societal issues with personal reflections songs i already knew: none songs i liked: the corner, chi-city fun facts: the album is primarily produced by Kanye and the pair were friends since high school. song the corner is a screen scripture narrated by The Last Poets who are considered the godfathers of hip-hop

Nice smooth r n b with intelligent lyrics and quite melodic. To my surprise I went back for a second listen to some of the tracks. They Say is a great track.

85

Common is a different modern rapper, he isn't the fastest and doesn't spend the whole time talking about how amazing he is or being in the club. His lyrics remind me of old school rappers who focused on big issues, the cities they love (Chi-City shoutout), and women (not always my favorite of his lyrics) and that is a good thing. He mixes that with hip hop and R&B music styles that make it unique. The Intro was great, Testify was a great story, Chi-City was fun and Real People was different and poignant. He is different in the genre blending together different traditional black sounds and does it well. Being from Chicago he also doesn't get tangled up in rap beefs and just makes music that has a purpose.

This was pretty cool, I especially enjoyed the jazzy moments in a couple of the later songs. There was a lot of diversity in sound overall too, and it kept my ears on their toes. Very enjoyable listen!

I used to love this album 15 years ago, mainly because of the warm and charismatic flow of the gentleman from Chi-City. It has a very laid-back vibe, with uplifting lyrics and smooth jazzy beats that show that hip-hop can go beyond brags and disses. Even Kanye's production, which I'm usually not a fan of, is absolutely spot-on here. In addition, it's a lean album that goes straight to the point without putting you through a dozen useless skits. However, my tastes seem to have somewhat changed. This time around, it felt almost too upbeat, too polite and too clean... and I found myself wishing for something a bit rougher. Or maybe I'm just getting pickier with age. While I'd subjectively rate it a 3* or a 3,5* now, I must admit that it's still a very well-crafted album, and probably Common's best. It certainly deserves a 4*. 7/10

This one hits me more than Like Water for Chocolate which we had earlier on the list. The flow feels more fluid and emotional, and the samples lean heavier into soul. It stays organic, never really aggressive, and it reminds me of Nas in the way it steps back to look at the streets and at hip-hop, it’s honest, uncompromising, but never overly dramatic. “We write songs about wrong ’cause it’s hard to see right.” Chi-City ou Real people drops you straight back into the 90s. There’s a real nostalgic vibe running through the whole album. It is a real joy to listen to.

Solid flow and good beats make this a very enjoyable and pretty chill album. I didn’t connect to all of the lyrics, but the beat and Common’s vocals made it an overall enjoyable experience.

This is realistically a 3. But I enjoyed the experience of reading these reviews while listening this. Giving this a bump strictly because I was amused.

I'm not a hip hop person but this was a decent listen

Tasapainonen hiphoplevy! 4/5

Minkä sille voi: Kanye on erinomainen tuottaja! 4/5

No. 34 This is a solid album. Like, legitimately great.

Common deserves his reputation as a good rapper.

Very good Go! is peak

Loved this style of rap. The brightness of the background soul pared with the hard political message make a surprising but enjoyable mix.

4/5

Moving, especially the final song

Would not buy

Definitely could hear Kanye’s incredible production work on this one. Hadn’t ever listened to Common before though, plenty of soul and sweet and smooth as honey. Great album.

? Common, wiki ah Keney, ok endlich mal was anderes, meine HipHop sozialisation war ja tatsächlich ziemlich whitey - beasty boys&Eminem geprägt, finde ich hier nochmal einen Zugang zum souligen...? c

Pretty good, I enjoyed this. Love, a hipster with a humanities degree.

Easy to listen to, a solid album.

Is this the dude from Silo? Hip Hop not my thing, find constant rapping a bit claustrophobic, but this was well nice. Really cool backing grooves, feels proper New York, vocals decent all around & very very soulful. Did not like the live version - weird choice. Would really like to know if that child achieved his goal of being a duck 7 / 10 Best track/s: Faithful, It's Your World Part 1 & 2, They Say

Very good hip hop album. Thought provoking lyrics without being pretentious and top quality production.

What Kanye and J Dilla did on this album needs to be studied in textbooks.

what a great album. some lyrics that are a bit of an eye roll nowadays but most are Real Shit. and those mid 2000s Kanye beats are undeniable. a faint record of a time when he was fun to root for. and it avoids cd era bloat somehow! nice and tight. no wasted time. Chi-City was the 10000th liked song on my spotify btw. deserves to be one of the 1001? absolutely and i'm a stem major that did decently well at math competitions in high school

nice melodies, for ringtones too

look, all due respect to common. but kanye's production on this takes it next level

Common's bars are not always as clever as he thinks they are. But I still love his sound.

Kanye and Dilla threw some amazing beats on this. Common's still very good for me; the beginning and end of this have some amazing songs, but the middle lacks Best songs: Be, The Food, It’s Your World

I love this. Goes from dance-y and upbeat to serious and back again. Lots of mentions of Chicago, one of my favorite places in the world. Common has been around for a long time, and he has it all: looks, wit, the voice, and acting. An all around star.

First listen and I liked it. Kanye production shines through. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.

After so much mediocre 70s rock, it was a relief to get a classic Hip Hop album. This came out when I was in college and immediately takes my back to chill afternoons in the sun and house parties. The intro track, "Intro", is iconic, in my memory at least. And the f'ing gorgeous groove continues into The Corner, perhaps the best track of the album. If the rest of the album sustained this fresh low-key yet powerful vibe, this would be a five star album no question. But this album was always a source for mixtapes or dance mixes more than it was a full-play listen. Intro - have always loved the way the bass drops into this track, a classic intro The Corner - maybe the track of the album, nice laid back textured vibe and Common's rapping on this moves across the beat in a way he doesn't usually Go - I never loved this song, but it's good for a chill-out song in a dance mix Faithful - not bad/not great. Neither production nor his rapping shine on this, feels more like a spoken word piece. Testify - close-second for song of the album. Love Is - perhaps the weakest track on the album. Chi-City - meh The Food - why is Dave Chapelle on this? Recorded version of this might have been better. Would love to have seen what Kanye would do in the studio with this. Real People - one of the weakest tracks on the album They Say - almost a great track, but doesn't quite come together It's Your World - meh

Goddamn I miss this era. Take me *back* — not because I want to be 24 again. I don't, really. Take me to this liminal moment in rap when jazz and poetry seemed like an endless tap for creativity and groove. When the Soulquarians were active and brilliant and prolific; when there was a list of brilliant heads to follow; when it felt like being part of a movement. That said: Hearing that The Roots were down with 50-Cent's music in the mid-aughts was a little "Dylan goes electric" moment for me. A sadness, but also a reminder that I didn't necessarily understand this movement, and just as likely, that the movement wasn't really for me. The latter point, probably technically true. And at any rate, became true as the proliferation of Southern & trap made me feel old and disconnected, like my father complaining of Grunge that he couldn't hear the lyrics. And all THAT said: my recollection is that at some point, Chris had dissuaded me of listening to Common, so I kind of ignored his music. But his flow and beats feel so of a piece to that moment where I was obsessed with every Roots album, it feels like I've heard most of it before. I don't even dislike the Kanye collaborations. Subtract a star because while I love it in general, it doesn't feel like an instant classic like The Tipping Point or Black on Both Sides.

I really like this album, one of my favorites we’ve had in a while. I think the only thing holding me back from giving it a 5 is common is just kinda boring to listen to. It’s like Kanye is he wasn’t charismatic and it’s kind of jarring to listen to after a while. If this was a Kanye album it would probably be remembered as one of his best. But it’s not, it’s common and it he sounds like every other common rapper out there imo. Still a really strong 4

Great album, although everything I loved about it would be attributed to Kanye, not to Common. Will be returning though.

lets gooooo. this is great.

Great album liked kanyes part

For sure one to come back to soon

4.5. Топовий продакшн від Каньє (та трошки від Ділли). Власне продакшн тут об'єктивно на передньому плані. Один з кращих альбомів нульових в цьому компоненті. Коммон хороший МС, з непоганою кар'єрою, але в мене немає такого, що я хочу рандомно послухати якийсь куплет Коммона, як часто буває з іншими виконавцями. Він тут точно нічого не псує в жодному разі, але прям вище голови теж не випрингув щоб можна було ставити 5.

15/1089 хороший, насыщенный и позитивный альбом заканчивается так же отлично, как и начинается

So good. Not a single bad song. Love the pivot into R&B with 'Testify'. SUCH a good ending song too.

Really enjoyed the positivity and sincerity of this album. It's refreshing when so many albums of the genre seem more materialistic, sexual, or violent. And he's very affirming of femininity and monogamy (except for that one song). Overall, I really appreciate the approach he takes, with the message that people can escape their lives and reach for something better. Also really like the collabs with Kanye West and John Legend. That said, his rapping style gets monotonous at times (complains the guy who doesn't really like rap). It's 3.5 rounded up to 4 for me.

Common has always been one of the more underrated rappers out there, he's a fantastic and cerebral lyricist with a smooth flow. This is the best album ive heard from him, with lush production from vintage Kanye (only production misfire is maybe Testify, with the distracting vocal sample, but the rich samples and mixing on almost every other track makes up for that one). On Be, Common channels progressive hip hop from the greats like Talib Kweli and Mos Def, very effectively

iPod nostalgia

Super enjoyable!! I love the jazz backing the rap...theology is questionable, but I'll let it slide this once. The perfect album to have in the background while cruising the city streets. "Real People" is my favourite track on this one.

I knew what to expect going into this having listened to a decent amount of Common’s other stuff. I liked this album a lot, but there wasn’t anything truly iconic, and the Ye collab has aged poorly unfortunately

Really solid album, great execution and beats, Common is a professional. Captures the early 2000s perfectly.

One of my favorite produced albums. Be(intro) is such a beautiful song I’d give it a 9/10.

Be

Common isn't my favourite rapper from this era but this album is good! I like.

Any album that starts with a double bass is good in my eyes

Great Chicago hip hop album and Kanye’s contribution makes this album become excellent

Excellent album with a great flow. Listened twice. From Love is... (one of my favorite tracks) through the end is where it got really good for me. My playlist choice is Real People: "I wonder is 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"

4 stars

I really liked Be and i thought it is a very good hip-hop album. I've never really been aware of Common prior to doing this project but i'm glad i am because the majority of this album is filled with some really good songs. It definitely does give a lot of the same vibes that a lot of Kanye West's albums did which makes sense since he was one of this album's producers. And because of that, the production is very good with some cool beats and nice R&B melodies. I also think that the lyrics are definitely some of the better lyrics i have heard in hip-hop music. I honestly can't really find a lot of negative things to say so i will just say it's a great album. Best Song: The Corner Worst Song: Chi-City

4

Pretty chill for a rap album. Would probably weirdly work as background music while you’re doing something else

Powerful lyrics, great variety, some spoken word with music but overall very enjoyable

First off gotta say, that STEM freak can kick rocks; doesn't know what they are missing with this album. Am completely aware of this album, bought it in the 10th Grade and the CD magically disappeared and never revisited it since. So when it popped up, I knew immediately I was in for a treat. Fantastic record that's full of soulful jazzy productions by two of the greatest hip hop producers, J Dilla and his laid back beats and Kanye West with his vision. This album is Kanye's "Donuts" Album kicks off with a huge bang with Be, great conscience hip hop with some boom bap. Backpack rap died and Kanye rose from the ashes. Fantastic sample, great verses and a catchy hook. How can the song not put you in a good mood?? The Corner has some of the smoothest performances on the album. Like a hot knife cutting through butter. Faithful, Chi-City and the first part of It's Your World are some highlights on the album that show soul, a great mind, killer flow and wordplay, dope rhyme schemes and some killer beats by J Dilla and Kareem Riggins Easy 4/5 stars

Really immersive listen, playful but smooth

i liked it, shocked how much kanye was in it

good groovy retro vibes

Common’s a very good rapper. Pacey bumps of rhythm generated by stabbed trochees and bounced dactyls. He’s a knack for leaving a little pause between thoughts in his flow; and the enviable gravitas to not just sustain your attention but have those beats feel like a moment of shared understanding. “Be (Intro)” is so totally edifying that it brings a tear to my eye; “GO!” is naughties horny in the most charming way; “Love is…” is quintessential Dilla; “The Food - Live” is a phenomenal rush of energy; “It’s Your World…” challenges and then finishes the thought begun in “Be…” in a confronting, clever and then sweetly disarming way. The sound of Kanye really grabbing hold of the moment is equally exhilarating – I get the sense that we’re hearing more than a couple of the hallmarks of his production style being refined into a cohesive, soon to become era-defining aesthetic across this album. There’s a lot to love about this record. Big themes, big production, big talent, big album. More than anything else, it’s that feeling that we should all want better for each other, that’s what I get from Common. There’s a lot of love in this record.

That opening track is excellent, drops down to a 4 for some annoying lyrics on Faithful and Go. But overall very nice production and pre mentalist Kanye is a good mix.

10/17/25. Very soulful and uplifting! This album gives more context to the Chicago style of the era; I think this album and The College Droput go very well together. Love the messaging to make you think and ask questions, but also instead of painting the world as negative, you still have hope.

It could be that this is Common's best album, tho Resurrection is his most classic and Like Water for Chocolate his most essential. An authentic folk experience, Be is artfully produced, boasts a variety of flows, commands memorable choruses, and has enuf off-key rhyming to offset Common's cliché moments. The Chi-town native is like Simon & Garfunkel in that he gets away w/ corniness b/c he's never pretentious and he's not corny all of the time. For every 'The present is a gift and I just wanna be' there's a 'We talk shit, play lotto, and buy German beers / It's so black packed w/ action that's affirmative.' For the rap skeptic, Be is a brilliant place to start - if not only for its brevity - but it also convinces hip-hop elites and rhyme-junkies.

Smoooooooth. Groovy and just a good time overall. Kanye shows up a couple times and kills it. Favorite Track: The Food

Not heard before, really immediate lyrical hip hop with some jazz-y beats. Starts off strong and lags a little, feels very 2000s but I still enjoyed a lot.

A classic. Common is smooth and has substance. The old Kanye production shines through. A solid album from a solid artist.

Ktoś napisał o tym albumie, że nie jest w żaden sposób przełomowy, ale to kawał solidnej muzyki. I to chyba najlepiej go opisuje. To nie jest muzyka odkrywcza, ani w żaden sposób zmieniająca świat, ale tego się zwyczajnie dobrze słucha. Lubię taki smooth rap, który czerpie z soulu i jazzu. Pozytywny, ale nie pusty. Słuchając tego albumu miałem skojarzenia z Marvibem Gaye i zdaje się, że nie byłem w tym jedyny, czytałem gdzieś potem podobne porównania. "Testify" najbardziej zapadło mi w pamięci, zarówno muzycznie jak i tekstowo. "Faithful", czy "Chi-City" też super. Plus ta końcówka, jak dzieci mówią, kim chcą zostać w przyszłości, fajne zakończenie albumu.

It’s a good album, but it feel haunted by Kanye, not only does the production throughout have a ton of his chipmunk soul but then he has vocals on half the songs too. I’d probably like it more if it felt like Common could actually stand out on his own

Another great find from the list. Fun hiphop with good production chops Favorite track: Testify other picks: corner, faithful, go, they say

I may not be a big fan of hip-hop, but I'm not going to argue that smart people don't listen to hip-hop and prefer prog instead, mkay? Common is a storyteller, better than most, and his pride of place shows through this album. This is modern Chicago Soul music.

Common was essentially told to go find another label. So when he did he brought some friends (Kanye & JDilla) in to help. What it turned out was something pretty spectacular.

This is a perfect example of a rapper doing exactly what his beats required. Common's performance on this is not incredible. It's very good! But his lyrics are pretty standard conscious rap stuff, despite some great rhymes and a very good flow. It doesn't matter, because these beats are incredible, and Common putting on a good but not otherworldly performance on top of them lets you soak them in. The opener may be one of the best hip hop beats ever, and that's just the intro! The entire thing is incredibly smooth, with hooks and earworms everywhere. It's also a very joyful album, for the most part, both because of the lyrics and the lush beats. And the incredibly optimistic and heartwarming closer ties a nice bow on it at the end.

Right up my alley. Gets a bit monotonous at times, but Common is a master. 7/10

Back when Kayne wasn't insane. Great and listenable album. A great inspirational album.

Vraiment cool J’ai l’impression d’avoir déjà écouté mais je ne suis pas sûr

J'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé !! Avec ce projet je découvre l'univers hip hop, je pensais pas être sensible à ce style mais quand c'est bien travaillé avec des sonorités jazz ou soul comme cet album, vraiment top. 4/5

I don't think I'd ever get to this album on my own, so I'm really glad this project gave me the opportunity to listen to it. Great, great!

Alright

Really like this style of hip-hop. Upbeat with lush, soul infused arrangements and beats. Socially conscious but trying to provide a more upbeat, hopeful message rather than an angry one. Be is an incredible opener, the album maintains a very high quality throughout. Unsurprising given it was produced by Kanye with a few entries by J Dilla. Good stuff, will listen to more Common.

Cool and funky old school melodic hip hop with some amazing guest vocalists.

so well made, i miss the old kanye

Some good grooves throughout the album, and the rapping/vocals grab attention super well. To be honest, during my listening, I wasn't focusing much on its lyrics due to schoolwork, but judging by the general sound of the album, I enjoyed the experience.

A short but very sweet rap & hip-hop record, that feels exceptionally well produced and written. It somehow feels warm throughout with no fillers or inconsistencies. Be (Intro) is a 10/10 intro track and it then flows through the rest of the album as if it's a story full of soulful energy.

Ben Shapiro would hate this. 4/5

I generally don’t enjoy hip hop but this album by Common has some great tracks to have pleasantly playing in the background

Enjoyed. More Kanye than I bargained for. Didn’t have a fav.

Excellent listen, can tell Kanye all over this and actually when he wasn’t a complete bread bin

Common W for Common

I liked this when it first came out and listening again I remembered why.

I remember really digging this when I went through a hip-hop phase like a century ago. Still is pretty good but the bad taste of Kanye knocks it down a bit.

Pretty good!

This is the Common album. Has his biggest songs and is the most solid all around. 7/10

Oops. It's Kanye. Put that aside and the rest of this is spectacular.

Gripping opener with the double bass, something you couldn't get away with today. Nice songs throughout and a powerful message for the time

Best Song: Chi-city A good listen and first time for me. I knew of Common the actor but not the rapper and he delivered. Pre-looney Kanye's production is solid as well. 4/5.

I miss the old Kanye

Nice to hear some old Kanye I’ve not heard before. All round good stuff. I like Commons vibe. Simpsons: Yes

Production is incredible, love the jazzier feel. Common's got a great voice and flow, and this album is a nice 42 minutes, gone is the bloat that "Like Water For Chocolate" had. Just (almost) pure bangers. There were a few songs I didn't care for but this was mostly great. Also cool Chappelle's Show intro

I went in blind and by 2 tracks in I was like "kanye???" Very well produced album, I found it to be a bit preachy at times... but didnt ruin the overall album.

Хороший рэпчик, довольно приятный. Ничего супер впечатляющего я в нем не нашел, но тут приятные биты, приятная читка, олдскульный стиль. Хороший альбом для теплых деньков и расслабленных прогулок, залетает с кайфом

Melodic and rap. Many artist collabs.

Much better than the other Common album on this list.

that was nice, hip hop soul mix make sense to me, yet its sounds like a music of a certain era and im not into listen to it everyday

A good album for its era - but perhaps a bit too mellow and repetitive at times.

Favorite: Be (intro) This album is impressively good

I liked this style of hip hop

Literally knew nothing about Common going in except he was on Silo. Loved this album though.

Wayyyyyyyy better this time than the first time I listened to it a couple years ago. Sometimes I rate albums unfairly and didn’t give this one a chance. Glad to have a second chance with a separate account.

Not a fan of hip-hop but this album was surprisingly good. Really enjoyed it.

Good stuff

Highlight Song/s The Corner, GO!, Faithful, The Food and They Say Such a refreshing album, it is not often when a new album gives me that feeling. Solid flow and solid production. It seems like the lyrics aren't too negative and gangster, It gets a bit old when a rapper tells me hes going to spray all his rivals.

Has some of the elements I enjoy most in hip-hop: smart, poetic lyrics, lovely voice and great soulful beats. But man, did the sped-up samples on some of the songs annoy me to no end. I would go as far as to say I hate it. :( But it didn't completely ruin my experience; 7.5/10. It's definitely a well made album - I get why people say they miss older Kanye stuff. I'm glad I'm not studying mathematics (scary and real) and only statistics (epistemically contested; made up and fake) so I can enjoy this album with my low quantitative intelligence. Favs: Be (Intro); Love is...; The Corner; Chi-City

I’ve listened to this once before and enjoy it even more than the first time

Great flow, love the horns. Common’s an OG for a reason. The lyrics are poetic and will improve upon another listen when I can really focus on them.

I first heard this album around the time it first came out and I remember playing it endlessly. It has a jazzy soulful low-key sound. It deals mostly with empowerment and taking pride in who you are and what you have.

This album is an example of what you can do with great lyrics, rhythm, and music all rolled together. Such a breath of fresh air compared to some of the more contemporary, trap-oriented hip-hop.

As an old school hip-hop lover growing up in the 80's and early 90's and to see where it headed, it's been hard for me to truly enjoy the genre cause it's gotten so bad in my opinion. When this album came out it gave me hope. There are still intelligent rappers out there that tell meaningful stories while I can shake my rump.

Common is a good storyteller and Kanye is all over the album for good or bad. 4/5

Good rap.

Common has always seemed like the old dude at the club. I like this, despite all the Kanye (old Kanye was something else, but I cant listen to him anymore). The hits are here, and some of the other tracks hit just as hard. When I am looking for this kind of vibe, I will definitely revisit. 4 stars.

Some next level 'separating the art from the artist's required today regarding Kanye, but oh my god the production quality of this album is unreal. Personal highlights were Chi-City and The Food. This has gave me an appetite for hip-hop again

Classic!!! I love Chicago rap and I love this era. It's so impactful but still simple and fun and just plain good!

Good

Timeless

The fact that this album and Konnichiwa are both on this list is astounding. This was incredible. Loved it. Also, "I wanna be a duck!" was adorable.

Chilled R&B vibes rap

I liked this one, really good album! Loved the twist in Testify. Best song: The Corner Notable(s): Testify, Chi-City

Strong songs and above-average rapping from Common on this beguiling collection. Produced by and featuring a pre-Nazi Kanye who showcases his abundant skills, early-ish in his career.

Rating: 8/10 Honestly this album is carried by Kanye's production which is absolutely phenomenal. Common is decent but his delivery and flow are so one-dimensional and I did not care for some of the lyrics here as well. Be (Intro) is one of the greatest songs of all time.

4 stars Solid album with early-Kanye production, great lyrics and flow. Quite soulful. You don’t need a PhD to understand that this is good.

Wonderful kanye production with some thoughtful lyrics. Songs like be and faithful really speak to his mind, culture and things he's seeing i around him. I've always really appreciated it. That being said, at times the production feels a little dated which makes it a little less repayable

Best hip hop album so far. Musically complex and clever lyrics.

Smooth beats, humanist lyrics--no complaints here.

I remember being disappointed when this came out, but it's not bad! Light and groovy, but also introspective.

da otvorim kafic specijaliziran za kave, smoothije i sendvice u velikom gradu neke anglofone zemlje ovo bi tamo pustala

Cool mix, très Ye

Kanye est bien évidemment le highlight de l'album, non seulement avec ses verses mais avec la production incroyable. Quel bel outro!

A strange one. Opened so strong and then blipped off and on.

The Kanye feature and live record are the highlights

Kanye produced, intellectual, soulful Go Testify

God rap stuff

Biggest takeaway from this album is I really wish Kanye wasn't a douchebag. This is him at his best productionwise - the beats are soulful and chopped, Common drops bar after bar, and it combines for an incredibly enjoyable rap album. Easy 4 stars.

👍 4

Some good songs on here. Kanye sure was talented before he went insane.

I really really enjoyed this.

that one guy who's like "i have an advanced degree in being a big baby" from the top reviews is nuts - this is a great album!

omg it finally happened... i got the album with the review from guy who hates hip-hop because he was a STEM major. incredible. honestly for this album in particular, that seems like a strange hill to die on, since it's one of the more interesting and well-produced rap/hip-hop albums on this list imo. the songs are engaging and vivacious, and common should be more of a household name with stuff like this. favorites: be (intro), go!, testify, they say

Jazzy hip-hop with some crisp and chill production. Vintage Kanye was a pleasant surprise (RIP). 4.5/5

Solid rap album. Great samples on a couple of the tracks. I liked listening to this one. Also the more of the old Kanye I hear, the more I miss him.

I didn’t realise common had been around so long. I liked this but I didn’t listen too closely. But I did enjoy it. And it’s important.

This is so kanye. I know this album is produced by him but like omg its so apparent. very very good should checked this out sooner

The opening number, Be, is weird as heck. It consists of a very melodic bloop-synth (think 80s-arcade-machine-core) combined with some messy violins, a double bass, a low-quality rap beat, and a pretty solid rap vocal. Really odd – but honestly, it works wonders. The synth is so odd and endearing that it really sells the track. The double bass is a common theme and carries this old-fashioned jazzy quality that creates a wholely unique hip-hop feel. Nice small-combo-jazz feel too, particularly in songs like Real People that put specific emphasis on horn likes and chord progressions. The lo-fi feel is fantastic and is featured on pretty much every song except The Food. Like a disappointingly large proportion of hip-hop, the lyrics are a swing and a miss. Even in the most popular track: "Go and uh ooh baby, she liked it raw and / Like rain when she came, it poured / And like a car that I can't afford / I would want it then want some more / The positions our frames explored let me know / She was secure, back for more"... And in a later track: "Wonder how many of us these drugs gonna touch / Used to gangbang, ain't really thug that much / Rather have some thick broads then the dutch to clutch"... Yeah. Not great. And the lyrics don't improve much from there. On the bright side, it's pretty easy to tune out the vocals because the instrumental is so fun to listen to. Check those keyboards! The muted trumpets, backing vocals, and piano in Faithful! It's so tastefully done that it could easily get a 5-star rating without the melody-lacking lead vocal. Picture the track Testify with just the female vocalist, with her bluesy, soulful lyrics. And without the comparatively monotonous male vocal. Dang it, this Common bloke's music would be so much better if... well, if he wasn't in it. The track They Say gets close to this, featuring Common's singing voice, and it's a sonic breakthrough I hope he picked up on in later recordings. NB: the PhD guy is an idiot. 4/5 Key tracks: Be (Intro), Faithful, Real People

This project keeps bringing me excellent hip hop albums. If you told me a few months ago that my highest rated genre on average (well, tied with a couple others) was going to be hip hop, I'd have laughed in your face. But albums like this and Power By Numbers show that can do a lot for people like me who are more into melodies. I don't think this one appeals to me quite as much as that album, but it's still one I can see myself coming back to. I probably should say something about the lyrics, but it's something I have difficulty keeping track of. They seemed good I guess. Testify was the standout for me there. I don't like the gangsta stuff in a lot of rap, so this album fared well in that way. Wasn't big on the sex stuff in "Go!" but that was all there was on the album that didn't agree with me. It wasn't too bad either, and not really sexist, so I can forgive it. Favourite songs were probably Testify and Real People. It's Your World was pretty great as well. They're all good though. I gotta mention PhD mathematician dude - man, that explanation is complete bollocks. I dislike talking about intelligence and whatnot, think it's ignorant, but I want to offer my perspective here. I'm also a STEM guy, and have a preference for prog / melodic stuff over lyricism. However, my verbal intelligence is the strongest. I would feel comfortable saying that verbal intelligence = preference for lyricism is complete bogus. I think there's a stronger argument for saying that prog probably appeals more to STEM oriented people like myself. Many of us have awful social skills, are obnoxious and say pompous shite like phd dude. This is probably the real reason that prog is seen as uncool, because its fans are.

nice ass album

I think Common isn’t as commonly (no pun intended) known to the world for a simple reason: was borne in the wrong era. His rapping style is reminiscent of the artists he grew up with: Latifah; Chuck D; LL Cool J; et al. However, being younger, the bulk of career was during the club rap age of Nelly & Li’l Kim and the Neo-Gangster era Jay-Z & Ludacris. Basically, his socially conscious lyrical style was lost because it wasn’t hook-reliant or aggressive/ sexualized enough to be mainstream anymore. It doesn’t mean it was great. This album was my first introduction to him outside of acting (saw him in Smoking Aces and was curious). It was refreshing knowing there were some ol’ school rappers with a point out there. Key songs for me were Faithful because it was an interesting question of how would people treat religion if God was a woman, and I liked the vibe of Testify. I think I could hang with him….

I’ve not been a fan of the rap/hip-hop offered up so far for two reasons. Firstly, the rampant misogyny can’t be given the tagline of ‘it was decades ago’. Secondly, some of the rap (I’m mainly thinking Jay-Z so far) is the sort of rhyme that you’d get laughed at by your primary school teacher for - H to the Izzo! This is better. The lyrics are interesting and offer something that it’s the two above. The music is also far more interesting too.

I’m almost 65 years old and thoroughly enjoyed it. Then again, I’m not great at math. 😂

Beautifully produced album, Common is a really talented rapper, very uplifting sound, Be (intro) is one of the best beats ever.

Good :)

The original chill, lo-fi hip-hop to study to (or so it seems). I like Common's style and the beats are great. It's too bad Kanye turned into a POS because he does well complimenting Common.

I know of this artist. Not a huge hip hop/r&b follower. I know a couple tracks off this album. Good album. I'd expect nothing less from this artist. Then also having most of this being produced by Kanye is not too bad in itself. (Kanye is not really the best these days though). Pretty good. 4-stars

Dug this a lot! Favourite tracks were The Corner, Real People and They Say. Just cool stuff!

I really enjoyed this! There's been a tiny bit of modern rap on our list so far, and a decent amount of 90s hip hop, but this felt like an album that straddles that gap. That slightly dated 90s sound, but with the smoother flow that you'd expect in more recent rap. I particularly enjoyed The Food.

Not bad, but I don't love spoken word style rap.

I saw him perform at a festival once and the crowd was not really that into hip hop and while he tried to win them over it just fell flat. I was only vaguely familiar with his work but the lack of crowd response kind of soured me on him and I never gave Common much of a chance after that. The lowered expectations based on a performance that was more of a crowd issue let this album give me a pleasant surprise. Damn good album.

Pretty groovy beats and good lyrics. I didn’t think there was much to write home about but really did enjoy it.

For when you want to listen to Kanye but guilt-free Satisfying pleasantly-produced comfort music

Chillllll vibes

Banging with the kanye beats

Better than I expected. I quite enjoyed it.

Really enjoyed this listen. One I've been meaning to get to for a long time, and no disappointment!

I think it was alright

Vibes

Better than I anticipated (only know common from his acting rolls). Lyrics that were serious without sounding just like gangster rap. Stuff had good flow, a lot chill allowing lyrics to come through clear

I really enjoy the 70s soul and funk music Common is rapping on. Warm and nostalgic mood.

I enjoyed it. First ever listen.

Never heard of Mr Common but this is a common W, as the kids say. Social commentary, human stories, and smooth flows. Particularly liked The Corner. Go! is very 2005 in that it features Kanye AND John Mayer. Feels very much like a Kanye album of that time, in a good way.

I don't think this particular style of rap is my favorite but it has it's moments like this. The prediction is amazing. The rapping is very passionate. You can just tell alot went into this 4*

Great rhymes and production. Common makes good music and knows how to build a good album.

This is wildly better than the other Common album on this record. Maybe I was just in the right mood for it, but this is just awesome.

It's not doing anything particularly groundbreaking, but I enjoyed this as a soulful, laidback hip hop album. I also now know Common as someone other than that bloke from John Wick 2.

I only have a Ph.D. in Linguistics, so being a humanities professor, I suppose I should like this. And I do, actually. I'm not a huge fan of rap, but I can get into hip-hop, and this seems to lean that direction. It's not my usual style of music, but I enjoyed the album and could see how well crafted it was. I'd give it three stars, but I'll give an extra to balance the math better.

Smooth, jazzy, political. V nice

un gros 4 solide, bon album

Laid back early Kanye vibes

Good

Awesome

I haven't heard much from Common, but I did recognize GO!. All in all, the other tracks were mostly solid.

Solid album, but I feel like if you’re going to have tracks about femme fatales framing their men, you shouldn’t also include tracks about little pious thoughts like what if god was a woman, and so on. Have some consistency, man!

I loved this album! Almost every song is a winner. Jazzy and mellow a lot of the time, but also intense.

Really good hip hop album. Production is great which is not surprising considering Kanye had a hand in the production. The sound in general is very uplifting and I feel like it cheers me up whenever I listen to it. 8/10 Favourite: Faithful Least Favourite: The Food

I really liked it. The lyricism and melodies are really good. I'm shit at Math, so that's probably why

Chicago hip hop from this era is good. It pushed into consciousness, elevated the style and had the Midwest flair close to my heart. The death knell for gangsta rap, I like it. But Common is a really bad actor. I mean one of it not the worst rapper-turned-actor there is. In everything he’s in, he’s terrible. I don’t get it, he seems smart and capable but he is not good.

Common - Be I had only known Common as an actor until I listened to this album. This album came out in 2005 but it feels a lot older. Common is a year older than me so it makes sense that his influences would be 70s-90s rap and hip hop. This album is more melodic than a lot of rap albums I've listened to. It also seems more story oriented than many. Much of his rap feels spoken in a way, which makes me wonder if Eminem was influenced by him. The closing narration sounded a bit like Bill Cobbs but was Lonnie Lynn a former basketball player and poet.

Great all round lyrics

noice, chill rap

Surprisingly great album

Classic Common!! Chi-city represent!!!

A good example of why this project is good for me. I don’t think this album was anywhere near my radar. (I was in fifth grade, smalltown Indiana when it came out) Good stuff!

Smooth and soulful and positive-vibesy – one’s preferred hip-hop mode. Exceedingly non-cringey and in no way a guilty pleasure (for there’s nothing to be embarrassed about). “Go!” is an all-time personal fave. “Love Is” and “Chi-City” and “Real People” and “They Say” are also great. Warm and humane closer makes a mood-improving exit. Samples are well chosen and beats well balanced, mostly groovy and inclining to the chill and thoughtful (the template for conscious hip-hop, maybe). Bonus points for holding up so well over time.

The Kanye West production is really good.

Love the bass opening followed by synth and piano on track 1. Very jazzy opening followed by some 70s samples and a trip beat. His vocals flow in over the top and you're already groovin'.

Hiphop met een vleugje soul en funky! I like :)

Laatste nummer met die kinderstemmen was echt mooi, het schetst zo’n mooi verhaal

Dad- 6 Mom- 7.5 Mike- 7.5 Lori- 8.5 Michael- 8 Miles- 8 Cole- 8.5 Avg- 7.71

The non-antisemitic version of Kanye West 😍 I know he produced it, but If I just ignored every song he sung in, it's a good album.

Already listened ❤️ Great production that really suits his rapping

More Common with Dilla beats!

Damn good old school hip hop. Hits deep with concious lyrics and bold beats. The early Kanye features are here to remind you that he had so much talent back then. But, alas. I never paid much attention to Common on my upbringing so its nice to finally dig in when i was mature enough. I was although a fan of the dave chappelle show so i know fondly of that performance that was featured on the album. Cheers to the weekend cunts.

Better than I remember and I could see my rating increasing even more in the future. Kanye's contribution to this album makes it irresistible. Favorite track: Go!