Be

Kinda forgetful. Had some cool moments though.

Produced by Kanye and J Dilla, was never going to be bad. Enjoyable listen

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

Common W for Common

Gets you in a vibes mood

Mmmm

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

Fine.

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!

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

nice rap

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

Solid album! Nothing super stand out though.

Annoying

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

Any album that involves The Last Poets has to have something going for it. Pleasant enough, but could have done without Kanye popping up, even if this before he really lost the plot.

Man has some sharp delivery. Quite soulful in places. Almost a Daisy Age album.

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.

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

Not bad

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

Enjoyed this far more than the other album by Common

I started off really enjoying it but the last half about me enough to lower a few stars. First song was bloody great though.

OK as background music. For Starbucks or the lift.

Pretty evenly split between 2/5 songs and 4/5 songs. Overall, pretty solid hip hop / rap.

It's ok for what it is. 3 feels quite generous though.

It's ok but not my bag

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

Not a fan of HipHop, but I like it. Wouldnt hear it on a regular basis. But I see it's very good

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.

Not bad.

Classic. .

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

Clean sounding hip hop, could not get into it

Melodic and rap. Many artist collabs.

Much better than the other Common album on this list.

Pretty good but some of the beats are distracting(Testify) but it was a pretty thoughtful album and Common has a smooth voice. Too much Kanye though would be a 4+ with less ye.

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

Good album. Not really in the wheelhouse of what I typically listen to, but I appreciate the work.

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

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

Niggas smoking shooting and rolling with hoes Yeah, yeah Nothing new or original here, lyrically or musically

I’m never going to be a fan of hip hop or rap in general. This is, however, pretty good. Common is good at what he does, and even though I really don’t like Kanye West as a person, he is very good at sampling and finding interesting musical bits to use in music. So overall, this is good, but not something I would actively put on again

Nice album, nice vocals-especially from John Legend. But nothing to make me want to listen to it again.

2,5

Objectively solid hip-hop album, just not quite in my wheelhouse. Some legitimately great songs on here though, and I love Common’s voice. Best Track: Faithful

Favorite: Be (intro) This album is impressively good

I liked this style of hip hop

Nicht mein Geschmack

Solid lyricist with actual story line, theme and thought. This is the opposite of the random phrase mumbling that is nothing more than boasting like a brain dead rooster just strutting around. Solid 3 stars.

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

The flow is nice but not exactly my style. The best tracks were the ones featuring Kanye. All in all, a decent album.

Lyrical masterpiece, production is top tier.

Not sure what album I'm on, definitely 100+. I'm running out of things to say. I like Common, seems like a good human. Didn't realize he came up with the shambolic mess that is Ye, Mr. West, Yeezee, Kanye, or whatever we're calling him these days. He loses a little bit for me with that, but I guess you don't get to choose who your contemporaries are. I usually say that for me to like rap and hip hop, it has to do something interesting musically. This just about gets there.

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.

I liked it. I had Like Water for Chocolate in my collection growing up and loved it as one of my all time favorites. This is a great album but i kept comparing it to LWFC and just felt it was not as good.

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

Good rhythm and rhymes but didn't hook me in.

Feels like a both a high point and a dying gasp for backpack rap, like the genre had been wrung out and this was all that's left. Technically excellent, souful, committed, and nothing new. I bet Kanye's beats hit harder 20 years ago but having heard them for those 20 years, it feels...not dated, but not fresh, either. Kind just a normal part of the soundscape. Solid album, victim of its competency in that it doesn't do anything interesting because it does everything perfectly well. 3 is too harsh and also maybe a bit too much.

Cool to hear Kanye wests production on this. Feels like he is gone and this was a fun trip down memory lane. Nothing I particularly love here but it’s easy enough to listen to. Would listen again

I enjoyed the Kanye beats, wasn't as grabbed by Common's rapping. "The Food - Live" was probably my fave on here

This is a genre I can't get behind. Well-produced but not for me.

Hahaha, I can't believe this is on here! Common (Sense)'s corniest, most embarrassing album... and I still kind of like it.

I had never heard of Common before and didn't recognize any of the songs but there were a few I really enjoyed. There were biblical themes and several songs showing this came out in 2005. Not my favorite, but glad I gave it a shot.

It's a pretty good album but nothing overwhelmingly amazing I'd ever feel the urge to listen again

Good stuff

Not special.

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.

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.

not for me

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 enjoyed this more than I thought I would

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

More rambling over hip hop beats and soul backing tracks. Just not my cup of tea.

Deep interesting thought provoking

Cool, classic, bouncy - nothing in excess. Not too mindful, not to brash, not too political, not too experimental, not too whatever. Just pleasing. Should hip hop be simply pleasing? Not for me to say

I wouldn't willingly listen to this again. It's not the worst thing I've heard though.

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.

4 but minus .5 for Kanye & minus .5 for common’s acting career

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

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

Good rap.

Not my vibe. Too old school, too soul/r&b, too Kanye-adjacent.

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.

this is one of the whitest hiphop albums to come out from a black dude

very good

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

Not a huge rap fan so this was very interesting for me to explore. Hope to learn a lot along the way.

I really love this album! The peak of punk music

Nah. Not bad, but can't call it "masterpiece". But I understand why others like it. Like, it's not half bad.

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.

This album isn’t for me and I’m certainly not the target audience. Having said that, it grew on me as it went along. I really liked It’s Your World and its message.

I like this one better than the previous Common album that came up. 3/5 #162

I found it enjoyable but nothing that grabbed my attention. Could probably do with a few more listens.

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

++: Go!, Faithful, The Food +: Be (Intro), The Corner, Love Is..., Real People, They Say +-: Chi-City, It's Your World (Part 1 & 2) -: Testify 5,5/10

Alright

Enjoyed Testify, well produced album by an absolute madman

Ye

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!

Pretty boring. Ages poorly compared to other 2005 rap albums, which was a particularly dry time in music.

This'll go down like a good drug deal in 'da hood' but for me? Rap is mostly all the same crap! Just cheap sounding as the beats are mostly all the same and derogatory lyrics hence the 'parental advisory' warning. It's just a pity there isn't a zero rating here because that's what I'd give it.

Why do rapper have to say nigger all the time?

for some reason the hiphop reminded me of hamilton which reminded me of jonathan groff which reminded me of glee so thanks common for the reminder to watch glee 😁😁😁😁

I love me some socially conscious hip-hop, but Common has always slid just a little too corny for me. Testify rules, though.

Good

Timeless

I liked parts of this

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.

I only knew him as an actor and turns out he made a soulful and interesting album as well. I liked most of the songs.

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

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.

Mer rap. Mer mixerbordsmusicerande. Det blir rätt könlöst, tycker jag. Men Common är duktig på hantverket och det finns intressanta grepp.

Flawless is a good word for this album, in the sense that every note and word feels polished and produced to go right the pleasure spot of white people who like hip hop. Whether that’s the chicken or the egg is up for debate, but everything down to the album’s cover feels polished and lab-tested to be Common’s big comeback album with critics and fans. Which isn’t to say it’s bad. Kanye’s production feels rehashed from his big hits at the time, but they were hits for a reason. And Common is an excellent rapper, even if I find this a little toothless compared to “Resurrection” or “Like Water for Chocolate.” I wanted “Be” to be legendary, but it’s just kind of pleasant and forgettable (though that live recording of "The Food" from the Chapelle Show felt electric when we all watched it for the first time, and I like that they included it here instead of recreating it in the studio.) But all of this is a shame because of these three things: 1) Common felt for a moment like the epitome of socially conscious rap, the promised one after so many years of gangster rap hitting the zeitgeist which left little room for your Tribes Called Quest or Souls De La. 2) I saw Common live around this time and he was pure fire. He was alone on a stage and it felt like watching lightning. 3) There’s a moment on Jeen Yuhs where Kanye and Most Def freestyle what would become “Two Words,” and it’s also fire. In theory, Kanye linking up with all these guys should have been legendary.

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.

I preferred the other one. This felt like an effort to make a modern ‘what’s going on’. I’ve never really liked Kanye West either

Solid

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.

Appreciate the introduction to an artist I didn’t know but the music didn’t do it for me like others from the same genre and era (50 cent, Eminem). Wouldn’t voluntarily give it a re-listen. C.

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

My only exposure to Common is his acting as Sims in Silo. Soulful but just not my bag.

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

Maybe I don’t get it. It I found this pretty dull.

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.

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.

Great vocal tone - I think reading lyrics along to the music would maximise the impact. Some good beats. Would need to revisit this album with lyrics to appreciate the poetry.

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!

I liked the first half of this album. It was a nice change to hear a rapper who is talking about creating a wholesome future rather than destroying and living nihilistically. Unfortunately this whole album is tainted by the production and guest appearances by Kanye, a despicable human being. I hope Common has realized that not all relationships need to be maintained.

I really enjoyed this album!

3.5/5

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

One of the discoveries I’m making that I’m really happy about is learning I actually do enjoy hip hop. It’s still not my favorite I have always been and likely always will be a rock and roll guy but it’s a genre I’m learning I do have an appreciation for. All this to say I liked this album, it’s upfront but not overbearing in its production it’s lean. Common is obviously skilled at what he does and the lyrics are solid. I enjoyed this album, didn’t love it, as I said I’ve never felt hip hop/rap is my thing but I enjoyed it.

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)

6/10… rap / hip hop

Mega!

Wow...

Hip hop again. Dr. Octagonecologyst from yesterday was fun. This, on the other hand, doesn't do much for me. Whereas that is entirely possible this is due to me hearing that insufferable fuckstick throughout this album. And the reverence for even old West has always baffled me a bit. Were people new to sampling and hip hop then? Polished goo.

This one starts strong but kind of peters out and then ends with an extended... audio collage? Common is an upper echelon rapper, there's some pretty great pre-psycho Kanye production, but it just doesn't carry the momentum for me. I end up wanting to like it more than I do.

As already stated I am not really a fan of this genre, but you know what I quite enjoyed this album and I would listen again!

This was pretty OK. Do I ever want to hear it again? Not particularly.

Different

Didn't love it. Maybe I think Common is too cheesy?

Ikke så ille til å være hiphop

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

Common makes 90s rap to raise a family to. But Be is no Outkast, no Mos Def, no Roots. Definitely no Jay Electronica (who is not on this list and should be. Go listen to Act II: The Patents of Nobility and enjoy the new colours you can see afterwards). Three for the zeitgeist and for this solid counter to the Marshall Mathers LP

It feels very superfluous writing these as the musicians are obviously out making creative endeavours and I am not. But allowing for that Common’s writing shines through but sadly he is a very limited performer. Large parts of this album kinda felt like a bored and slightly condescending university poetry lecturer droning on about the work of someone far more insightful

Starts great, but some tracks are hit & miss in my opinion. Think this is a really solid album to get into hip hop if you think hip hop is only gangster stuff. Great album but I think there is better stuff out there and it feels slightly overrated. Also love all the Phd comments :)

The Kanye feature and live record are the highlights

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

Musically has a nice feel, not getting into the themes of the songs.

A couple fun tracks, but lyrics feel too cheesy to love.

Not bad for a genre I don’t care for.

Not my thing. I hate rap.

Not a fan

This isn’t usually my style, but I’ve got to admit that this one flowed. The album feels smooth and thoughtful, balancing soulful beats with a grounded presence.

I enjoy Common's positivity and themes, but I wish he would not hang behind the beat so much with his delivery. Some nice guest work from Kanye right before he became a star.

Incredibly surprised with how much I enjoyed this. Everything is just so smooth. Generally positive, and early Ye did know how to build a track

Kanye produced, intellectual, soulful Go Testify

Decent, hadn't really come across Common before, will definitely give it a second helping and look for more stuff.

God rap stuff

Really engaging and warm hip-hop! The old-timey Kanye production is just the right backing for Common here, creating a very lively and dynamic record. I've never listened to Common before but he has a light and deft touch here that definitely makes me interested in more of his work. I give it four stars here only because this is the kind of album I respect technically more than I "love" it, strictly speaking. But that could change as I listen more!

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.

Repetitive instrumentals and looped samples with a constant and relaxed conversational flow, laid-back beats and elements of Soul making this HipHop Soul.

👍 4

A new artist to me, but I really enjoyed this

You know who’s a great rapper? Common. You know who’s a great producer? Kanye. You know what happens when they team up? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this when it came out, but as time goes on, I find myself less and less impressed with Common (don't get me started on his acting)...

The album has a mix of gospel, blues, soul, jazz and hip-hop. Common’s poetry of life in Chicago, Black history and culture gives a positive vibe to hip-hop, that makes Common a legend. Not many hit songs, but the lyrics are attention grabbing.

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

Perfection

I really really enjoyed this.

bof

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.

I can listen to this. I like the soulful production, which is Kanye at his best, without us having to actually listen to Kanye (too much, at least). And a couple of tracks from Dilla, nice. I like Common's flow better than Kanye, too. Some nice guest spots. - shout-out to the Last Poets in particular. But it didn't set my world aflame. It's a'ight

Pretty easy classic, KWest beats are top tier, gets a little lyrical miracle at times

Hip-hop mixed with soul? Started out solid but then eventually got bored. It does remind me solid of that 2000s sound.

3 Stars (8/15)

Ok this is a hard one to review. My first impression is that I really really liked it and thought it should be 4 stars easy, if not 5 stars. Its production is fantastic and songs are great. However I don’t like or condone the use of the N word, epically with the hard R. That makes this an album I would never listen to again personally. I’d also remove a star rating because of it. Then I find that Kanye produced this. I also have a hard time separating someone’s personal life from their art. That loses another star for me. I guess that leaves me with a three star album which is just a me thing. Without those two digs at it, it could be a phenomenal album for me. Instead I’ll never listen to it again.

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

I’ve never really found my way into hip hop. I think I’m getting close though.

Very of its era. I did not love it but it was a decent listen.

a bajillion times better than the first common album we got

can absolutely hear the 2005 kanye production in this one, even before he popped into the album. 3.5

When I got to the line about what if God was a she I got derailed thinking about all the tweets that are like "men will do psychedelics and say they had a spiritual journey then say stuff I talked about with friends at sleepovers at age 8" and I never got back on the rails

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.

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

actually really liked the sound of this record. very nostalgic.

Couple good songs on that album I liked, while others were easily forgettable

Ni tan mal, pero tampoco me llama tanto como para empezar a escuchármelo de continuo 😦

i've never been a big kanye listener but his production really shines through. a bit too god worshippy at times for me personally but solid overall.

Very lyrical but really liked it!! Just not an instant re-listen

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….

Random thoughts: * 2 Common albums on 1001. I didn't realize I was missing a major artist of the past 25 years. * I did like this Common album better than the previous one. I enjoyed the Kanye influence and reminded me of the classic Kanye. * I enjoyed "Go!" and "Chi-City". "Testify" was weird and caught my attention both times I listened to it. I'm not sure how I feel about it though. * I wonder how Common feels about Kanye now. * Outro speech was weird. I didn't care for that much. * Overall, was pretty enjoyable and good. I'd definitely listen again.

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 :)

rap meh

Thought the other Common album on here was better. I was expecting more with Kanye's production but even it felt boring to me. Rating: 1.8

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.

really good

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

"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.

I don't know... I have heard worse hip-hop/rap records here. Maybe it's because it's produced by West, or because there was nothing really outstanding here, but this was kind of dull.

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.

Lots of samples. Makes the music derivative. Good beats and interesting fills. I don’t relate to the lyrics which means little replay value, but I can see why this lands with it’s target audience. Solid overall.

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.

The first track started promising right until Lonnie decided to open his gob and it all went to shit. Only question still remaining is what I hate more, rap or punk. After this rap is winning. (is it winning if you are the most hated or should that be losing?)

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

I'm not a rap guy. However this is some of the best rap I've ever heard

smooth jazz version of hip hop

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".

Qué género tan sobrevalorado es el hip hop y cómo me molesta que la gente lo ponga al nivel del rock, el soul, el jazz o el blues. Musicalmente, nunca un álbum de hip hop será mejor que un buen álbum de, por ejemplo, rock.

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

Chillllll vibes

Banging with the kanye beats

Lekker albumpie straalde niet echt in iets uit. Maar wel lekkere luister

Not bad, but can't give Kanye a high rating

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!

Have never heard this, nor anything by Common. It was a pleasant surprise. The tracks I liked I really enjoyed. The ones I didn't annoyed me. There are more tracks than I like than I dislike.

Prime (and pre-nazi) Kanye West production sounds excellent across the album. Common has some moments of real lyrical talent on the album as well. However, overall I didn’t take too many memorable songs from this album.

Better than I though

I think it was alright

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*

Still not massively my thing, but much more listenable to than, say, Method Man.

Vibes

Favorite part of the album was on the first track when I thought it might be a jazz album. It all went to shit when I heard "yeah!".

Nice flow!! Great opening track. Not heard him before but this is goooood. Feel like you can really hear Kanye’s production in it, but such a good flow and vibe. Tight, good production, writing. Less inclined to the more R&B songs and much prefer the harder, rap flow. ‘The Food - live’ 🔥 (3.5)

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

Best Song: They Say. As much as I hate to admit it, Kanye's got a decent feature here, and the vibes are immaculate. Worst Song: Testify. Although I really like the chorus, the way the female vocals compete with Common's vocals during the verses sounds really busy and clumsy in a way that makes me feel like I can't focus on either part properly. Overall: About the same as the other Common album on this list. Something about his style and delivery feels relaxing and welcoming to me, while also not being so revelatory that I think to come back to it ever. Jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none type music.

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

Not a bad rap album. Actually had music that wasn't terrible and the lyrics weren't annoying. 3/5

This was delightful :)

I enjoyed it. First ever listen.

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

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 dont like rap.so to be fair 3 stars freom someone who should not rate a genre he does not listen to. The middle.

It's nice but I think I liked "Like Water for Chocolate" better, if nothing else because more of the beats and such stood out to me compared to here where there were some big highlights but not all around consistency like that other album. It's also funny-sad to get reminders that even as far back as 2005 Kanye was rapping about going to mental institutions, which speaking of, his production is nice but eh I prefer the work in the last album. I might comeback to both back to back to compare them in the future

Fine. A bit incongruous to see how much influence Kanye had on this given what a horrible person he has revealed himself to be. Some pretty dated gender politics on display. Nothing especially groundbreaking happening here.

It's just not catchy enough to be so preachy, and the chipmunk soul thing just ages less well every year

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*

This is one of those albums that really, REALLY grew on me after a couple of listens. On my first listen through, I found a lot of the songs same-y and annoying. After like the fourth playthrough though I generally liked every song. The only ones that I didn't really like were "Faithful" and the end of "It's Your World." Also, listening to Kanye in any capacity just makes me sad knowing how terrible of a person he is now, so as much as I like the song "They Say", I just can't truly enjoy it fully. Besides that, I enjoyed very much of this album. A few days ago I mentioned growing a lack of interest in Jazz music and that upsetting me greatly, I'm glad to say that the opposite is true for Hip-Hop. I've pretty much enjoyed all the albums I've rolled so far, this being no different. "Be (Intro)", "The Corner", and my personal favorite "Chi-City" all absolutely SLAP. I kind of want to rate this one a 4, but I also skip a few songs per listen, and unfortunately it's getting a Kanye Tax, so it's a 3.99/5. Realistically this is a 4 though. Update: After careful consideration, I’ve decided to be fair and rate it the 4 it deserves.

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.

je sais pas trop quoi en dire, pour du 2005 j’ai pas trouvé ça révolutionnaire non plus mais c’était tout de même un bon album qui s’écoute plutôt bien! assez répétitif quand même, et k**** w*** boo👎

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

More musical than a lot of this genre. Closer to Gil Scott Heron than Dr Dre

Pretty average. The couple times Kanye showed up, he completely overshadowed Common. Overall a nice album, but a little boring

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.

Common s'interroge sur ce que c'est que d'«être» un homme. J'ai bien aimé l'aspect collaboratif. Un album sage sur tous les plans.

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

Бе

It’s hard not to hear this as part of Kanye’s greater history. At the time one of the big strikes against Ye was that he couldn’t rap (source: me) and needed better ghostwriters or maybe just a mouthpiece to present his productions, lyrical concerns, etc. Enter Common, fka Common Sense. I always liked Common and felt he was maybe the sole credible link between the Native Tongues crews of the early 90s and where hip hop was going in the 00s. He had a believable left-of-center perspective and actual flow, charisma, etc. Hooking up with post-Blueprint and Dropout Kanye, becoming part of the pre-GOOD Music troupe alongside John Legend, et al, well, it was a nice moment there leading up to MBDTF. “The Food” was so great I made an mp3 from the Chappelle Show live performance a year before, which is more or less what they did for Be. It’s a great capsule of time well lost - Kanye the underdog producer backing up Common, Chappelle putting his fist up in a Black Power salute, the Sam Cooke sample, Common and Ye telling somewhat relatable stories of poverty. Today, Common is perhaps better known as a reliable supporting actor and everyone else...

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

I like the music and he’s got really good flow but there was nothing catchy about it. No hooks

Not bad, enjoyed it more than I expected. Wasn't paying too much attention, so I have no idea what he was saying.

OK, not my cup of tea. Uninspiring.

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.

On the count of there - for god's sake go!

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

Surprisingly good. Would never listen to it but it was real chilled and relaxed. Enjoyed it. 3/5

I know he's super popular, but his style doesn't jive with me.

un gros 4 solide, bon album

fun Je vais y revenir

Ça s'écoute ben, bonne vibe mais j'trust pas Judge Sims.

Kanye west

Meh. Didn't really grab me and then lost me totally when Kanye showed up.

Meh. Better than the same old rock, but Common is a bit wordy trying to say what he wants to say. Lyrics aren't very profound or emotional. Some songs were good, this deserves 3.5 stars rounded down. - Hard to rank rap against all the rock that came before - Most popular song 'Go!' is majorly underwhelming - Kinda corny by modern standards, does feel like of course a couple white guys liked this rap album

When I saw that this album was produced by Kanye West, I knew it would probably be a pretty decent album. I'm not a tremendous fan of either him or his music, but I was excited to see what Common Sense could do with a Kanye-type beat. I would say this album held up as a pretty good hip hop/rap album. My favorite was the live performance from Dave Chappelle's show of the song Common (otherwise known as the Kanye feature song). That performance was a great listen, but an even more fun watch. Overall, I liked it. It's not the best rap album I've had on this generator, but it is not even close to being the worst.

Laid back early Kanye vibes

Probably one of the better albums of this genre I have listened to so far, but that still means 2 stars or D+.

Solid listen, it's good but there isn't anything that warrants a repeat listen. Production is solid and the Kanye features are fine. I don't dislike any of the tracks but none of them are staying with me either.

Good

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

Awesome

I liked it.