Fullcollapse3k
01/05/06, 07:44 PM
Common - Be
Release Date: May 24, 2005
Record Label: Geffen Records (http://www.geffen.com)
Throughout the 90’s, there were certain names that were synonymous with hip hop. While most casual fans won’t put Common in the spotlight with heavy-hitters such as 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G. or Jay-Z, Common has challenged the standards of hip hop for nearly fifteen years now, while still somehow eluding the mainstream world. His time has finally come with the release of Be, an album that sees him return to the basics. The highly experimental Electric Circus made a splash, but with this release, Common has stapled himself as a positive image in the mainstream world.
Much of the initial hype behind Be was that it was to be co-produced by superstar Kanye West. West’s mark is found immediately on the title track “Be”, a song that delivers beautiful piano work and a thumping bass line, all complemented by a great string sample. While the beat is terrific, Common takes the song over with deeply personal lyrics that he delivers with incredible flow and precision. “Testify”, the latest single, easily highlights the recording. It contains a very subdued beat that simply gives Common a platform to tell a raw story that, at times, overflows with emotion. The chorus contains a terrific vocal sample, along with nice, simplistic piano work to add a bit of variation to the beat itself.
“It’s Your World” is one of only two tracks on the album produced by Dilla, long time producer of Common’s work. Common delivers a very nice lyrical performance, but it is the trademark Pop’s Rap that brings the song together and reveals the ultimate meaning behind Be. The song ends with a number of children simply stating what they want to be when they grow up. This sums up the recording flawlessly, as this album is about hope for the future. Be is about how fortunate we are to be alive, and how we should be grateful for the opportunities we’re given. Deeper than that, we should take what we’re given and try to make a positive impact on the world.
Common Sense has returned to hip hop, and this is his best work since 1994’s Resurrection. The production from Kanye West is stellar, and he further proved that he is one of the top producers in hip hop. True classics in this genre are few and far between these days, but Be truly has the potential to achieve that status in due time. An absolute must-hear, and one of the best releases of 2005.
Release Date: May 24, 2005
Record Label: Geffen Records (http://www.geffen.com)
Throughout the 90’s, there were certain names that were synonymous with hip hop. While most casual fans won’t put Common in the spotlight with heavy-hitters such as 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G. or Jay-Z, Common has challenged the standards of hip hop for nearly fifteen years now, while still somehow eluding the mainstream world. His time has finally come with the release of Be, an album that sees him return to the basics. The highly experimental Electric Circus made a splash, but with this release, Common has stapled himself as a positive image in the mainstream world.
Much of the initial hype behind Be was that it was to be co-produced by superstar Kanye West. West’s mark is found immediately on the title track “Be”, a song that delivers beautiful piano work and a thumping bass line, all complemented by a great string sample. While the beat is terrific, Common takes the song over with deeply personal lyrics that he delivers with incredible flow and precision. “Testify”, the latest single, easily highlights the recording. It contains a very subdued beat that simply gives Common a platform to tell a raw story that, at times, overflows with emotion. The chorus contains a terrific vocal sample, along with nice, simplistic piano work to add a bit of variation to the beat itself.
“It’s Your World” is one of only two tracks on the album produced by Dilla, long time producer of Common’s work. Common delivers a very nice lyrical performance, but it is the trademark Pop’s Rap that brings the song together and reveals the ultimate meaning behind Be. The song ends with a number of children simply stating what they want to be when they grow up. This sums up the recording flawlessly, as this album is about hope for the future. Be is about how fortunate we are to be alive, and how we should be grateful for the opportunities we’re given. Deeper than that, we should take what we’re given and try to make a positive impact on the world.
Common Sense has returned to hip hop, and this is his best work since 1994’s Resurrection. The production from Kanye West is stellar, and he further proved that he is one of the top producers in hip hop. True classics in this genre are few and far between these days, but Be truly has the potential to achieve that status in due time. An absolute must-hear, and one of the best releases of 2005.