many things
Common, where hath thou been?
Common‘s contribution to hip-hop has been massive over the years, citing eight full length albums (prior to The Dreamer, The Believer) and recognized by a plethora of awards. Though his music took a wrong turn with the release of Universal Mind Control in 2008, which proved to be a lackluster attempt at riding the modern day music craze: electronic/dance infused hip-hop. The style just didn’t suit him, but it forced him back into the lab.
Three years later, Common is back on his game, releasing ‘Ghetto Dreams’, the first single from The Dreamer, The Believer to kick off the summer. The track features Nas, a living legend in his own right, which provides a hard-hitting, raw feel with a splash of gangster. This would serve as a nice reintroduction to the game, and to prepare believers for what they’ve been dying for: the real Common.
After much anticipation The Dreamer, The Believer album released a couple weeks ago. It’s a compilation which is fully infused with Common’s positive vibe rap, something that real hip-hop heads can identify with. The production is engineered by Common himself alongside long-time friend, and super producer No I.D., keeping hands off the record that have no business being there [No more Universal Mind Control!].
The Dreamer, The Believer is a classic album coming from a class act. Common lives up to his expectations on this one, checking off all the requirements for a “strictly hip-hop” album. Chalk one up for the heads.
Check out some of the tracks below, including controversial, Sweet, a beefing note addressed to Drake. What are your thoughts?
