Send "Common " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Pitchfork |
 Hey, remember this: "Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Common Sense/ But I did five mil-- I ain't been rhymin' like Common since." Those words from Jay-Z's Black Album sounded like expert politicking; Jay was paying tribute to a lauded veteran while justifying his own flossier tendencies at the same time. It made Jay more human and Common more revered. That was in 2003. Now, it's tough to imagine Jay saying those same words.Though he's two years older than Com, Jay-Z has clung onto relevancy thanks to an uncanny understanding of the grand gesture and ruthless ambition. Com has stayed productive since 2003, too, but his importance in the realm of hip-hop has been damaged by a middling acting career, one awful album (2008's Universal Mind Control), and the fact that the guy principally responsible for his 21st-century comeback, Kanye West, also renders him somewhat obsolete. Considering their unbalanced tally of hits, it's odd that Jay is just now readying his first U.S. greatest hits package for release this summer while Go! Common Classics is Com's second highlights compilation. It focuses largely on tracks made from 2005's Be forward, while 2007's Thisisme Then: The Best of Common compiled highlights from most of his 90s work. Go! starts off with Common's biggest hit, the Dilla-produced masterpiece "The Light". Its earthy take on love puts Com's sensitive-boyfriend side to the fore and generally sets the tone for the first half of the comp. This might make sense commercially-- Go!'s release is ostensibly timed to coincide with his new romantic comedy, Just Wright, which I won't watch ever-- but it's an artistic blunder. However socially respectable, Common's female-targeted tracks of the last decade are clunky at best. Whether hopelessly cheesy ("Come Close"), uncomfortably sensual ("I Want You"), or just plain corny (the lone new track, "Next Time", a Just Wright tie-in), it's hard to believe any of his come-on tactics would work in even the drunkest of over-30 clubs....full text |
| Consequenceofsound |
| I’ve been sitting here staring at my computer screen for a good long while now trying to figure how exactly to write a review for a “best of” album. I mean…how can you tell someone it’s a good album or not if it’s made up of the artist’s best songs of his/her career? If the reader likes the performer then there is a great chance that reader will like the best of compilation. Right? And if they don’t like the performer, then they won’t like the compilation. Should the album speak for itself? Just say: Here is the best of. You’ll probably like it if you like the performer! That seems lazy, but also…not lazy. Like, okay, for example, the incredible Chicago rapper turned movie star, Common, has just released a retrospective best of called Go! Common Classics. The songs contained on it are his best hits from the past decade plus one new song called, “Next Time”, that will be featured in his new movie with Queen Latifah (who guests on the track) called Just Right. The album contains his great tracks produced by the likes of Kanye West, The Neptunes, and will.i.am, as well as an early battle track called “The Bitch in Yoo” and his own guest stint on Erykah Badu’s, “Love of my Life (An Ode to Hip-hop)”. Overall the album is very well sequenced and contains some of my favorite tracks including “The Corner”, “Testify”, and “The Light” – all of which show off Common’s incredible flow and lyrics. His flow is one of the smoothest in the game, and he’s been getting pats on the back from all the greats since he started. Even Jay-Z mentions in his song “Moment of Clarity”, that he wished he could rhyme like Common: “If skills sold, truth be told, I’d probably be lyrically Talib Kweli. Truthfully I want to rhyme like Common Sense.” Also, if you live in Chicago (or you’re from the Chicago area), I highly suggest you watch the video for “The Corner”. It contains some amazing shots of the Southside and the city in general....full text |
| Hiphopgalaxy |
| There is nothing ordinary about acclaimed rapper Common, as the first retrospective of the most successful span of his career to date proves. Compiled with Common’s participation, Go ! Common Classics (Geffen/UMe), to be released May 25, 2010, gathers 11 of his most popular tracks from the past decade on MCA/Geffen plus the rare 1996 battle record "The B**** In Yoo" and a new song, "Next Time (Just Right Version)" featuring Queen Latifah, from the film Just Wright, starring Common and Latifah, and scheduled to hit screens May 14. Since his acting debut in Smokin Aces, Common has worked with some of the most coveted actors and directors in Hollywood. Common was last seen in the blockbuster hit Date Night opposite Steve Carell and Tina Fey. Additional credits include, American Gangster with Denzel Washington and director Ridley Scott, Wanted opposite Angelina Jolie and James McAvoy and Terminator Salvation with Christian Bale and Sam Worthington. Common’s major label debut, his fourth studio album, 2000’s Like Water For Chocolate, marked the commercial breakthrough for one of rap’s most influential, literate and creative forces. His first gold album and a #5 R&B hit, the disc included "The Light," Grammy nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance. 2002’s genre-bending Electric Circus went Top 10 R&B and brought under the hip-hop big top "Come Close" featuring Mary J. Blige. That same year, he was featured on Erykah Badu’s "Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop)" from the soundtrack to Brown Sugar. With three Grammy nominations, the track earned Common his first win, for Best R&B Song....full text |
Common lyrics Music videoclips
|
| ||||||||||||||||
