Electric Circus cost and won Common some fans. It was very exploratory, especially so for a ap album released in 2002, containing developments -- some of which soared, some of which sank -- that few longtime followers could have foreseen. Listeners either felt Common was picking up fresh, new inspirations, or that he was just being distracted by a whole lot of ill-fitting nonsense. With Be, it seems the MC has realized that not every album that's sprawling and eclectic is as good as Electric Ladyland or Songs in the Key of Life. More notably, he might've been struck with the fact that a high percentage of excellent albums are around 40 minutes in length and are built on a unified sound. Be is highly concentrated, containing 11 songs and involving two producers and a small number of guests. It's a 180 degree turn from Electric Circus, and in a bizarre way it's both a progression and a back-to-basics move. Kanye West and Dilla are key to the album's steadiness, rooting the sound in '70s soul and soul-jazz. That's no shakeup, but the two producers deserve some form of award for stringing together a consistent sequence of productions that is never monotonous, dull, or all that flashy. Even lead single "The Corner," heard well before Be's release, falls into the fabric of the album on first listen, as if that were where it belonged all along. Lyrically, Common comes back down to Earth -- the narratives are sharp as ever, the gripes are more like observations than screeds, and the eccentricities need to be teased out rather than swatted away. Be isn't likely to be referred to by anyone as groundbreaking, but it's one of Common's best, and it's also one of the most tightly constructed albums of any form within recent memory.
To just "be" seems so general, yet, strangely specific doesn't it? Apparently, the album, previously called "Basement Evolution," was Common just be-ing. How do we know this? He is in, no doubt, an ultra comfort zone with Chicago brethren, Kanye West, throughout the entire album. Aside from two masterful tracks produced by the late J [...]
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I've been LOVING Common recently. And this song in particular has really struck a chord with me. I mean, live music in general is a HUGE part of why all of us are even here on MOG, but when good rap and hip hop can be translated to a live medium with emotion and a message to boot, well, that's the balls, to put it bluntly.This version was put on the 2005 album "Be"The Food (live)
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I've been a Common fan for quite some time. I've seen him live a few times in Austin, he's amazing on the mic live. Probably one of the most solid hip-hop / freestyle artists around today. The problem is, I absolutely hated his last album "Electric Circus". I'm sure that this isn't fair and we should allow artists to branch out and experiment with new mediums but damn. I could barely make it ...
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To just "be" seems so general, yet, strangely specific doesn't it? Apparently, the album, previously called "Basement Evolution," was Common just be-ing. How do we know this? He is in, no doubt, an ultra comfort zone with Chicago brethren, Kanye West, throughout the entire album. Aside from two masterful tracks produced by the late J [...]
More >
An introduction is an essential part to any album. An intro can cover anything as it could be a skit, dialogue, monologue, freestyle, sample, or even a full-length song. The introduction to an album is just like an appetizer to a meal. In some cases, the appetizer can be a preview of what's to come. If the appe is delicious then you anticipate the main course and following dishes to be even bet...
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Courtesy of WeDoItRightThe video features a segment of a freestyle Com’ kicked at the event, as well as him spitting some game at a local. I swear Vancouver had the most beautiful women at this event yesterday, enjoy.
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I've been LOVING Common recently. And this song in particular has really struck a chord with me. I mean, live music in general is a HUGE part of why all of us are even here on MOG, but when good rap and hip hop can be translated to a live medium with emotion and a message to boot, well, that's the balls, to put it bluntly.This version was put on the 2005 album "Be"The Food (live)
More >
I've been a Common fan for quite some time. I've seen him live a few times in Austin, he's amazing on the mic live. Probably one of the most solid hip-hop / freestyle artists around today. The problem is, I absolutely hated his last album "Electric Circus". I'm sure that this isn't fair and we should allow artists to branch out and experiment with new mediums but damn. I could barely make it ...
More >
Luis over at We Do It Right Magazine has sent over this great footage of Common performing live at Rock The Bells in Vancouver British Columbia. Here is what Luis had to say about the footage he shot:I was at Rock The Bells representing our site yesterday. I put together this little video. It’s the [...]
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Judging by the current poll, looks like Be is winning by a landslide as your all-time favorite Common album. And I can't say I blame you. Deez said it himself, that Be could be the best post-2000 album released. With that said, enjoy the instrumentals to this new classic hip hop album… DOWNLOAD No Tags---Related Articles at [...]
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Common performs a freestyle, and makes a female fan blush. Shouts to WeDoItRightMag.
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Be (Intro) |
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| 2 The Corner |
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| 3 Go! |
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| 4 Faithful |
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| 5 Testify |
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| 6 Love Is... |
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| 7 Chi-City |
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| 8 The Food [Live] |
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| 9 Real People |
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| 10 They Say |
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| 11 It's Your World, Pts. 1-2 |
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 "Be")
