|
By John Smrtic
Triumphant and powerful, Common’s latest, Be, is a brilliant work of maturity from one of hip hop’s unsung masters. Boasting different and commanding flow, unusual wit and creativity, and a slick mastery of word play, Common shines on his sixth album, dropping a gem that perhaps surpasses his previous high water mark, 1994’s Resurrection.
Equally as responsible for Common’s musical planets falling into alignment on Be may be fellow Chicago superstar Kanye West’s executive producer sensibilities. There is a beautiful flow within songs and from song to song, powered by brilliant sampling, the appropriate amount of live instrumentation, and tight, catchy hooks, most courtesy of West. In fact, Be is the tightest team effort since Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg released The Chronic well over a decade ago.
The title track is a super strong opener. Over a string-driven symphonic sample, live keyboards tweak out the funk, and a rich, bellowing acoustic bass adds a jazz touch as Common ponders the beauty of existence. Some of the song’s lyrics are exemplary of Common’s style: “Bush pushin’ lies/ killers immortalized/ we got arms but won’t reach for the skies/ waiting for the Lord to rise/ I look into my daughter’s eyes/ and realize/ I’mma learn through her/ the messiah might even return through her/ if Imma do it, I gotta change the world through her.”
Love is also a frequent song topic on Be. The light and airy, hip swing of “Go” addresses the common rap topic of sex, but Common takes a fresh, fantasy approach that makes the track a novelty. “Faithful,” on the other hand, features live keyboards and sings the praises, value, and worth of women and features the multitalented John Legend on background vocals. Finally, “Love Is” uses a Marvin Gaye sample to paint a positive portrait of the ghetto and clearly surpasses his hip hop brethren in truly trying to make a bright difference – but he does so without being preachy or corny.
Common also showcases his unique storytelling abilities, and his tales are a vibrant reflection of his person and environment. Honestly, this MC’s fiction and non-fiction skills are in the same category as Nas, which hasn’t been seen since the latter’s first classic album Illmatic. The identity and importance of a culture is revealed in “The Corner.” “The Food” is a live cut from “The Chappelle Show” featuring Kanye West and brilliantly describes the inner-city struggle. Common does a similar standout job on “Chi City” – clearly announcing Chicago’s importance to the ever-evolving rap world.
Tracks like “Real People” and “They Say” (featuring Legend and West) tie the album together, reasserting the positivity and soul-searching that make this such a stand out effort. Folks who are hip to the hop scene won’t be surprised by the vitality and importance of Common and Be to the rap world spectrum. For those who have never heard of Common, those with a healthy curiosity in hip hop, or even true music fans, Be is a surefire, skillful album that redefines an entire genre. Consider yourself on notice.
JamBase | New York
Go See Live Music!
|
