With the addition of The Last Poets, Common pays tribute to the past while embarking on a new future for hip-hop. The gritty sound and detailed narratives of “The Corner” marked a return to Common’s Resurrection days, something that hardcore Common fans were longing for. If anyone thought that Common was a little too eclectic on Electric Circus, Common brought it back to the streets with “The Corner.” Kanye adroitly samples “You Make The Sun Shine” by The Temprees and “What It Is” by The Temptations for a hard-hitting track that feels like a Chicago winter on the South Side. As the album’s first single, “The Sixth Sense” chronicled the continual ascension of Common as one of the best MCs in the game.Ĭlick to load video 3: The Corner (featuring Kanye West and The Last Poets) Opening the song with Gil Scott-Heron’s famous phrase “The revolution will not be televised,” Common asserts himself and his new musical direction on “The Sixth Sense.” Masterfully produced by DJ Premier, and the only song on Like Water For Chocolate not produced by a member of The Soulquarians, Common addresses a range of topics, including Afrocentricity, shifts in hip-hop culture, and a plethora of social ills. For a rapper who prided himself on being a man of the people, the single served as a reminder of Common’s true place in hip-hop. Kanye took the opportunity to pay tribute to the late, great J Dilla, who had just passed a year earlier. Common and Kanye’s chemistry is undeniable as the duo from Chicago cooked up another gem. Produced by Karriem Riggins and Robert Glasper, with Bilal’s signature falsetto on the hook, “Letter To The Free” won Common an Emmy, making him the only hip-hop artist just shy of entering the EGOT Winners’ Circle.Ĭlick to load video 5: The People (featuring Dwele)Ĭoming on the heels of the widely acclaimed BE, Common came back harder than ever with his stunning track “The People,” the first single from his sixth album, Finding Forever. Tackling the mass incarceration of African Americans, Common continues the rich legacy of African-American protest music. 14: Letter To The Free (featuring Bilal)Īfter penning the Oscar-winning track “Glory” for Ava DuVernay’s triumphant film Selma, Common and the director teamed up once again on her powerful documentary 13th, where the MC delivered this passionate, politically charged song for the soundtrack. Of Common and Kanye’s many collaborations, the track captures the unique chemistry of two veterans who changed the game. A triumphant rejoinder to all the haters, “They Say” is aspirational and inspirational. Two of its b-sides, "Invocation" and "Hungry," received low budget music videos.Click to load video 15: They Say (featuring Kanye West and John Legend)Ī stunning number from BE, “They Say” is a jamming collaboration between Common, fellow Windy City native Kanye West and John Legend. A music video directed by Lauryn Hill was made for it. Lauryn Hill's verse embodies portions of "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" by Stevie Wonder, while the song's beat samples " A Song for You" by Donny Hathaway. Kevin Powell of Rolling Stone considers it to be the centerpiece of its album, and Leo Stanley of Allmusic similarly boasts of its significant emotional impact. The lyrics as well as a "mellow, piano-driven beat" has caused Dan Menella to call it the most memorable track on Common's third album. Its autobiographical lyrics weigh the choices of abortion and birth for a woman impregnated by Common. It features production from James Poyser and No I.D., vocals from Lauryn Hill and bass guitar playing by Vere Isaacs. " Retrospect for Life" is the first single from rapper Common's third album One Day It'll All Make Sense. 1997 single by Common featuring Lauryn Hill "Retrospect for Life"įrom the album One Day It'll All Make Sense
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