My Favorite Albums: Common's Be

I may as well just say it off the bat, this is my favorite hip hop album ever. This was my introduction to the Chicago MC as an artist. To be frank prior to seeing “The Corner” video I had only seen Common in a couple of Kanye West videos along with GLC and John Legend. Little did I know that unlike his fellow G.O.O.D music affiliates, Common wasn’t a new jack. With that been said, this album was a comeback of sorts for Common – his Blueprint, his Mama Said Knock You Out, his Stillmatic. And like all these albums, this is a classic.

Be

First the strums of the upright bass, then the strings and then the piano. Rhyming over Kanye West’s jazzy composition, Common touches on politics, black identity and even finds time to shout out his daughter. The title cut is the perfect metaphor for the album – it’s deep, soulful and to the point.

The Corner

If Kanye’s beat on the album opener was reminiscent of a new dawn, his production here evokes a bleakness associated with a wintry Chicago evening. This meshes well with Common’s take on the ugly realities of living in the ghetto. His words are detailed enough to give the listeners a picture of street life while the Last Poets on the chorus only add to the cinematic feel.

Go

The radio single. Over a catchy Kanye beat, Common attempts to convince his lady to try out the most mainstream of male sexual fantasies. “And on the count of 3 everybody run back to your fantasy.”

Faithful

What if God was a her? So goes Common’s opening line on this soulful number. In his first verse, he skillfully uses a forthright woman as a metaphor for God and in terms of cleverness, it ranks as one of the best of his career. However, the track’s main highlight has to be Bilal and John Legend at the end. Their alternating vocals take an already great song and take it to a higher spiritual plane.

Testify

It is a testament to Common’s mic skills that he was able to tell such a compelling tale in under 3 minutes. Here he tells the tale of a seemingly distraught woman testifying on her drug dealing husband’s behalf. The plot twist at the end ensures the song is impactful despite the length.

Love is

The first of the two J.Dilla beats featured on the album. Here Common wonders about this thing called love and all the different ways it manifests itself. Thematically it feels like the most subdued cousin of “Faithful”. A message to all, love always.

Chi City

The return of the boom bap. From the DJ scratches, to the 808s, this track feels like something out of hip hop’s golden age. Common wastes no time sending out subliminal darts through his hard hitting rhymes. Just in case the conscious records and love songs made you forget, this Chicago native is still one of the greats.

The Food

Depending on who you ask, Common’s decision to use the live version (with the Chappelle intro) was a good or bad thing. In what is a beautifully cohesive album, Chappelle’s intro could have been potentially distracting. In any case, Common is still the star of the show as he waxes lyrical about ghetto hardships and the struggles of toeing the line between the legal and the illegal.

Real People

If Common does one thing better than most mcs, it is detailing the black experience. With a jazzy backdrop, the Chicago rapper discusses harsh realities like the bitterness of watching one’s peers succeed and the complexities of interracial dating. He humanizes his subjects instead of judging them. After all, this is the story of real people.

They Say

I like to think of this as the conscious version of Jay Z’s “Renegade”. Aside from the fact that both songs’ producers boasted scene stealing verses, this is the only song to feature a guest verse on the album. Another similarity they share is that they both reference haters and naysayers. But while “Renegade” is more f”*k you, this is more sit back and watch me be great.

It’s Your World

The perfect closing to the perfect album. The track is essentially a two parter with Common taking charge of the first part while allowing his father close the song and album with free form poetry. J.Dilla’s warm and soulful production provides the perfect soundscape as Common’s two verses chronicle the tales of a young black male and a young black woman trying to better their circumstances. Despite the difficulties they face, they still dream of seeing California – a metaphor for a better life. When the song segues into the little kids proudly stating their dreams, it becomes clear why this works as a closer. While it is true that the black experience in America is filled with specific difficulties, hope should always remain – if for no one else, then for the children.

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