by Phayde
On his sixth studio album, the Chi-town native gets back on track after a certain Electric Circus misstep. Kicking off with an upbeat intro of the same name, Be resurrects the witty wordsmith that hip-hop heads longed for since 2000’s Like Water For Chocolate. Rather than being pigeon-holed as “that conscious rapper from the ‘90s,†however, Common takes the essence of his past and brings it to the present. Friends and G.O.O.D. label-mates Kanye West –– who produced all but two tracks –– and John Legend create a jazzy, soulful backdrop on which Common paints a rich, earth-toned picture of love, life, hardships and hope.
Original Article (extended)
