9. "TRACKLIST...bilal all over this" In response to Reply # 0 Sat Oct-22-16 04:15 AM by Hellyeah
Common Black America Again Tracklist
Joy and Peace (feat. Bilal) Home (feat. Bilal) Word From Moe Luv Interlude Black America Again (feat. Stevie Wonder) Love Star (feat. Marsha Ambrosius & PJ) On a Whim Interlude Red Wine (feat. Syd & Elena) Pyramids A Moment In the Sun Interlude Unfamiliar (feat. PJ) A Bigger Picture Called Free (feat. Syd & Bilal) The Day Women Took Over (feat. BJ the Chicago Kid) Rain (feat. John Legend) Little Chicago Boy (feat. Tasha Cobbs) Letter To The Free (feat. Bilal)
everything i hear from this album is FLAMES. i don't know when i was as hyped as this for an album to come out the last time. only disappointing thing is the tracks with anderson. paak, j rocc and john legend and haven't made the album. also it used to be called little chicago boy, which i like a bit more as a title. he talked about all of this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH0NFTPLWlM
16. "The tone of this album so far sounds so refreshing." In response to Reply # 0
Only joint I'm not feeling is Love Star. That song's awful.
But Black America Again is dope. The beats and lyrics on Home and Joy and Peace are out of this world.
Really excited for this album. Comm's been dropping really good music since TDTB in my opinion but this is shaping up to potentially be his best since Be.
39. "RE: Common - Home feat. Bilal (link)" In response to Reply # 19
It's not bad bro, just feels a little like when I go to my in laws party and they got that store brand cola, when you know I need that Coca Cola to make my rum and coke right...
21. "Jesus - he bodied this." In response to Reply # 20
This album is gonna be something. I kinda want to stop listening to these drops now so I can take in the whole body of work but I dunno if I can. Almost everything so far has been 10/10.
23. "You said best since Be but I'm thinking best since LWFC" In response to Reply # 21 Mon Oct-24-16 11:44 AM by Anonymous
And if he trims the fat and corny, at this point this could be his best ever.
May not hit the nostalgia factor that we hold for R, ODIWAMS, or LWFC but it may be his most complete and highest quality all the way through if these tracks are any indication.
We'll have to wait and see how it plays out and give it some time after it's released to make that determination obviously.
24. "Yea I think I read you say somewhere ..." In response to Reply # 23
... that you haven't been this excited for a Common album since EC, which indicates to me that you feel very differently about Be than I do (I love it and think it's near the top of his catalogue) so I'm not ready to say "best since LWFC" yet but ... it could get there.
>And if he trims the fat and corny, at this point this could >be his best ever.
Really wish "Love Star" could be cut, now. That song really, really sucks.
>May not hit the nostalgia factor that we hold for R, ODIWAMS, >or LWFC but it may be his most complete and highest quality >all the way through if these tracks are any indication. > >We'll have to wait and see how it plays out and give it some >time after it's released to make that determination >obviously.
Right. I don't expect that at all for a bunch of reasons but like you said, we'll have to wait and see one way or the other.
But I think I would agree that it's Be's weakest song.
>I mean, I was disappointed to see LoveStar on there as >well...but as much as I love Com, he pretty much always has a >skip or 2.
Yea I guess you're probably right for the most part. Resurrection and Be don't have any skippers but most of his others (I'd have to look into each album more to be sure) do I think.
>Anyway, I'm hyped for this and not listening to anymore until >it drops.
I dunno if I'ma be able to hold back haha but I'll be trying to do the same as I said.
28. "No I don't skip it." In response to Reply # 27
Typically a track would have to be EGREGIOUSLY bad i.e. "Summer on Smash" from Life is Good for me to actually skip it or take it off the album's playlist on Spotify altogether.
95. "Testify served a big role in the album roll out" In response to Reply # 28
and initial reactions. But it's one of those grab you at first but never as good after that, kind of like an eminem song.
But that hook is catchy, and is really hip-hop the way it's used. And the fact that you could take any song off this project and you'll find people saying they love it or hate it speaks to the risks Com was still taking, even when retreating back to more sample/loop based production from his previous EC.
30. "man, i love Testify" In response to Reply # 25 Mon Oct-24-16 02:10 PM by justin_scott
altho the "You accuse of it..." "Please let me Testify" parts could be lessen throughout the song, but "Faithful" is the only track i sometimes skip, and only because of that shitty squirrel chirping on the beat, which bothers me far more, otherwise it'd be completely dope AF. For me, "Love Is" is a little weaker than "Testify," but really, there's no weak track on Be for me.
and when i say weaker, i don't mean it's weak, just that i like Testify a little more. the ONLY real issue i have with Be is that chirping sound. fucking loathe that. If i can ever find a version without that, that album would be perfect for me.
41. "Haha I hear you about the chirping sound." In response to Reply # 36 Mon Oct-24-16 07:55 PM by Brew
A really good friend of mine who was almost as big a Common fan as me (he sadly passed a few years back) had the exact same gripe, even before the album dropped. Was like "Kanye's producing that shit? Ugh. I know it'll be fine overall but that Kanye chipmunk shit is gonna drive me nuts" haha
37. "the first time i heard it, he says the word "fuck" i think" In response to Reply # 33
the last time i listened, i didn't hear any cursing (maybe i missed it). still doesn't make it a good song tho, but that was one of my two gripes with the song (downside is the 2nd gripe is that it isn't a good song...lol)
I actually listened to it again over the weekend to see what I was missing since some people I know are loving it. Nope. It sucks. Lyrically it's actually not that bad at all (outside of some typical Common love song corny lines) but the beat is just horrendously simplistic and poppy.
>i really wanna hear what he did with Anderson.Paak tho
And speaking of crooner features, I'm psyched that he got back with Bilal and that he's so prominent on this album. Common and Bilal make beautiful, beautiful music together and Bilal is dope as fuck in general.
I wasn't excited for excited for Be because at that point, after EC, I wasn't getting my hopes up. I was happy he was going back to form with The Corners but Indont junk I fully trusted Com at that point.
I do like Be a lot though.
Now I feel like I can gauge where he's going with this one a little better than previously.
29. "RE: You said best since Be but I'm thinking best since LWFC" In response to Reply # 23
I really hope you're right. I'm avoiding listening to any of it till the full release but I hope he gets some near to his former glory days. Can't wait!
Though I think "Little Chicago Boy" will kind of minimally make up for his unfortunate absence. Comm's performance of that track at the Tiny Desk concert was unreal.
50. "Hell yea. I'm also an atheist." In response to Reply # 49 Mon Oct-24-16 09:24 PM by Brew
But Common has always had an interesting way of presenting his religion and spirituality that came off more inspirational than it did preachy. I think because he himself admittedly struggled with his own religion for a long while and was more open-minded about it than your typical rapper, and I can respect that even if I am anti-religion myself.
"G.O.D." being the obvious example of what I'm referring to above. That was a song where he was more exploring his religion than preaching it.
Just listened to Home is Where the Hatred is the other day, speaking of which.
But yea Comm ripped that one too. From what I understand it was supposed to be on Be but Comm tossed it on the cutting room floor so Ye included it on LR to not let it go to waste. And thank god he did.
68. "Hahahaha word. I feel you." In response to Reply # 63
>Just kinda trying to hold out on listening to too much from >this album >before can listen to it in full > >and that was one my lame excuses made up in my head.
59. "TD/TB is dope." In response to Reply # 52 Tue Oct-25-16 08:14 AM by Brew
>I still mess with Dreamer / Believer heavily. > >Dreamer >Ghetto Dreams >Sweet >Gold >Lovin' I Lost >Raw >Cloth >Celebrate >Believer > >all bang. > >this is a pretty dope album. > >His delivery is one of my favorite's for an entire Com album, >he sounds rejuvenated, is having fun, and SPITTING.
Yep you nailed it. His energy on that album was really infectious. Was great to hear him excited to rap again. At that point he hadn't released an album in 3-4 years so you could tell he was amped to get back in the booth. Kept doing that "ahhh" thing after verses as if he was wrapping up some hard labor and letting out an audible sign of relief haha.
>I don't like the next album though.
Not my favorite at all but it has its moments. He's still spitting on that joint for the most part but the tone of the production bored me so I rarely go back to it outside of 2 or 3 tracks. It sounded like NoID was doing his best TDE impression and that's not what I listen to Common/NoID for.
>But this new one sounds like it's gonna be solid for sure.
I agree. I think it was both. "Ahhh" like you said, "I still run this shit"...and "ahhh" at the end of a verse to relieve himself cause he was spitting so hard.
The track with S Wonder has some beautiful piano. At around 3:27 it sounds like they're riffing on that Minnie Ripperton Rhodes loop that Tribe used from Inside My Love. Beautiful shit:
71. "I've heard 4 tracks." In response to Reply # 66 Wed Oct-26-16 03:51 AM by denny
I seriously wonder if he might make a run for the album of the year grammy. He's kinda got the perfect set-up here. The extensive collabs/producers....the timely political message....all of us golden age hip hop heads entering our 40's....the additional co-sign from the Obamas.....the white house performance.....and doing the theme song for the critically acclaimed '13th' which addresses the MOST significant social justice issue of our times. This album might have Grammy written all over it.
Plus the table was set for someone to really take the reigns of a new sort of adult-contemporary hip hop album format somewhat similar to 'Miseducation.....' and it sounds like Common has seized that opportunity. We're seeing an absolute flood of hip hop documentaries on established media sites....the origin of hip hop is starting to get the same treatment that Woodstock and the like was getting in the late 80's in terms of cultural recognition. There HAS to be an adult market for hip hop like this.
I kinda loathe the Grammys so that's probly part of why I don't agree / don't want to agree. But I think this music may be a little too "tough" for the Grammys, if it keeps going in the "Home" direction.
Some of it tho ... yea. "Red Wine" is the type of song that is both hip-hop and palatable enough to be consumed by the masses. So you could be on to something. I just don't want you to be haha.
74. "Not sure what you're saying...." In response to Reply # 73 Wed Oct-26-16 08:45 AM by denny
You don't want common to win a grammy?
I don't really care about the Grammies....I'm just kinda interested in the emerging of an adult-contemporary hip hop. It's probably overdue. I think the NWA movie (which was horrible) probably helped kick it off. But I'm just seeing alot of middle-aged hip hop nostalgia now and that's interesting to me. Common winning a Grammy for this might be comparable to Paul Simon winning one for Graceland during the 80's. Our generation is slowly replacing the baby-boomer nostalgia and I'm kinda liking how that's evolving. Older hip hop artists who can see that happening should capitalize. Perhaps we're finally making some cultural space for something like a new Rakim album that does NOT have trap beats. That space hasn't been there yet.
75. "Yea you're probably right." In response to Reply # 74
I think I may just be holding onto that kind of anti-establishment hip-hop worldview which would taint my vision of a guy like Common winning a Grammy. But I think you're right in that hip-hop is at a place now where it no longer need to compromise its integrity to win a Grammy. In other words Comm could win on the strength of songs like "Home" and the others rather than being forced to cross over to get that type of recognition, which is how you previously had to win.
This album has to be so good to stick with people for a full year to be considered for a Grammy. I know a year sounds like not a lot of time, but with how the market is flooded (in so many different ways), it's not necessarily an easy task.
_______________________________________________________________________________________ Soul music is bad, bad, bad!
81. "I'm just saying " In response to Reply # 79 Thu Oct-27-16 08:39 PM by denny
that it appears a new lane has opened up for adult-contemporary hip hop. AOY usually doesn't depend on sales and usually has a mature audience appeal. Perhaps that is now possible for a golden era hip hop artist imo.
And Grammy aside...it might open up a lane for more golden era artists to make new product without having to cater directly to kids and new trends.
84. "White fist in the air" In response to Reply # 82 Fri Oct-28-16 08:37 AM by denny
I don't care if it's corny. I'm all the way on board. Common alludes to light skin privilege and that is very humble and genuine of him. I can only offer my white fist because I feel this shit very strongly. I'm a recovering addict and I have people in jail that shouldn't be there anymore than I should be.
If I took my 9 year old to visit my peoples in jail I know EXACTLY what he would say with his pure and innocent mind that we have tried our hardest to maintain. He would say 'Why are all the people in jail black?'. And he would be right to ask that. And I'm still trying to figure out what to say when it happens.
86. "RE: White fist in the air" In response to Reply # 84
Show him the documentary "13th" Discuss it afterwards.
>If I took my 9 year old to visit my peoples in jail I know >EXACTLY what he would say with his pure and innocent mind that >we have tried our hardest to maintain. He would say 'Why are >all the people in jail black?'. And he would be right to ask >that. And I'm still trying to figure out what to say when it >happens.
96. "doesn't sound like a put-on this time" In response to Reply # 87
To paraphrase Bane, he adopted this sort of texture and purpose with his past few attempts. But this? He's back living there again.
__________________________________________ CHOP-THESE-BITCHES!!!! ------------------------------------ Garhart Ivanhoe Poppwell Un-OK'd moderator for The Lesson and Make The Music (yes, I do's work up in here, and in your asscrease if you run foul of this
99. "Damn......just.....*rubs forehead*........DAMN!" In response to Reply # 87
See, I toldjall ninjaz in a thread about 2 years back that he was STILL one of the best lyricist doin it and some slick honary ninja responded wit' some dumb shit.
Comm basically came inna booth like,
o_O
"Oh ya'll done seen me inna couple films and thought I was bullshittin' huh?...Aight, lemme remind ya'll ninjaz!"
*BOOM*
And proceeded ta smoov ream the asshole of rap with NO KY!
Its all kinda rappers gonna be walkin' funny after listening to DIS shit!
"You can take an African out of Africa, but you can't take Africa out of the African" Afro-Americana/Afro-Caribbana/Afro-Latino unite. We are ALL Black!
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