https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/common-a-beautiful-revolution-pt-2-album-announcement-1234626319/


Autographed vinyl pre sale right now. $30.

https://bodega.lomavistarecordings.com/collections/common



I didn't care for Pt. 1. I thought it was mid. not great, not bad, just mid, but so far, I love the first single (hope more of the album has that feel) and really like the second single. com still sounds a little syrupy, but i like his lyrics more this album than last.

I think he's taken that road as far as he can for a while and it hasn't done him or his rapping or vision any favors over these last few records. I fully agree about the first ABR record: it was middling, good production but very little that was memorable and a lot that was straight up forgettable.

I liked this single with Seun Kuti though, and his feature on the 9th Wonder remix of Brittany Howard's "He Loves Me" was pretty solid, too. I liked Black America Again and Nobody Smiling in part because he *felt* energized even when his rapping wasn't always 100% on point. These two tracks had some of that same energy so maybe we'll get some more of that. (He had another recent feature that I heard in the last few days, too, that was solid --- now I can't remember what it was...)

If I hear him do one more "Imagine the world without _____" or "Imagine the world like ________" track though, I'm through, lol.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>I think he's taken that road as far as he can for a while and
>it hasn't done him or his rapping or vision any favors over
>these last few records. I fully agree about the first ABR
>record: it was middling, good production but very little that
>was memorable and a lot that was straight up forgettable.
>
>I liked this single with Seun Kuti though, and his feature on
>the 9th Wonder remix of Brittany Howard's "He Loves Me" was
>pretty solid, too. I liked Black America Again and Nobody
>Smiling in part because he *felt* energized even when his
>rapping wasn't always 100% on point. These two tracks had some
>of that same energy so maybe we'll get some more of that. (He
>had another recent feature that I heard in the last few days,
>too, that was solid --- now I can't remember what it was...)
>
>If I hear him do one more "Imagine the world without _____" or
>"Imagine the world like ________" track though, I'm through,
>lol.

Couldn't agree more with anything you said above. His preachiness is thru the roof at this point. BAA at least had some variety to it, and was very good. And he was rapping rapping. Last few efforts have been hugely sleepy.

It feels forced now since he’s doing it so often. Like he’s trying to prove he’s grown.

Opinions like yours are what is wrong with the culture

He's a very successful man in his 40s, a father, and a dude
who does a lot of positive shit, thinks about the Black
experience a lot

He's rapping about the stuff he thinks about. It's authentic.
It's not "preachy." It's what grownups think about--how do I
make a better world

You guys have awful taste, still celebrate rappers his age
who "reflect" on their youth killing people and rolling with
ignorant gangs

LMAO

Stop it, nerd

>You guys have awful taste, still celebrate rappers his age
>who "reflect" on their youth killing people and rolling with
>ignorant gangs

Lol

I love Snoop but I don't think I've ever actually celebrated that stuff. In fact I typically give the caveat that I cringe at the lyrics now, old or new. Haha.

that does not rap about street life and does not sound preachy…

My problem with Common is that his subject matter became repetitive…

>You guys have awful taste, still celebrate rappers his age
>who "reflect" on their youth killing people and rolling with
>ignorant gangs

I really don't though. Literally none of the folks on my list of current favorites working today fit that description at all and most of them are also rapping about "what grownups think about."

The difference: they're doing it really well.

Common's cemented his place as a top-tier rapper while doing it really well, too. But right now his version of grown-man rap feels like a checklist of cliches articulated through uninspired, uninspiring lyricism. I wouldn't even say it's bad, I just find it boring and predictable.

Last year, Blu dropped a substantial album's worth of music working with similar subject matter as Common is right now, complete with "Imagine the world like this" tracks, plus a handful of EPs, and even when he's working through the same ideas that he's spoken to on another track, it usually sounds fresh both technically and subject-wise. Not always - he has a few tropes he leans on - but usually. It's not about whether or not someone is positive/socially aware/talking about life as an adult, it's about whether they're doing it well.

Common's gone through any number of high-low cycles over the years. I can't wait to hear the next record from him that floors me, and maybe this one will prove me wrong.

>LMAO
>
>Stop it, nerd

So glad you're back, we missed you terribly.


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>I really don't though. Literally none of the folks on my list
>of current favorites working today fit that description at all
>and most of them are also rapping about "what grownups think
>about."
>
>The difference: they're doing it really well.

^^^ right. And the music is interesting and inspiring.


>Common's cemented his place as a top-tier rapper while doing
>it really well, too. But right now his version of grown-man
>rap feels like a checklist of cliches articulated through
>uninspired, uninspiring lyricism. I wouldn't even say it's
>bad, I just find it boring and predictable.

That's exactly right. It's just - there. It's fine. It's very listenable. But it's just predictable and redundant. And Comm's my favorite all time MC so I'm saying this while having a heavy, heavy bias for the guy, and even I can't get myself to care for most of his recent output since Black America Again (which was *excellent*).

A good example is the most recent song with Black Thought. Common used to outrap Thought on their songs. Love of My Life (Comm definitely won that one IMO), UNIVerse at War (could go either way but I prefer Common on there as well) ... but on this new song it's jarring how Thought *sounds* like a wily veteran who still has it, and who can rap in his fucking sleep. And Comm just sounds .. there.


>Last year, Blu dropped a substantial album's worth of music
>working with similar subject matter as Common is right now,
>complete with "Imagine the world like this" tracks, plus a
>handful of EPs, and even when he's working through the same
>ideas that he's spoken to on another track, it usually sounds
>fresh both technically and subject-wise. Not always - he has a
>few tropes he leans on - but usually. It's not about whether
>or not someone is positive/socially aware/talking about life
>as an adult, it's about whether they're doing it well.

Yea. I also find that Riggins' production leaves a lot to be desired. Again, it's *good*, it's fine, literally none of it is bad. But I find that a lot of it sounds very similar, has similar elements and tones - it's just midtempo freestyle jazz jamout sessions. Nothing stands out.

And maybe that's what they're going for. It just doesn't do much for me. It's like rap easy listening.

>
>>You guys have awful taste, still celebrate rappers his age
>>who "reflect" on their youth killing people and rolling with
>>ignorant gangs
>
>I really don't though. Literally none of the folks on my list
>of current favorites working today fit that description at all
>and most of them are also rapping about "what grownups think
>about."
>

Please list your current favorites


Peace,

Spirit (Alan)
http://wutangbook.com

Only teenagers use that word, really

Responsible grownups act to make the world a better place

That includes sharing their perspective on how to make
the world better

That's what Common does

If you disagree, you're either a teenager or have awful
taste

There’s rappers out here 40+ not rapping about stupid shit, but also not reading off a hallmark card - still pushing boundaries and being creative and still sharp with the pen.

>There’s rappers out here 40+ not rapping about stupid shit,
>but also not reading off a hallmark card - still pushing
>boundaries and being creative and still sharp with the pen.

40+ grown man rap is my preferred lane by far. Evidence and Tanya Morgan are probably my most played albums from the summer.

And Common helped make that lane(not the 40+ part but the grown part) a long time ago. I just haven’t heard anything new from him that has stuck with me, in awhile. It’s ok if he doesn’t too, he’s already a HOFer.

>40+ grown man rap is my preferred lane by far. Evidence and
>Tanya Morgan are probably my most played albums from the
>summer.
>
>And Common helped make that lane(not the 40+ part but the
>grown part) a long time ago. I just haven’t heard anything
>new from him that has stuck with me, in awhile. It’s ok if
>he doesn’t too, he’s already a HOFer.

Some others only recently joined the grown man lane.

And yea the last time a Common project really resonated with me was Black America Again. It's still possible. The last couple albums just aren't it. He shows flashes, to be clear. There was one song on Let Love where he let loose lyrically, while still rapping about grown man shit. Think it was called "Leaders". He should do more of that lol.

But you're right - even if the last great album he ever drops was BAA, he's still first ballot HOF without question. Anyone doing grown man shit now has been directly and indirectly influenced by him, dating back 2+ decades. He's given us plenty.

Just saying I'm still a huge fan so I hope he's still got more left in the tank.

>You guys have awful taste, still celebrate rappers his age
>who "reflect" on their youth killing people and rolling with
>ignorant gangs

We're talking about COMMON here...not exactly a guy known for reflecting on killing people and rolling with gangs.

People appreciate GROWN FOLK rap, COM doesn't have to talk about violence to do something different.

Examples:

Phonte/Little Brother
Talib
Skyzoo
Kanye
QTip
Torae
Black Thought
Royce
Masta Ace
Murs

>We're talking about COMMON here...not exactly a guy known for
>reflecting on killing people and rolling with gangs.

Killing people I'm with you on but...
I mean, Chicago knows who Com rolls with.

>I mean, Chicago knows who Com rolls with.

You guys have awful taste

Dreadful taste

Common is a responsible adult, raps like it

You guys are serious nerds, wow

----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

Literally, no one is asking Comm to rap about gang banging.


Not a soul.


In fact, the new album is getting love down below.


Also, you already responded to dude on this.


Are you hallucinating?


What sort of Ls are you taking in OkaySports that has you in here puffing your chest out? The J Kidd thing?


Literally in here inventing arguments and picking fights with dude twice.


And we're the "nerds" Riiigggghhhht.



Someone give this dude a hug he must be having a bad week.

How about the new Tanya Morgan?

Grown man rap at its finest.

...as an old man, when I heard "leaders" and "Hercules" off of "let love" (when I briefly had access to the "Rock the Bells" sattelite radio) I thought that is the type of hip-hop Common should be doing (and I should be listening to - I bought those MP3's on Amazon).

So....

I really can't conceive what other type of current hip-hop someone Common (and my age) should be doing/listening to (other than songs like "leaders" and "Hercules" off of "let love")


?????????

connected with me on an emotional level. had to cop that on vinyl too.

really good: rhyming, music, production, yep


Sounded like someone his/my age not trying to keep up with the new thing but continuing his own generation's thing.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CTnEXu-JhQx/?utm_medium=share_sheet

Maybe it's just the beats that have been sleepy time. Cuz my dude can clearly still spit with the best of them.

There's was some of it on 'Black America Again,' but not much since.


_______________________________
gamblers and masturbators.

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Return To Zero: A rap radio show hosted by mrhood75 (Spider Jerusalem) and me (UrkelMoeDee)

It's his late-career equivalent of "The Food" Chappelle's Show version vs. "The Food" studio version.


>RE: He doesn't bring enough of this energy to his albums.
>There's was some of it on 'Black America Again,' but not much
>since.

.

>Maybe it's just the beats that have been sleepy time. Cuz my
>dude can clearly still spit with the best of them.

nah but seriously Com is in my top 5 easily.



<=========================================
https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PYzh4v9cSf4FDnq3yMQyqNqh79o=/800x0/filters:no_upscale%28%29/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4079674/jlio.0.gif

When the production is dope and stays in a lane that he can thrive in, Common delivers.

As soon as I heard Karriem Riggins did the whole joint, I knew it was going to be great. Just finished first listen, not mad at all.

Is he going to make records that resonated as much as the first 4-6 (!) albums did for some people? Not very likely. But his heart is still in the right place and he's not on some BS. I will definitely keep this one in rotation.

Com bussin', production is on point.

Wow...pleasantly surprised...Com stepped it up right here.

Need to give this another listen. After track 5 I was ready to call this one of his best, then it seemed to go downhill.

Thought absolutely kills that joint man.

It was good listening to AZ, Common and Thought today. Felt like back in the day! Lol

i thought, besides When We Move, that the second half was much stronger.

I was cool with one or two songs but it'll be a while before I listen to this again

No variety whatsoever.

Went back and listened to the first ABR and had *completely* forgotten about "A Riot in My Mind" feat. Lenny Kravitz and Chuck D.

I have a high tolerance for bad. I also rarely just straight up call something awful.

This. Was. Awful. I think I only got through the whole song once, have skipped it every time since.

I will say that although ABR 2 didn't knock me off my feet, it was much much better than 1. Still not spitting at Black America Again levels but more energized to me than the ABR 1. It also feels like a more complete album.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

...is even going to spit over hard beats again?

A few good joints, but not a great album.

I’m good with PJ though.