dJ mEnTaL cHi.
01-22-2004, 08:18 AM
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Common Lets It Be On Upcoming Down-Home Album
01.20.2004 9:08 PM EST
With its new-age flourishes, retro-rock style and an
eclectic lineup of guests including everyone from
Prince to Stereolab, Chi-town rapper Common's 2002
album, Electric Circus, was anything but a
conventional hip-hop joint. And his next album will be
as down-to-earth as that effort was a space trip.
"This one feels grounded, like hanging out on
someone's Chicago sidewalk," Common said recently.
"After going way out, it's a natural progression for
me to come home again. It's more about people and
things relative to life."
Common, halfway through recording his sixth album,
already has a title. He'll call it, simply, Be.
"It could stand for 'basement elevation' or 'b-boy
evolution.' But really it's just about being," he
explained, "the simplicity of life and music. This
album is rooted in not trying too hard to do anything
specific, just letting the music come the way it
comes."
Common has already recorded with a handful of
beatmakers for this effort. These include Jay Dee,
with whom he worked on his previous two albums, who
pitches in on "It's Your World"; Kareem Riggins (Slum
Village); and fellow Chicagoan Kanye West, who will
helm several Be songs, including Common's current
favorite, "Fooled."
Kanye's profile has increased immeasurably since
Common met him years ago. As aspiring b-boy stars,
they engaged in rap ciphers in Common's basement. "Put
it this way: I didn't underestimate him. But I didn't
know it'd get like this," Common said of Kanye's
sudden popularity. "There's no limitations to him. I
love his vision. He brings something fun, innocent and
creative to hip-hop. I forgot hip-hop could be like
that."
Common is also scheduled to record with the Neptunes
and ?uestlove (a.k.a. Ahmir Thompson), the Roots
mastermind who Common credits with turning around his
career when the drummer executive produced Common's
1999 album, Like Water for Chocolate. "He enhanced my
music and my thirst for music," Common said. "Ahmir is
a genius, man. He took my music to a higher level."
Common wouldn't discuss his recent breakup with singer
Erykah Badu. He did say her music, combined with that
of artists like Talib Kweli, the Roots and Kanye West,
contributes to the sense of community he felt as a
young artist looking up to the Native Tongues (A Tribe
Called Quest, De La Soul and the Jungle Brothers).
"Their best music makes me want to work that much
harder. It's good to have that kind of creative
inspiration around you. They remind you we do this for
the love of it."
He said he hopes fans will feel that love in his
music, regardless of whether he releases an eclectic
album like Electric Circus or the more down-home long
player Be's shaping up to be. "It's more of what
people expect hip-hop to be," Common explained. "I
gave them a space movie with Electric Circus. Now the
movie is more about something blue-collar you can
relate to. I hope they do."
—Joseph Patel @ MTV.COM <---?
Common Lets It Be On Upcoming Down-Home Album
01.20.2004 9:08 PM EST
With its new-age flourishes, retro-rock style and an
eclectic lineup of guests including everyone from
Prince to Stereolab, Chi-town rapper Common's 2002
album, Electric Circus, was anything but a
conventional hip-hop joint. And his next album will be
as down-to-earth as that effort was a space trip.
"This one feels grounded, like hanging out on
someone's Chicago sidewalk," Common said recently.
"After going way out, it's a natural progression for
me to come home again. It's more about people and
things relative to life."
Common, halfway through recording his sixth album,
already has a title. He'll call it, simply, Be.
"It could stand for 'basement elevation' or 'b-boy
evolution.' But really it's just about being," he
explained, "the simplicity of life and music. This
album is rooted in not trying too hard to do anything
specific, just letting the music come the way it
comes."
Common has already recorded with a handful of
beatmakers for this effort. These include Jay Dee,
with whom he worked on his previous two albums, who
pitches in on "It's Your World"; Kareem Riggins (Slum
Village); and fellow Chicagoan Kanye West, who will
helm several Be songs, including Common's current
favorite, "Fooled."
Kanye's profile has increased immeasurably since
Common met him years ago. As aspiring b-boy stars,
they engaged in rap ciphers in Common's basement. "Put
it this way: I didn't underestimate him. But I didn't
know it'd get like this," Common said of Kanye's
sudden popularity. "There's no limitations to him. I
love his vision. He brings something fun, innocent and
creative to hip-hop. I forgot hip-hop could be like
that."
Common is also scheduled to record with the Neptunes
and ?uestlove (a.k.a. Ahmir Thompson), the Roots
mastermind who Common credits with turning around his
career when the drummer executive produced Common's
1999 album, Like Water for Chocolate. "He enhanced my
music and my thirst for music," Common said. "Ahmir is
a genius, man. He took my music to a higher level."
Common wouldn't discuss his recent breakup with singer
Erykah Badu. He did say her music, combined with that
of artists like Talib Kweli, the Roots and Kanye West,
contributes to the sense of community he felt as a
young artist looking up to the Native Tongues (A Tribe
Called Quest, De La Soul and the Jungle Brothers).
"Their best music makes me want to work that much
harder. It's good to have that kind of creative
inspiration around you. They remind you we do this for
the love of it."
He said he hopes fans will feel that love in his
music, regardless of whether he releases an eclectic
album like Electric Circus or the more down-home long
player Be's shaping up to be. "It's more of what
people expect hip-hop to be," Common explained. "I
gave them a space movie with Electric Circus. Now the
movie is more about something blue-collar you can
relate to. I hope they do."
—Joseph Patel @ MTV.COM <---?