Fans find something in Common

By Lucian Tucker
Collegian Editor
August 29, 2007

“I never kiss the ass of the masses/I’m the black molasses/Thick and I lasted passed these rap bastards,” Common recites in the second single off his latest album Finding Forever. His audience seems to come and go while his music has been relatively consistent. Since teaming up with Kanye West in 2004, however, he has received much mainstream praise.

Finding Forever is Common’s seventh release, but first to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. Most of the album, like his last record, Be, is produced by Kanye West. Other featured producers include Will.i.am and the late great J Dilla. With such a cast, it is obvious, then, that the album’s instrumentals are great.

Much like his previous albums, each track on Finding Forever touches on social issues such as poverty, spirituality and relationships. Some songs such as “U, Black Maybe,” are obvious commentaries on African American issues. “We leanin’ on a wall that ain’t that ain’t stable/ It’s hard to turn on the hood that made you/To leave, we afraid to/The same streets that raised you can aid you.”

With other tracks, such as “South Side,” featuring West, one has to listen closely to catch Common’s thought-provoking lyrics. “Southside wa-wa-walk it out, but still ya crawlin’.”

Despite the heavy lyrics, Common manages once again to make music that appeals to his core audience while also catering to his newly found fans that revere him for his smooth delivery and family friendly word choices. He even throws in a pop-culture reference or two for good measure. “She said you look like you rap—where’s your bling-eh/ And your clothes is tight, but you don’t seem gay/I said, ‘Naw, that’s dude from N*SYNC-eh.”

Finding Forever is a breath of fresh air in an environment that’s full of “snapping fingers” and “walking-out.” It’s clear that Common’s aim was to pull hip-hop fans away from such music in the same way as Nas and other conscious rappers, and towards what they would call real hip-hop.

Short and concise, Finding Forever is a solid album. Each song has the ability to nod heads while simultaneously place hands on chins and stroke beards. Still, while he is well on his way to “finding forever,” he has several miles to go before he’s selling as many records as a Jay-Z or a 50 Cent.

tuckerl1@lasalle.edu