Common - Be
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Free Music Notes for Be
Free Music Review: Common has Real Style
Hit: 4 Stars
I first heard Common rap with Kanye West on Chappelle's Show, though I had heard his names many times before that. For a long time I ignored him, thinking his style wouldn't match my tastes. But after the performance on Chappelle's Show, one in which he stole the show from Kanye West, I decided to take a chance with him and bought Be, his latest album.
I was not disappointed. Be has style, and varies across the board from traditional raps with street beats like what's found in "The Corner" to sentimental beats and lyrics heard in "Love Is." Plus, the raps he does with Kanye are what you'd expect from the two. It even has the song that caught my attention in the first place, the Chappelle's Show performance, complete with Dave Chappelle doing the introduction.
Though all the songs are good, there are a few that stand above the others. The opening song, "Be," which is really an intro, plays slowly, with new sounds joining in every twenty or so seconds, until finally, a minute in, Common starts his rap. "The Corner" is a traditional rap song sung with a street beat in the background. "Testify" is a song so relevant to the times that it's easy to think of some of the athletes today. And finally, "The Food" from Chappelle's Show is as classic a street rap as I've heard in a long time, with Kanye and Common alternating verses, but with Common easily stealing the show.
This is a solid CD for any fan of Kanye West of Common. Also, if you're a fan of The Roots, like I am, then I'd also recommend this to you as it is a similar style. The only problem is there are only eleven songs on the album, but perhaps that was a good thing, since Common seems unwilling to commercialize to fill a CD like some of the other great rappers are starting to resort to.
Free Music Review: Overhyped and overrated
Hit: 1 Stars
I listened to this CD with an open mind I personally thought it was a failure in every way possible. The beats on here are weak by Kanye's standard and Common's performance was really bad too. Not to mention the song "Go" was incredibly annoying and is most certainly one of the worst songs of the year. The only good song was "Testify". I can understand why people would like this as an alternative to the booty and gangsta rap acts of today but it's not a good alternative. If you want a good rap album that's not gangsta or booty get "Late Registration".Free Music Review: Great...Mainstream Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
This album excels in most every category. The beats are great, very musical, almost as good as something you would hear from great underground artist like Insight or One.Be.Lo. They are full of real instruments and great drum patterns, very remiscent of The Roots first cds and Tribe Called Quest Cds, very jazz-like.
The lyrics are equally as good as the beats. Common spits great rhymes and his subject matter mostly revolves around socially concience subjects mostly dealing with black people and their place in society. Other songs, like "Testify" deal with how corrupt the judicial system is. Common has a very unique flow and uses it well. This album is a classic when stacked up against mainstream rap, thats saying a lot though because mainstream rap is getting better in 2005. Common could hardly be compared to Kanye West, they have very distinct styles, one or two of the beats may remind you of Kanye West but only a few, you wont feel like your listening to a Kanye West record.
Free Music Review: Not as good as Ressurrection.....
Hit: 3 Stars
First, this album is not nearly as great as Common's early work, Ressurrection. And NO, I do NOT want him to do another Ressurection. He can't repeat the past of course, but this album is missing a raw passion and genuine creativity as a whole. It may be better than many other "Hip Hop" albums out there, but comparing Common to Common and not Common to "the others", he can do better than this. I didn't like how Kanye West was all over the album. On most tracks he's doing backing vocals or rapping or somehow, "lending" his voice. I know he was the executive producer of the album, but damn. Who's album is this anyways?? Common or Kanye's? Sit down, Kanye and do your work from the BACK SEAT. I want to hear Common's raw energy and creative spirit shine through. Also, Kanye's trademark (and by now old & tired) chipmunk voices additions need to GO! There was also heavy sampling on this album. Hearing old stuff recycled and made *fresh* is OK, but genuinely NEW material is better. Lyrically, Common still has it, just too many weak points on songs, but he DOES have it. This album is not bad though. It's more than OK, but doesn't keep the flame going..and it's too short. My favorite tracks are (in that order):
1. Be(Intro) (love the acoustic bass)
2. The Corner
3. Chi City
4. The Food
Free Music Review: Put the Mic down
Hit: 3 Stars
A banging Album, but it should be noted that Kanye can not mc. Although the producing is spot on; someone has to tell this man to put the mic down as it is nothing short of cringe-worthy (The food being a prime example). If it weren't for some of the guest Emceeing/Vocals this Album would be a deffinate 4 star effort - Common tears it apart and despite Kanye West now and then butting in it's a must buy for anyone down with proper Hip Hop.