Common is releasing his 9th studio album tomorrow entitled The Dreamer, The Believer and I am quite excited. Backstory: In the spring of 2000 a 14 year old Suit was disenchanted with hip-hop. Admittedly Ilistened to more R&B and the vestiges of the grunge scene, but I liked hip-hop. Sure Eminem, Dre, the multitude of artists in the south were hot, but no rappers spoke to me until I heard an artist by the name of Common with a single "The 6th Sense" produced by DJ Premiere. I was hooked instantly and had to purchase his album Like Water for Chocolate. I played that album front to back so many times that I had to but another copy. This made me want to research Common.

I started with his 1st album Can I Borrow a Dollar? which showed potential, but really didn't move me. I moved on to Ressurrection and I was blown away. Compared to his 1st album it was like night and day. The seminal record " I Used to love H.E.R." became an instant hip-hop classic. Then i moved to IOne Day It'll All Make Sense which sounded a lot more personal to me with songs about abortion, the birth of his daughter and religion. I say this is the album where I heard Common transform from just a hip-hop head to a man. Like Water for Chocolate follwed which led to Electric Circus.

I remember leaving high school early to pick it up from the Coconuts in Hyde park and listening on the way home. It was different to say the least. With Rock inspired beats and Common under Erykah Badu's spell I grew to respect because the rhymes were still tight. Common redeemed himslef to me when he hooked up with Kanye for Be. I feel this album encapsulates the mind of the young black male in Chicago. He fell off again with Finding Forever and I won't begin to talk about the last album, but now he's redeemed himself.

Common has come full circle hooking back up with NO ID after almost 15 years and spitting with passion. To me he's always spoke to the Chicago brother who wasn't a gansta, but also wasn't some comicbook geek. With all that I think this album has redeemed mainstream Chicago hip-hop which has been suffering this year with Lasers and WTT.

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If you don't judge my do-rag, I won't judge your red flag

The two songs Ive heard are good

sick album. This should have been his follow up after Be

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"You can kill the revolutionary, but you can't kill the revolution."

Will be downloading this tonight.

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You never miss your wealth, till your well went dry
Seem like only yesterday, you were here smiling
Now you gone away, but I know you in a better place
No traces of you, what can I do?
Alone and confused

Sweet and Raw easily my favorite tracks right now.



I’m so unassuming when i’m pursuing
the ladies, the ladies, a soldier of love like sade
so in love to this lady when this nigga tried to play me
saw me talking to slim and started acting shady
dude got foul like crack in the 80s
uh, uh, uh! you don’t wanna test this yo
you never know who got a check up in the disco
“you hollywood.” nah nigga, i’m chicago
so i cracked his head with a motherfucking bottle

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You never miss your wealth, till your well went dry
Seem like only yesterday, you were here smiling
Now you gone away, but I know you in a better place
No traces of you, what can I do?
Alone and confused