Chicago’s Common teams up with fellow Windy City native and long-time sympathiser Kanye West (you may have seen them together on The Chappelle Show and heard them on Common’s last album Be).

West brings his smooth production style and knack for weaving classic soul artists into helplessly infectious sample-laced hip hop instrumentals. When married with Common’s smooth flow and his autobiographical and thoughtful rhymes, it makes for a winning formula.

With other productions from Will.I.Am and the late, great Jay Dilla, plus West and Will adding lyrics to their productions alongside a guest list of Gill Scott Heron, D’Angelo, and Lily Allen, it’s a star-studded affair that thankfully maintains the flavour of the two main creative forces, while also getting good performances from these great names.
 
This is Common at perhaps his smoothest, not as cutting as some of his previous work, but still with an insight to share and an ability to make you close your eyes and rock your head to the blissful marriage of sweet beats, vocals, grooving instrumentals and with the ability to surprise you form time to time with different instruments.

Plus, Common throws in the traditional epic last track that he puts on most albums, ending with the inspirational and uplifting ‘Forever Begins,’ featuring his Dad once again too.
 
Hopefully the name Kanye now has will draw some new fans to the undoubted wit, soul, and smooth delivery that Common has. And, all fans of either’s work should check this out – it’s a happy meeting of accessible and insightful.

Rating: 7.5/10

For comments on this review go to:
http://www.teknoscape.com.au/forums/showthread.php?p=1446457

Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Start the Show
3. The People
4. Drivin' Me Wild
5. I Want You
6. Southside
7. The Game
8. U, Black Maybe
9. So Far To Go
10. Break My Heart
11. Misunderstood
12. Forever Begins

This was a RTRFM Full Frequency album feature.

Label: Geffen/Univesal