Common: Be Vinyl 2LP
$32.95
<p><i>Looks like Common has finally got his shit straight for real.</i> No half-hippy experimental junks this time around, <em>Be</em> returns us to prime time <a href="https://www.turntablelab.com/search?type=article%2Cpage%2Cproduct&q=Common&_=pf&pf_v_artist_manufacturer=Common&pf_v_artist_manufacturer=August%20Greene" target="_blank"><strong>Common</strong></a>- the one who has just the right mix of fire, emotion (aka that soft shit), politics, and regular old raps. <a href="https://www.turntablelab.com/search?type=article%2Cpage%2Cproduct&q=Kanye+West" target="_blank"><strong>Kanye</strong></a> produced the hell out of this too (everything except for two tracks- which are <a href="https://www.turntablelab.com/search?type=article%2Cpage%2Cproduct&q=Dilla" target="_blank"><strong>Dilla</strong></a>'s, not a bad handoff). If you aren't a fan of either of these guys, this record certainly isn't going to convert you, but if you're even mildly into them, <em>Be</em> is something of a pinnacle combination. It's thankfully concise at 11 tracks (fuck a double album), and every track on here has merit. Here's more than half of em: lead singles "The Corner" and "Go," the live version of "The Food" from <em>The Chapelle Show</em>, throwback favorite "Chi-City," "Faithful" and the <strong>Jay Dee</strong>-produced "It's Your World." The whole thing just comes off as super clean, and damn near flawless. Recommended.</p> <ul> <li>black double vinyl pressing</li> <li>original release year: 2005</li> <li>music label: Geffen 2023</li> </ul> <h6>reviewed by the mgmnt 08/2005</h6>