Album: Like Water For Chocolate
Artist: Common
Born: South Side, Chicago, Illinois
Released: March 2000
Genre: Hip Hop
Sounds like a cliché, but I do think Common put the soul back into hip hop at the start of the last decade. Like Water For Chocolate's cover photo is a clear indication of this album's themes, and throughout there's a sense of consciousness and engagement in issues affecting America's black community. The album was Common's breakthrough release in the States, as part of a new collective of artists called the Soulquarians, including former Native Tongues members Q-Tip, Talib Kweli and Mos Def. Questlove was the name of the producer behind several high-profile albums by Soulquarians, including The Roots' Things Fall Apart (1999), D'Angelo's Voodoo (2000) and Erykah Badu's Mama's Gun (2000). Like Water For Chocolate shares a similar ethos with these albums, putting an emphasis on tales of urban deprivation, but also inspiring stories of success. Common draws on soul, jazz and funk to create a sophisticated sound reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest, and the album benefits from a host of high-profile collaborators. Soul singer Bilal features on 6th Sense, which was released as a single just prior to the album, and Common references Gil Scott-Heron in the opening lines. The hard-hitting beats are provided by Gang Starr's DJ Premier, while Common's thoughtful lyrics flow smoothly ("I just want to innovate and stimulate minds").
6th Sense also makes a contemporary pop culture reference, "I'm Morpheus in this hip hop Matrix / exposing fake shit", and highlights the unfavourable portrayal of women in rap music (with an ironic skit involving meeting a fan). Common is constantly striving for authenticity, and this desire is reflected in the Afrocentric themes of album opener, Time Travelin' (A Tribute To Fela), which involves Fela Kuti's son Femi and singer Vinia Mojica. The following track, Heat, includes a sample of Asiko by Tony Allen, one of the pioneers of Afrobeat along with Fela Kuti, and sets up a battle rap between Common and others. Some of my favourite moments on the record are The Light (influenced by Erykah Badu), The Questions, Geto Heaven Part II and A Song For Assata. The Light was released as a single and raised Common's profile in summer 2000, thanks to its uplifting sound and love letter lyrics ("It's important we communicate / and tune the fate of this union, to the right pitch"). The Questions features a brilliant vocal performance from Mos Def, while Geto Heaven Part II is enhanced by the soulful singing of D'Angelo. Song For Assata has the best star performance of all though, by Cee-Lo Green, as he sings about the trial and imprisonment of Assata Shakur (Black Panther member and godmother of 2Pac). Essential stuff; Common's Be album is also worth checking out.
Sounds like a cliché, but I do think Common put the soul back into hip hop at the start of the last decade. Like Water For Chocolate's cover photo is a clear indication of this album's themes, and throughout there's a sense of consciousness and engagement in issues affecting America's black community. The album was Common's breakthrough release in the States, as part of a new collective of artists called the Soulquarians, including former Native Tongues members Q-Tip, Talib Kweli and Mos Def. Questlove was the name of the producer behind several high-profile albums by Soulquarians, including The Roots' Things Fall Apart (1999), D'Angelo's Voodoo (2000) and Erykah Badu's Mama's Gun (2000). Like Water For Chocolate shares a similar ethos with these albums, putting an emphasis on tales of urban deprivation, but also inspiring stories of success. Common draws on soul, jazz and funk to create a sophisticated sound reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest, and the album benefits from a host of high-profile collaborators. Soul singer Bilal features on 6th Sense, which was released as a single just prior to the album, and Common references Gil Scott-Heron in the opening lines. The hard-hitting beats are provided by Gang Starr's DJ Premier, while Common's thoughtful lyrics flow smoothly ("I just want to innovate and stimulate minds").
6th Sense also makes a contemporary pop culture reference, "I'm Morpheus in this hip hop Matrix / exposing fake shit", and highlights the unfavourable portrayal of women in rap music (with an ironic skit involving meeting a fan). Common is constantly striving for authenticity, and this desire is reflected in the Afrocentric themes of album opener, Time Travelin' (A Tribute To Fela), which involves Fela Kuti's son Femi and singer Vinia Mojica. The following track, Heat, includes a sample of Asiko by Tony Allen, one of the pioneers of Afrobeat along with Fela Kuti, and sets up a battle rap between Common and others. Some of my favourite moments on the record are The Light (influenced by Erykah Badu), The Questions, Geto Heaven Part II and A Song For Assata. The Light was released as a single and raised Common's profile in summer 2000, thanks to its uplifting sound and love letter lyrics ("It's important we communicate / and tune the fate of this union, to the right pitch"). The Questions features a brilliant vocal performance from Mos Def, while Geto Heaven Part II is enhanced by the soulful singing of D'Angelo. Song For Assata has the best star performance of all though, by Cee-Lo Green, as he sings about the trial and imprisonment of Assata Shakur (Black Panther member and godmother of 2Pac). Essential stuff; Common's Be album is also worth checking out.
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