We’ve compiled most of Common’s albums into sample sets here and this was a set previously compiled by Bulldog. His site (BMusicSite) has gone through a bunch of changes over the months and sadly all of his sample sets have been lost. I wanted to revisit this set anyway since I found 5 more samples that weren’t included in Bulldog’s original set. We were planning to release this next week when Common’s new LP was scheduled for release. It has since been pushed back to November.
Released on March 28, 2000, Like Water For Chocolate is Common’s 4th studio album. The album formally marked the formation of the Soulquarians, a collective composed of ?uestlove (of The Roots), Jay Dee (Dilla), keyboardist James Poyser and bassist Pino Palladino, among numerous other collaborators. This group of musicians would also be featured on Common’s next album, Electric Circus.
Although ?uestlove was the album’s executive producer, a large deal of the production work was handled Jay Dee. Common and Dilla both hailed from the Great Lakes region (Dilla from Detroit and Common from Chicago) and were good friends. The track “Thelonius” was even placed on both Like Water for Chocolate and Slum Village’s 2000 release Fantastic, Vol. 2.
Common also wanted to work with DJ Premier, citing Gang Starr as one of his favorite groups to listen to. In an interview with New Jeru Poet, Common described his motivation to work with DJ Premier:
“Like you said, being that he is one of the most respected producers, I really loved his music throughout the time. Gang Starr has always been one of my favorite groups. I’ve always wanted to work with him. It was time. I connected with him and seen him in a couple of places. I told him that I wanted to work with him. It took a little time to get up with him but eventually, we got up. That was the last song I recorded for Like Water For Chocolate. We released ‘Dooinit’ first and then the single and video for ‘The 6th Sense’. Then, we followed it up with ‘The Light’.”
- “The Days Do Not End” by Bernard Herrmann
- From the soundtrack to the movie “Taxi Driver” (1976)
- Sampled in “Time Travelin’ (A Tribute To Fela)”
- Produced by D’Angelo, ?uestlove, James Poyser & Jay Dee
- “Asiko” by Tony Allen
- From the album Blac Voices (1999)
- Sampled in “Heat”
- Produced by Jay Dee
- “Funkin For Fun” by Parliament
- From the album The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein (1976)
- Sampled in “Cold Blooded”
- Produced by D’Angelo, ?uestlove, Kelo & The Roots
- “Give It To Me Baby” by Rick James
- From the album Street Songs (1981)
- Sampled in “Dooinit”
- Produced by Jay Dee
- “Open Your Eyes” by Bobby Caldwell
- From the album Cat In The Hat (1980)
- Sampled in “The Light”
- Produced by Jay Dee
- “You’re Getting A Little Too Smart” by The Detroit Emeralds
- From the album Detroit Emeralds (1973)
- Sampled in “The Light”
- Produced by Jay Dee
- “Memories Are Here To Stay” by The Intruders
- From the album Save The Children (1973)
- Sampled in “The 6th Sense”
- Produced by DJ Premier
- “Allustrious” by Mobb Deep
- From the album Murda Muzik (1999)
- Sampled in “The 6th Sense”
- Produced by DJ Premier
- “Morning Order” by Hugh Hopper & Alan Gowen
- From the album Two Rainbows Daily (1980)
- Sampled in “Nag Champa (Afrodisiac For The World)”
- Produced by Jay Dee
- “The Payback” by James Brown
- From the album The Payback (1973)
- Sampled in “Payback Is A Grandmother”
- Produced by Jay Dee
- “Ghetto Heaven” by The Family Stand
- From the album Chain (1990)
- Sampled in “Geto Heaven Part Two”
- Produced by God
- “Next Lifetime” by Erykah Badu
- From the album Baduizm (1997)
- Sampled in “Pops Rap III… All My Children”
- Produced by Karriem Riggins
- “Water No Get Enemy” by Fela Kuti
- From the album Expensive Shit (1975)
- Sampled in “Pops Rap III… All My Children”
- Produced by Karriem Riggins
Download
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Props Kev for the missing samples that were not in my original set.
Yo, this is a dope one for sure.
I’m already cuttin’ some stuff
nice drop
gud lookin out for da extra samples..yall keep up da awesum work
massive, this is exactly what I was waiting for, as this is by far my favorite Common album and easily top 15 favorite albums of all time.
Watch out for my review, coming this week!
Primo flipped the intruders sample so hard!! sick…
Not really sure if the dooin it sample is correct… at any rate, its not the main sample…
and yes, that 6th sense sample is absolutely ridiculous – ive gotta start using my mpc more