Common: Like Water For Chocolate

When Common is mentioned, most will bring up Be and Resurrection as his superior works, and deservedly so, but something about Like Water for Chocolate makes it a very personal and enjoyable listen. Common‘s lyrics, which range from passionate to humorous; the soulful production from J Dilla, ?uestlove, and the Soulquarians; and the guest appearances by luminaries such as MC Lyte, Black Though, Cee-Lo, Mos Def, and D’Angelo all combine to create one of the most pleasurable albums of the new millennium.

As far as the album’s content goes, Common gives you what you would expect: socially conscious rhymes and progressive thoughts. But in a great show of self-awareness, Common hilariously shuns his image as a “conscious rapper” by delving into content that would seem at home on a Death Row Records album. The last minute of “The 6th Sense” exemplifies Common‘s new found sense of humor, but familiar genius. It leads to a back-and-forth with MC Lyte on “A Film Called (Pimp),” which explores a fascinating dynamic between a pimp and a potential employee, only to have her flip it on him. Similarly, “Payback is a Grandmother” has Common ready to do dirt in retaliation for his grandmother’s assault and robbery. These themes are outside of the box that many hip hop heads put Common in, but in no way does he seem uncomfortable or the songs feel forced.

And when Common does go with his “conscious” raps, he delivers. “A Song for Assata” gives a history lesson of the trials (literally and figuratively) endured by former Black Panther Assata Shakur. Aside from being masterfully composed by J Dilla, “Nag Champa” addresses hip hop and how Common sees it by paying tribute to its rich history. Staying on the hip-hop theme, his last verse on the DJ Premier-produced “6th Sense” remains relevant and one of Common‘s best verses of his long career. Any mention of this album should be accompanied by a reference to its shining moment, “The Light.” J Dilla beautifully samples Bobby Caldwell‘s “Open Your Eyes” and there have been fewer instances in hip hop history where a beat perfectly fits the lyrics this well.

This album proved to be Common‘s breakthrough, as the album went gold and gained him considerable acclaim. Be, of course, will be known as his ascension to the mainstream, heavily in thanks to Kanye, but that would be impossible without the foundation that Like Water for Chocolate laid down.

94/100

Standout Tracks:

“The 6th Sense”

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“Nag Champa”

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“The Light”

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