To just “be” seems so general, yet, strangely specific doesn’t it? Apparently, the album, previously called “Basement Evolution,” was Common just be-ing. How do we know this? He is in, no doubt, an ultra comfort zone with Chicago brethren, Kanye West, throughout the entire album. Aside from two masterful tracks produced by the late J Dilla, West handles all the production and this plays a big role in helping Common elevate with Be; as a commercial success, as a lyrical success, as a production success, and as an overall tremendous album.
While Resurrection and Like Water for Chocolate are lyrically superior to Be, this 2005 album has something the aforementioned two didn’t have, Kanye West. The “Be” intro is not only one of West’s best productions, but, it is arguably the best track on the album with its only flaw being that it isn’t long enough. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, as West provides Common with a familiar backdrop that mentor, No ID, presented Lonnie with back in the day. “Real People” and “The Food” are easily in the same vain of atmosphere and ambition as “Resurrection” and “Invocation.”
Common’s rhymes on “The Corner” are about as vivid as an outlook of the streets get:
Black church services, murderers, Arabs serving burger it’s
Cats with gold permanents move they bags as herbalist
The dirt isn’t just fertile its people working & earning this
The curb-getters go where the cash flow & the current is
It’s so hot that niggas burn to live the furnace is
Where the money move & the determined live
We talk play lotto & buy German beers
It’s so black packed with action that’s affirmative
The corners
Rarely can an artist channel something the way Common does, let alone develop the double entendres and unravel a whole stereotype into a reality like he does here. While “The Corner” is scary good, “Testify” is the most unique. Even though this is one of the most torrid and boring live performances of a song I’ve ever witnessed, the song certainly can stand on its own with its interesting story and creative revelation.
“Love Is…” and “It’s Your World” are both J Dilla produced and tracks that remain relevant in the Common-Jay Dee musical relationship. The former is so beautiful due to its Marvin Gaye sample usage and the lyrical soul that Common leaks all over the track. The latter is inspirational, futuristic and vintage all at the same time. The instrumental is charming and fitting, especially when combined with rhymes like: “In the age of Kane and Big Daddy/ shown by the Caddy’s/ Uncles named Larry, that really never grabbed me/ My mother gave birth but she really never had me.”
There isn’t necessarily a large flaw in Be. In fact, next to the album that came before it, this could very well be the best post-2000 album released. Aside from the intro, the album is missing another stand out beat, another banger. However, Be isn’t looking for that club knocker or that ‘one’; its looking for complexity in its completeness, in its unity and lastly, in its being. Lyrically, its appeal from the sensual (and appropriate) “Go” to the Chicago anthem, “Chi-City,” is so varied that it is hard to not get what you might want. The fact is this album is the perfect blend of 11 appetizers fulfilling the ear drums of listeners enough that a main course isn’t needed. Though, in retrospect, you may find yourself still going back for plenty of more servings.
94/100
Standout Tracks:
“Be”
“It’s Your World”
“The Corner”
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
This is probably my favorite Common album, and the opening track is one of the best verses he’s ever spit..
From the jump..
“I want to be as free as the spirits of those who left
I’m talking Malcom, Coltrane, my man Yusef
Through death through conception
New breath and resurrection
For moms, new steps in her direction”
“The chosen one from the land of the frozen sun
Where drunk nights get remembered more than sober ones
Walk like warriors, we were never told to run
Explored the world to return to where my soul begun
Never lookin back or too far in front of me
The present is a gift and I just wanna BE!”
Wow, mesmorizing.
‘Be’ is perfect. It’s a linear, beginning to end, beautiful journey. For me, it’s the modern day ‘What’s Going On’.
Amazing.
“BE” IS A GREAT ALBUM. NOT MY ALL TIME FAVORITE FROM COM, BUT IT’S DEFINITELY UP THERE. MY ONLY COMPLAINT WAS THAT IT JUST SEEMED TOO SHORT FOR ME. COMMON ISN’T AN ARTIST THAT DROPS EVERY YEAR SO WHEN HE COMES OUT I’M LOOKING FOR LIKE 16-17 TRACKS.
quality, not quantity drew!
16-17 tracks?!?!? That’s way too much for one album Drew. Unless you wanna add skits and filler. I’m sorry, I’ll take Be as it is.
94!!! Are you CRAZY! This album was not that tight. Deez no disrespect, you are the worst album reviewer on the internet.Just kidding. But you have the weirdest criteria for grading albums. How can an album have one standout beat and be above a 70? If this was another artist (or producer) you would probably would have trashed it. Freedie C got it right with Like Water for Chocolate(94). Sometimes I think you give scores super high scores(or super low scores) just to raise an eyebrow. This album was 75 at best. Don’t get me wrong, there were GOOD joints on this. But as a whole, not a very good album. Too watered down IMO.
no disrespect Deez
Be and Encore are kanYe’s two best beats.
I think the shortness of the intro is one of its best attributes coz it makes u crave for more, which ultimately makes it more satisfying to listen to everytime!!
Be and Go! are two of the best hip hop songs of the decade
Interesting.
I usually wouldn’t comment, but I will.
How many albums have gotten over a 90 for me? Let alone over an 80? That makes this album extra special right?
There honestly aren’t any stand out beats, but the fact is that the production matches whats said so much. And who am I kidding, Faithful or Corner or Be aren’t stand outs on any other album?
I raise enough eye brows, i don’t really need a score to do that for me.
To say this album is a 75 would have to make you say some pretty negative things about it. To say its watered down its also very silly. Watered down is his latest album, not this one… this was extremely sharply crafted
to say that “go” is one of the best hip hop songs of the decade is kinda funny too lol
and even to say that encore is one of Kanye’s best beats is kinda funny
I’m with Deez on this one. Be is definitely in my top 10 hip hop albums of all time… maybe even top 5. I would really like to know your criteria for this not being a good album.
And I’m with Jason on “Encore” too. Not only is it one of Kanye’s best beats, but it’s one of Jay’s best tracks. Yo, listen to the original sample Kanye crafted “Encore” from. It was a reggae song! He really did something special with it.
I’m glad you commented.
The reason why I called it watered down because it’s a very stripped down. Calling this album “extremely sharply crafted” is a little over-board. It’s more raw than anything. More of a ol school vibe. You know, kinda throwback. Nothing really stands out. And that’s the problem. I can’t put this album in my Top 10 (or 25 for that matter) because I don’t have any urge to want to listen to any of the songs. I think all the backlash he received from Electric Circus (his most progressive album)made him too scared to follow his natural progression as an artist. Thus, I believe he put together something more digestible (BE). DON’T GET ME WRONG IT’S NOT A BAD JOINT. I just expected more from him.
But at the end of the day it’s just my opinion. I can’t really put a score on this man’s art. I still rolls wit Com and respect his music.
Top Common Albums IMO
Resurrection
Like Water
One Day
Electric Circus
Can I Borrow a Dollar
Be
Finding Forever
still checkin out Universal Mind Control
What’s more natural than something as personal as “BE”ing. I mean, that’s pretty much what this album is…It’s extremely personal and flavourful.
I understand your opinion, but I can’t understand why you think so lowly of it, I thought it was universally accepted.
A tournament was ran for the top albums post 2000. The top 2 albums, based on votes/points, etc, 1. Was Like Water and 2. was Be. Very respective and although its not my choice, They both would be in my top 7-10
I also think putting “Can I Borrow a Dollar” that high is a little suspicious. He had not matured, and much of his stuff was hunger. He was like Eminem on Infinite. He’s saying a lot of stuff, but nothing made sense and nothing connected. It was a lot of gibberish back and forth.
As person that had Can I Borrow a Dollar within weeks of it’s release (thanks to cuzo from the Chi), I can put it that high on my Common classics. Like you said the hunger on that album was through the roof. Was it perfect?HELL NAW!But for it’s time it was something different, almost playful. It didn’t age well but it was one hell of a ride. I like that tho. Hunger. The game needs more of it. I roll with people that have been supporting Common since Borrow. Common wasn’t a discovery down the road. I didn’t have to go back and listen to his older albums. Not to say that the people who discovered Common later on opinions are less important. Because I think it’s equally important. I just look at it a little different,maybe a little skewed.
It’s not that I think low of Be. It’s just that I think he took a step back to place he had already been.Which is fine, but it kinda threw me off.
one of my favorite albums of all time. no doubt.
ahhh… some good ol’ fashion CONFLICT… haha.. builds relationships… haha
Yo, Deez and 80s baby both have great points and its a fascinating argument, but no one has pointed out that 80s Baby’s first comment was about not rating things justly and objectively, and then goes on to call Deez the ‘worst album reviewer on the internet’…
Do the math!
“but no one has pointed out that 80s Baby’s first comment was about not rating things justly and objectively, and then goes on to call Deez the ‘worst album reviewer on the internet’…
Do the math!”
let me point out the fact you missed the “Just Kidding” conveniently placed after said comment.
Do the Math Flames
try reading the whole comment bloke
Whoops, that what I get for sneaking onto Kev’s site at work and flying through the comments!! Accept my apologies, 80’s!!!!
Math is done.
More insight like 80’s is what differences our blog from other blogs.
While I don’t agree with it, I enjoy it
fact is, I am the worst reviewer on the net
I love this place. I can actually agree to disagree with people. Hard to do around the “interwebs”
Much respect to
Deez and Flames, both stand-up guys in my book
80’s, have a great Christmas and I hope you enjoy Kev’s site. Hip hop discussions are the way forward.
Bam.
This is definitely one of my favorite Common albums!
Excellent review. Keep it up!
Be a 75? Be a 94?
I disagree with both. The album although has GREAT moments also gets blah at points and is a bit too “lovey-dovey” for me at times. But the album thru and thru is still worth a grade of say…90 (I dont get what makes it a 94 instead of a 95…). The production is stellar thru out but as mentioned I find the “love” is a bit too much at points. The album has some super replay joints and then some I cant be bothered with (The Food…I HATE live tracks on a cd, unless its a live album).
Solid review though.
And “Be” is perfect in length. I think if it was longer it would take away from its genious (might easily be one of the best rap songs Ive ever heard).
classic, this album STILL give me goose bumps