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”
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“It’s Your World”
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“The Corner”
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Related posts:
- Common: Electric Circus
- Common: Cool Common Collected
- Common: Be [Original Dilla Version]
- Common Sense: 1991 Demo Tape
- Common: Like Water For Chocolate
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