The C in Common may stand for consistency, but it can also stand for Confused. If you had any doubts that Common has a slight identity crisis, give Universal Mind Control a spin and then get back to me. Common's gone from a guy who perfected the art of traditional hip hop records, to a Neo-soul softie, to a man of the people, to a guy who does random appearances in random movies, to whatever the hell he was on Universal Mind Control. Common's ninth studio album, 2011's The Dreamer, The Believer, promised a more familiar Common; the guy we all grew to admire and respect. But it wasn't without it's fair share of gimmickry.

If you want to make an impact in the entertainment industry, whether it be sports, radio, or even music, one of the methods that people have used is going after the top dog. Unless you've been sleeping under a mountain range, you know Drake is the hottest rapper in the game right now. Common decided to set a big bullseye on the Canadian soap star and engage in a verbal battle with the lead single "Sweet", where Common gets at Drake for making soft, bubble-gum pop love songs and pretending to be a tough guy. Unless you're one of those hardcore anti-radio rap nerd virgins who have your head so far up Common's arse you can taste his kufi or you haven't been around and aren't familiar with Common, you can quickly realize the absolute absurdity of this. The fact that a man who's released songs like "The Light" and "Come Close", two of the softest, downright candy-ass love songs in the history of hip hop can call Drake out for the same thing he did decades prior is a joke. A sad joke. Common I got three words For ya: Mid Life Crisis. Funny thing is that besides all of that, I think "Sweet" is a BANGER!!!!!

For the most part though, The Dreamer, The Believer is a creative renaissance for the Chi-Town hero. Overall, it's not as good as ANY of his 90s classics or Finding Forever, there are plenty of moments on the album that showcase that entity. Highlights include the agressive "Ghetto Dreams", where Common and Nas, two of the best street poets around, collab on a cut that reminds me why I love this kind of lyricism so much. "Cloth" falls into the "soft love song" category and tells a really fun story backed by No I.D.'s smooth synths. Common has always been one of the more positive emcees, and it really shows on "Celebrate", which can be summed up in one word: fun. Ironically, the song right after, "Windows", sounds like it BELONGS on a Drake album: sombre piano, singing, female-oriented, etc. Think of it as Common's "Black Girl Lost". As far as powerful, methodical, and hell, I'll say it, GENIUS, lyricism goes, "The Believer" is Common at his absolute best:

"Body language of a nation going through changes
The young become dangerous, pain gets spent into anger
Anger gets sent through the chamber,
It's tough when your own look like strangers
We are the sons of gangsters and stone rangers
If he could how would Ernie Barnes paint us
Look at the picture, hard not to blame us
But time forgives and the Chi where the young die often
Do they end up in a coffin because we haven't taught them?"

It's like "Rule" from Nas. This album is coming off more and more like his Stillmatic every time I bump it.

The Dreamer, The Believer is both literally and figuratively Resurrection as the album finds Common not only returning to form and being reborn with positive and conscious hip hop after the atrocity that was Universal Mind Control, but the album is also entirely produced by No I.D., the man responsible for Resurrection. That album title is much more fitting here. With only one missteps in the form of "Blue Sky" (and the song doesn't even suck, it's just OK), you've got bonafied G.O.O.D. Music, no pun intended. Even still, Lonnie Lynn has made me a Believer once again - pun intended.


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Track List & Rating

1. The Dreamer f/ Maya Angelou (****)
2. Ghetto Dreams f/ Nas (*****)
3. Blue Sky (***)
4. Sweet (*****)
5. Gold (****)
6. Lovin' I Lost (****)
7. Raw (How You Like It) (****)
8. Cloth (*****)
9. Celebrate (*****)
10. Windows (*****)
11. The Believer f/ John Legend (*****)
12. Pop's Belief Outro

4 Stars

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