Common is one of the very rare emcees you find in modern hip-hop who actually stands up against practically all of his peers and takes a very unique perspective on life. This Chicago based emcee is widely recognised as one of the most insightful, literate and skilled emcees in the whole of hip-hop. Not only does he possess this creative guns, he’s famous for integrating laid-back jazzy rhythms into his quirky lyrics and beats.

Having released several critically acclaimed LP’s, including his gangsta rap denouncing, critically acclaimed breakthrough album One Day It’ll All Make Sense - released in 1997, in 1999 Common released his latest LP Like Water For Chocolate. Featuring the stellar production team of the Soulquarians (D’Angelo, Jay Dee, ?uestlove and James Poyser), and several leading jazz/soul/hip-hop stars, Like Water For Chocolate is a very unique album.

Track Listing.

1. Time Travelling (A tribute to Fela). (****)
2. Heat. (****)
3. Cold Blooded. Feat. Rahzel. (***)
4. Dooinint. (*****)
5. The Light. (*****)
6. Funky For You. (****)
7. The Questions. Feat. Mos Def (****)
8. Time Travelin’(reprise)
9. The 6th Sense. (*****)
10. A Film Called (Pimp)
11. Nag Champa (Aphrodisiac For The World). (*****)
12. Thelonius. Feat. Slum Village. (***)
13. Payback Is A Grandmother. (****)
14. Geto Heaven Pt. 2. Feat. Macy Gray. (***)
15. A Song For Assata. (*****)
16. Pops Rap III…All My Children

After the African sounding, Ray Hargrove trumpet assisted fest of Time Travelling, Common proves he can be intelligent, thoughtful and literate – and he also proves with Heat that he has some impressive lyrical muscles to flex. Super-producer Jay Dee (who a certain madtheory absolutely worships) provides Common with a beat that is pretty much non-existent, and slightly tedious. A slight slip there by the Soulquarian uber producer. Not that it matters, because Common absolutely rips the sh*t out of the mic with his on point lyrics. We then find Common making his stand against commercial hip-hop, attacking several prominent industry figures on Dooinit (Master P and Will Smith come to mind first). My favourite has to be the dissection of Master P as the fake thug, wack rapper, businessman over ‘musician’ that he really is….
You wasn't saying you was a thug before Pac came
Ten years ago you had a high top trying to be like Kane
Then Snoop released and it became a G thang
Claim sets, your city ain't got gangs
Ni**as hate you; they ain't paying you no attention
In a circle of fa**ots, your name is mentioned
With six degrees, I separate MC's, from a business man that's good

With most hip-hop albums, there is nearly always a single that finds favour with the public. Like Water For Chocolate is no different. Jay Dee redeems himself with the delightful, love ballad The Light. While this may have certainly suffered from overplay in the US, living in the UK as I do – I haven’t had the pleasure to listen to this smooth, keyboard led, relaxed lead single that much. Jay Dee, as well as Common, really delivers with this song. Common has always been one to defy modern hip-hop trends, as he shows with his treatment of women…
”It's important, we communicate
and tune the fate of this union, to the right pitch
I never call you my bit*h or even my boo
There's so much in a name and so much more in you”
His flow here goes through his usual quirks – it generally stays in time with the beat, but occasionally strays hopelessly off course. But the lyrics, and truly delightful production redeem. Funky For You is another one of these tracks that make Common such an intriguing personality. Assisted by the equally quirky vocals of Bilal and refreshing hook assistance from Jill Scott, Common kicks interesting lyrics over a truly funky/delightful beat (provided by Jay Dee again).

After the slightly weak, Mos Def assisted, commercial rap inquisition fest of The Questions, leading hip-hop producer DJ Premier decides to bless us with production work on The 6th Sense. Over a truly uplifting and inspirational piano loop, Common kicks his intellectual theme once again as he digs deep with his searching lyrics exploring all kinds of things to do with hip-hop, life and his own life…
I just want to innovate and stimulate minds
Travel the world and penetrate the times
Escape through rhythms in search of peace and wisdom
Raps are smoke signals letting the streets know I'm with 'em
This is my favourite track I think – the brilliant beat is positive and uplifting, the lyrics mean something and dig deep, and this combines brilliantly. Primo and Common should work together more, their styles mesh perfectly!

Female emcee MC Lyte teams up with Common for the hilarious, mocking, conversation brilliance of A Film Called (Pimp). You know who produces this relaxed, jazzy track, which accentuates the creativity and message of the track. Then Common reiterates the fact that he will never lose his positive (and unique) message and stance on hip-hop, he will never jeopardise this for commercial success, with the slow, relaxed, self-exploration of Nag Champa. More occasional off beat rapping here, but the message and lyrics of the track make up for it. The cherries on the cakes come with the Cee-Lo graced, political outcry of A Song For Assasta and the urgent storytelling of Payback Is A Grandmother.

Common does pretty much everything right with this LP. His lyrical skills are as sharp as a razor, not to mention his musings, philosophies and opinions on himself, the modern world, and the streets – whatever. His opinions are always clearly and intelligently presented, and certainly explore further than pretty much any other emcee around. The production on this LP most certainly helps – with the super relaxed, super jazzy, and super good production team of the Soulquarians behind the LP. I’m not really a fan of Jay Dee (sorry mad), but he generally comes up trumps on this LP, with the soulful, jazz infused sound of the LP. These two elements combine perfectly on this LP – Common is a class lyricist (a top 10 emcee), and his intelligence and originality mesh well with the mature production. Skits/Interludes are kept down to one interlude, and filler is non-existent. A couple of tracks don’t quite make the cut (namely Cold Blooded and Geto Heaven Part 2), but apart from that there are no other real faults here.

Like Water For Chocolate blends together soulful, jazzy beats with Commons occasionally eccentric rapping, but his intelligence, originality and brain shines through nearly all the time. He attacks commercial hip-hop, gangsta rap, makes political statements, records sensual love ballads, explores himself, explores society – and is the light at the end of the tunnel for hip-hop. Brilliant.

4.5 stars.







Recommended: Yes