When it comes to groundbreaking good hip hop, Common is a name that always comes to mind. He’s an established artist that many fans and musicians have come to respect and appreciate. For me personally, I don’t enjoy listening to thug and gangster rap and Common is a breath of fresh air both musically and lyrically. Finding Forever is his seventh studio album produced mainly by Kayne West and went on to win a Grammy. Finding Forever is pure soulful hip hop with a dash of R&B. The intro to the album throws you off course with its gentle piano and harp which flow right into the next track “Start the Show” —I always appreciate literalism. The beats and melodies are almost soothing and relaxing. This is the type of music you can listen to on a rainy day relaxing on the couch, which coincidentally, I am doing as I write this. The sounds of the rain mix with these urban beats and I can gently nod my head to each rhyme.
Guest appearances are a must in this line of work and Common does not disappoint. Lily Allen, will.i.am, Kayne, and D’Angelo all lend their voices to add a new dimension to each track. Lily Allen adds a smooth caress to the track “Drivin’ Me Wild.” Her gentle voice compliments Common’s easy going rap style creating an R&B feel to the song. D’Angelo continues that same style on the collaboration “So Far to Go.” Unfortunately, by the time you make it this far into the album it becomes somewhat tiring to listen to. Some of the songs lose their edge and it’s not nearly as interesting to listen to. I recommend listening to the album in pieces rather than one straight listen. Individually, you can appreciate the music and appreciate Common’s style. However, listening to Finding Forever straight through is burdensome. It’s easy to get distracted if you’re not in the right state of mind. Common is truly gifted and I hope to see him push the limits even further in the future.
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Track Names
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Intro
Start The Show
The People (Featuring Dwele)
Drivin’ Me Wild (Featuring Lily Allen)
I Want You (Featuring will.i.am)
Southside (Featuring Kanye West)
The Game
U, Black Maybe
So Far To Go (Featuring D’Angelo)
Break My Heart
Misunderstood
Forever Begins
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Artist: Album
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Common: Finding Forever
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Genre
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Hip Hop/Rap
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Web Links
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http://www.common-music.com
http://www.geffen.com
