Common – Finding Forever

Where its predecessor “Be” left off, “FF” continues. It's not quite as dense and fresh as C´s return from the experimental "Circus" and offers a few weaker tracks in between, "Break My Heart" is perhaps the king of them and musically lame, even almost annoying, "Misunderstood" also kind of languishes, but the longplayer also contains a few really good compositions, some of which sound a lot like Mr. Kanye, chipmunks and stuff, also the spiritual "Forever Begins", "The People" is quite a catchy tune, "Southside" also kicks. Overall, the work is quite balanced, at times very soulful, which Common should develop more and more in the coming years, but also a bit ambivalent after all. However, Common has enough strength and tools to keep it classy and well together. In between we have one of those big hip hop nods, namely "The Game", unofficially but unmistakably made by DJ Premier. The already ed away Dilla also contributed or left behind a beat, although it doesn't blow me away, like many of his productions. Yes, I think he's slightly overrated ... But it still contributes to the quality of the overall result, so "FF" is surely not Common's magnum opus, but still an experience worth listening to.

Com plus Ye with a bit of Dilla sprinkled on top proved to be a winning combination on “Be”. This is the follow up, two years have past and its unfortunately not on the same level by any stretch of the imagination. It does however hold a few heaters. “The People” first and foremost is amazing! Words can not describe how great the synths from Gil Scott-Heron’s “We Almost Lost Detroit” sounds on here. Another true highlight is “So Far To Go” produced by Dilla who chops up The Isley Brothers to great effect. These two songs belong to the best Common has ever recorded and that’s really saying something! Other songs worth checking out are “U, Black Maybe”, “Southside and ”The Game”. The rest fall between just okay and nay for this fan.