Album Review: Common – Finding Forever
Common
Finding Forever
G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen
4.5/5
Having delivered six full length albums in a career spanning over fifteen
years, Chi-town’s most notable lyricist, Common, decided to record his
seventh LP with a certain goal in mind- Finding Forever. This aspiration, to
make timeless, memorable music, is one shared by many veteran artists hoping
to cement their place in music history. Common’s classic-esque Be (2005),
certainly displayed his eagerness to create music for the ages, and if not
thoroughly better, Finding Forever continues Common’s trend of making
genre-spanning music at a level rarely seen in hip-hop today.
Back on board to handle most of the production duties is Common’s fellow
Chi-town native, Kanye West, who duplicates his role from Be, producing
roughly 3/4 of the album. This in itself sets apart Common’s latest offering
from the batch of under-whelming music flooding hip-hop in 2007; West equals
the high standard of beat-making from Be, constantly pushing Common to
deliver high-quality bars to match the smooth production. The blasé
introduction and the subdued “Start The Show” make way for the album’s
current single “The People,” where West flips a previously used Tupac sample
(”All Bout U” from The Game’s “Wouldn’t Get Far”) to compliment Comm’s
introspective lyrics, “at the Grammys, yo they tried to India Arie me, got
backstage, and I bumped into Stevie, he said no matter what, the people
gonna see me//Can’t leave rap alone, the streets need me, hunger in they
eyes, is what seems to feed me.” The jazzy tones of “Black Maybe” are a
stark contrast from the funky synths on “I Want You,” where Common’s
seductive lyrics don’t quite do Will.I.Am’s beat much justice with lines
like, “thoughts take me, to when we were close, addicted to your love, feel
I need another dose.”
The Lily Allen-assisted “Drivin’ Me Wild” is a surprise highlight, as the UK
vocalist meshes a dreamy hook with West’s piano-dripping production and
Common’s thoughtful commentary on individuality and relationships. However,
the sampled falsetto vocals and mediocre love-story-raps on “Break My Heart”
are somewhat under-whelming, but Common then launches into the hard-hitting “The Game,” which features the legendary DJ Premier providing cuts that help Kanye set the tone for the dark verbal assault: “They tried to back me in like Cassius, Clay, hey I’m like Mohammad when he fasted//opposing the
fascists, made cuts and got gashes, scratches over third eye-lashes//punchlines are like jab hits to rappers, who’s careers are now
ashes, they’re too many slashes, in his name.”
Kanye’s co-producer of “Diamonds From Sierra Leone,” Devo Springsteen,
smartly utilizes a Nina Simone sample on the moody “Misunderstood” before
Common effectively closes things out with the uplifting gem “Forever
Begins”. Here, West rehashes the gospel stylings of yester-year,
complimenting the reminiscing lyrics of Lonnie Lynn, the man behind the
rapper, “It was in the wind when she said Dilla was gone, that’s when I knew
he’d live forever through song.” The great effort with which Common and
Kanye West create music is crystal clear on Finding Forever, as they craft
an album that exemplifies just why they will be remembered for years,
perhaps even generations to come.
Suggestion Box
July 24th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
This cd is on point. Once I got to actually listen to it, it was crazy. Its definately gonna be bought when it drops.
July 24th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Common is the shit man i will buy that the first day
July 24th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
THIRD BITCH! LOL
July 24th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
ITS GONNA B CRAZY….The Kanye West Mixed tape is fiya too!!! Did you hear Kanye told Fif, he’s not movin…from Sept 11th…He said hip-hop needs an exciting day….Dont know bout ya’ll but Im definntly coppin both fuck it.1
July 24th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Imma buy but no1 cares about the kanye and fif shit niggaz gonna cop both…stop giving kanye head
July 24th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Great review. The album is one of the best of the decade. Smart move by Common to make it short, sweet, and full of insight. Definitely purchasing this next Tuesday. Summer’s finest so far.
July 24th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
co-sign #1 and #2 downloaded it but haven’t had time to listen to it properly but im not worried cus i know its the shit NINJAS. I’ll def buy the album to support him.
July 24th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
ye i didnt buy an album for a minute…. the last was from nas…. i remember dem days wen i used to buy albums left n right n dey were gud…… common is on point so its worth buyin…
July 24th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Common’s new LP is gonna undoubtedly be one of the best albums this year. I cant wait to put that shit in my car, spark a spliff, and just ride to it. Music like his is blissful, true to the heart, real hip hop. I’ll be one of the first to cop. Shit is gonna be the TRUTH.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
dang! if u love BE then get this one too! mang this is some good ass ish! hip-hop ain’t dead, just sometimes! don’t compare this type of hip hop to any other. coz this is the somewhere in a genre between real hip hop, conscious rap, properly produced hip hop. see I ain’t even putting the popular styles of hip hop that u can find on the billboard against it. u can NOT compare them to it.
TRACKS…..: 12
PLAYTiME…: 49:58
coulda been more/longer though
July 24th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Common is a tru artist, the epitome of hip-hop. Then him is Kanye together is just sometjin grreat. Def gon cop nex tuesday.
July 24th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
FLOP!
July 24th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
definitely gon cop his shit
July 24th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
definitely gon cop his shit whenit drops
July 24th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
#3 ur name is my new catch phrase…thanx for the inspiration
July 24th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Yea Got to listen to it also a few days ago and its a winner…Def Classic support it u wont be dissapointed..the follow up to BE the last album he dropped last year its BE part 2 to me..
July 24th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Common and Kanye are a match made in heaven, no John Amechi. Without those 2 its not to many out there that would be making quality music cop that July 31!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 24th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
FLOP!!!!!!!
July 24th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Im feelin what MiMi said this shit just make you feel good. and its does feel like Be part 2
July 24th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Common got the respect of averybody and almost anybody can mess with him lirycally so i hope he do well and i will support him
July 24th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
yo samir, although i may not agree with all your reviews, i will admit that your writing style is superb…Its informative without being too jargon-ized…but on the topic of “Finding Forever” – i plan on downloading this cd, however, if its as classic as all you claim it is, then i’ll shell out the $13 to get the actual cd…i support Common and the struggle to revive hip hop
July 24th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
this is gonna be my first CD purchase of the year
i see the album already on the internet but i’m patiently waiting till the release date..
July 24th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
I appreciate the feedback Jince
July 25th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Yo I’ve been bumpin this album everyday for a week, its so iLL and creative. Its such a breath of fresh air just listen to so real music with content I can relate to. PLEASE COP THIS ALBUM JULY 31ST…..
July 25th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Common is the truth. One of my favorite rappers and he has been underrated for most of his career. I can’t wait to get this album
July 27th, 2007 at 6:53 pm
It’s hot all the way through. Common never seems to fail, he explores different paths, but never falls. This is real hip hop. I’m a Chicago-en myself and I hate to be bias but the Chi is bring real hip hop back with Common, Kanye and Lupe. Hopefully more will follow.
July 29th, 2007 at 12:34 am
This is one of the most soulful hip-hop albums you will ever buy in your life sublime. Kanye is so on point with production duties…Peeps do yourself a favour buy the album.
August 1st, 2007 at 12:09 pm
This CD was great. Some tracks fall off a lil bit, but for the most part is comes in just behind BE. It’s hard to top an album like that.
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:27 am
I live in the UK & there is currently a postal strike I have 2 wait 2 weeks for it to be delievered to mine. I’m reisting downloading the album