Common and Pete Rock are two no brainer G.O.A.T.s of the genre. One is an elite and thought-provoking rhymer, and the other is a highly revered and meticulous producer. Moreover, when you combine those two types of talents together, you are bound to witness greatness. If we had one word to describe this Common and Pete album, The Auditorium Vol. 1, it would be that. From track one to 15, you are getting top-notch beats and sample flips, as well as impeccable verses about your typical Common fare. If there is one theme we picked up on from the singles to this project, it is that this dynamic tandem was looking to bring back the Golden Era of hip-hop.
Generally, most fans would consider that to be 1990s decade, an era which preached a focus on creativity and mindful writing. Overall, Common and Pete Rock do a near-flawless job at recapturing that period on The Auditorium Vol. 1 and it makes for a show-stopping passion project. Throughout the rollout of this collaboration offering, Common has repeatedly preached that they were aiming to make this for the love of it all and we can hear that undoubtedly. All in all, if you are someone who did grow up in the earlier stages of hip-hop’s dominance, The Auditorium Vol. 1 is a great way to get your feet wet in the conscious hip-hop space this summer.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Common is one of the most technically-sound writers we have in hip-hop history. His wordplay, flows, and tremendous storytelling are all of the skills that separate him from most of the competition. It is part of the reason why fans of the genre as so thrilled to be receiving his new album with producer Pete Rock, The Auditorium Vol. 1, on July 12. The 15-track collaborative effort has four incredible singles out from it right now and it is looking like it will be a top-tier LP for 2024. In the meantime, though, Common is creating more buzz for their album by providing a freestyle over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”.
The future rap song of the year has the everyone around the genre in a chokehold right now. It is everywhere and thanks to its viral music video, it is looking like it will be around well after these next five months. With Common bringing his philosophical bars to the West Coast anthem, what could possibly go wrong? Well, it turns out a lot did, unfortunately. Fans did praise the Chicago veteran’s overall performance, but there were also a few skeptics out there.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) July 9, 2024
Most of the complaints centered around the fact that the words felt recited and ones that might belong to another song. Others were even claiming that Common rapped some of these bars at the Roots Picnic from last month. He did in fact hit the stage in Philadelphia and the joints he did play were made with Pete Rock, according to Billboard. Additionally, Com’s flows are pretty off compared to the tempo of the instrumental on “Not Like Us” and the hype man in the back seemed to know all of the adlibs. Maybe this was Common’s intent, especially with the album coming in just four days.
What are your thoughts on this “Not Like Us” freestyle by Common? Do you agree with the fans that this might be an unreleased song snippet? Even though it is not a conventional off-the-dome rap session, was it a great set of verses? Are you excited for him and Pete Rock’s upcoming project, The Auditorium Vol. 1? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Common and Kendrick Lamar. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the world of music.
With Common being one of the “old heads” so to speak in the current hip-hop landscape, the topics he is going to focus on are going to be different. That is especially true when you compare him to the younger crop of MCs. Obviously, the Chicago lyricist has always been a more socially conscious kind of MC. But still as you age, you start to look at life, and the choices you make, in a humbler and more grounded fashion. Common (52) is doing so on his latest single with Pete Rock, called “Fortunate”. This is one of the four album cuts released ahead of the rapper/producer project The Auditorium Vol. 1.
The collaborative tape is due on July 12, so we are just counting down the hours at this point. While fans were certainly pumped for one of the greatest MCs of the 2000s to make a comeback, the hype is even higher now. After the first of the quartet dropped, “Wise Up”, the expectations for the LP grew exponentially. Common is also on the record saying that this is a project he feels will be one of his best. We can certainly see that being the outcome and with philosophically dense cuts like “Fortunate” on the tape, it will be a sure-fire success. Over the beautifully sequenced beat from Pete, Common lists off all of things he is grateful for. Whether it be his friends, family, career, or simply living, it is breath of fresh of air and perfect for the summer.
The deliverance of diligence from which we strive It’s the feelin’—it’s no ceilin’, is when we rise Fortunate to have friends who don’t synthesize I keep good company—we enterprize Had a strong gaze since infant eyes I guess I can see the power in the prize
This past Saturday, The Roots brought the best parts of their annual festival, Roots Picnic, to the Hollywood Bowl for a special concert, Love Of My Life. Named after a song from the Philadelphia band’s 1999 fourth studio album Things Fall Apart (which was itself inspired by Common’s metaphorical 1994 storytelling track “I Used to Love H.E.R.”), the concert was dedicated to celebrating the group’s 30-year love affair with this thing called hip-hop. To that end, they recruited a slew of guests from the genre’s Golden Era to join them onstage to perform some of their greatest hits.
Arrested Development, Black Sheep, Common, Digable Planets, The Pharcyde, and Queen Latifah were all billed as performers, but throughout the evening, surprise guests ranging from Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am to an all-star roster of pioneer women in rap, including The Lady Of Rage, MC Lyte, Monie Love, and Yo-Yo, all joined The Roots on the legendary stage. And, as befits any live performance played the Philadelphian ensemble (the most recent of which I have to compare it to was their New Year’s Eve show at the Wiltern in LA just seven months ago), those hits were reinterpreted, remixed, and transformed by the addition of the live band.
When the crew launched Roots Picnic back in 2008, I felt so left out, living on the West Coast. While endless sunshine and pretty people never really gets stale, it did feel a bit like I was missing out on all the best bits of culture taking place in the northeast. As social media became more commonplace, allowed more footage from the festival to enter the public consciousness, that feeling was only intensified. For someone who counts The Roots among his most formative acts, watching Black Thought freestyle for 15 minutes on a phone screen was as exciting as it was disheartening that I couldn’t see it live.
On Saturday, I did. It was glorious. I’ve seen LeBron James play basketball in person in a high school gym in the hood (another of those perks of growing up in LA). I got the same, transformative feeling watching Tariq Trotter, a master of his craft in the same respect, do things very few other earthly powers have ever been able to come close to reproducing. When Common came out to perform “I Used To Love H.E.R.,” to see nearly 17,500 other people rap EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. was akin to a spiritual experience.
The biggest pops, though, were reserved for Queen Latifah and the cadre of hip-hop sistren who joined her for a mini-set that proved that women have always run hip-hop — and always should. Not expecting Lyte, Rage, or Yo-Yo to put in appearances, I was genuinely surprised by the surprise guest appearances. And I was awed. These women, all well into their 50s, hit every bar. The mics were ON. I get why younger artists often look like deer in the headlights at these festivals, but I’m going to recommend that you festival organizers start sending out media packages for study with the booking contracts. This is what it’s supposed to look like.
The night ended, somewhat fascinatingly, with a singalong of Black Sheep’s “The Choice Is Yours.” It was a high point, but there were so many singalong moments that could have been the finale: Thought and Com running through the title track of the evening. Arrested Development crooning “People Everyday,” Will sitting in with Pharcyde for a rendition of “Passin’ Me By,” or the Jungle Brothers popping out to perform the Native Tongues posse cut “Buddy” with more than a few of the original artists in attendance.
The best part of the show was the best part of the Roots Picnic as an event. Getting to see all these pillars of hip-hop together, not just on the same stage performing their own sets, but as a group, playing off each other, enjoying each other’s company and vibing together. That’s the one-of-a-kind experience that makes Roots Picnic one of the premiere festivals throughout the year. Even getting to sample it at an iconic venue like Hollywood Bowl? You can’t beat that with a bat.
It is safe to say that Common and Pete Rock are pouring their souls into this upcoming album, The Auditorium, Vol. 1. The July 12 release will be the first time this tandem has made a full-length effort together and so far, it has yet to disappoint. These East Coast legends have given fans two offerings from the tape, and they include “Wise Up” and “Dreamin’”. Both cuts feature incredible jazzy, boom-bap production, as well as intricate lyricism from the Be MC. However, Common and Pete Rock are apparently looking to one up themselves, as “All Kind Of Ideas” proves to be equally impressive.
Things are a little different on this single, as Pete is now laying down some bars. “Keep your top five, I’m god’s favorite producer / Sixteen bars of pressure, no metronome / Thinking outside the box, that’s a better zone“. It is clear that he wanted to deliver his best stuff as he is in fact trying to complement the lyrical mastermind that is Common. “On the mic, I’m Micah Parsons any subject I tackle / And grapple with wack dudes / And school n****s like black schools ‘cause they lack rules“, the Chicago MC spits. Pete and Common have both been thrilled to share this passion project with fans since they first teased it, and we are just as anxious them to get this out on July 12.
Listen To “All Kind Of Ideas” By Common & Pete Rock
Quotable Lyrics:
Thinking outside the box, that’s a better zone So many ideas coming out the wazoo (Uh) It’s only one of me, can never do what I do (Ayy) Past, present and future; that is timeless (Uh) Been a lot a things, but I never been rhymeless (Never) Drums like scattered showers when I rain, man (Uh-huh)
Can I be honest with you real quick? I sort of hate how much I’ve been loving Common and Pete Rock’s rollout for their album The Auditorium, Vol. 1. As a rap journalist, I’ve tried my best to excise the term “real hip-hop” from my personal lexicon, for reasons both professional and personal that basically boil down to the same goal: Not getting stuck in my ways and succumbing to the salty old head stereotype, yelling at the kids to get off my lawn.
But with the release of the video for the third single, “All Kind Of Ideas,” I realize I may never beat the old-man allegations. This is, for lack of any and every other better term, what elder millennials and gen-Xers call “real hip-hop.” Beginning with a verse from Pete Rock in which he decries top five lists and calls himself “God’s favorite producer” and featuring a neck-twisting bassline over a crackling kick-snare combination, the song hearkens back to the Golden Era in a way that makes those vinyls feel vital rather than dusty and antediluvian.
Of note is that Common, who had become a bit of a punchline over the course of the past decade, sounds as rejuvenated and focused here as he did on previously released singles “Wise Up” and “Move Your Spirit.” Contrary to Questlove’s dire proclamations, it looks like hip-hop is far from dead yet.
Watch Common and Pete Rock’s “All Kind Of Ideas” video above.
The Auditorium, Vol. 1 is due on July 12 via Loma Vista Recordings. You can find more info here.
The recent back and forth between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has sent the hip hop world into a frenzy. One significant ripple effect from the beef is the sudden spike in interest regarding past scuffles that each rapper has engaged in. One such beef includes a 2012 spat between Drake and Common, which saw the rappers trading jabs over several tracks, social media posts, and interviews. Today, the Drake and Common beef has long since been settled, allowing both lyricists to speak on their disagreement with the fresh perspective of hindsight. Let’s dig into the Drake and Common beef details and unpack the entire situation.
The Beef Began Over Serena Williams
When this beef kicked off, fans had no idea that world-renowned athlete Serena Williams was secretly at the center of it all. Yet, Common admitted during a recent Drink Champs interview that his beef with Drake was something of a Trojan War moment in his career, with Serena in the role of Helen of Troy. Serena and Common had previously dated from roughly 2007 to 2010. The pair have never publicly explained what caused their breakup, but Serena ended up in a romantic entanglement with Drake shortly thereafter. According to Common, he wasn’t explicitly bothered by Drake going out with his ex, but he did feel that Drake was being shady regarding his failed romance.
During his Drink Champs interview, Common explained, “I felt like Drake was sending me a couple of shots, subliminal. I don’t know what motivated him to send me some shots, but I think what for sure had me, if I’m just being real, like you know, we mess with one of the same girls. Wars happen over women… But I ain’t going to get at you if you with somebody I was with. But if you start throwing me a couple little, you know, you trying to throw some jabs, you know, and I’m like, come on man, okay.”
The Rappers Kept Things Mostly Subliminal
While a few names were thrown throughout the Drake and Common beef, the rappers kept their conflict light. Common refused to elaborate on what specific subliminal jabs kicked the whole thing off in his eyes, but he confirmed that his lyrics on the song “Sweet” were directed at the Toronto native. Instead of immediately responding on wax, Drake took to the stage during a December 2011 performance, explaining to the crowd, “I might sing, but I ain’t no b****. If Common got something to say, say it to my face.”
From there, things continued to heat up, with Drake sending more direct shots over Rick Ross’s “Stay Schemin.” Common provided the most direct bars in the entire beef with a scathing “Stay Schemin” remix, rapping, “I’m taking too long with this amateur guy/ You ain’t wet nobody, n****, you Canada dry/ Soft n****, make no mistake, I’m talking to Drake.“
— The HipHop College (@college_hip_hop) June 1, 2024
While reflecting on his beef with Drake on Drink Champs, Common confirmed that things are all love between the pair today. He even clarified how exactly they managed to peace it up, revealing that Drake’s father, Dennis Graham, was responsible for bringing them together. After bumping into Drake at the 2013 Grammy Awards, Common claims that he was confrontational, until Dennis stepped in and demanded that they talk it out. The Chicago MC explained, “His father was there and was like, ‘Y’all need to squash this.’ And I was like, Man, this an elder talking to me. This this man’s father. Let me chill out… So we just squashed it… I said what I had to say. Right now, we saying we squashing it. We good.”
Common and Pete Rock have made magic together. They’re two of the most venerated artists in hip-hop, with classic albums and songs dating back to the 1990s. They have nothing left to prove, which is what makes their decision to collab on an entire project so exciting. They are doing it strictly for the love of the art, and to quell the desires of fans who have spent years dreaming about a Com and Rock album. Now, we have an official release date for the album, which is titled The Auditorium, Vol. 1.
Common took to Instagram on June 11 to break the news. He revealed the album title and the release date in one fell swoop. He also gave some insight into its origins. “I am super geeked and supremely grateful to announce… The Auditorium Vol. 1 dropping July 12,” he wrote. “We pray and hope that this music will move your spirit and be with you for the rest of your life. Thanks to all who helped make it happen and to all of you for the Supreme Love. GOD Bless.” The rapper also discussed the anticipation surrounding the new album. He admitted that he felt great whenever fans voiced their excitement for such a long-anticipated collab. “It just makes me happy to be a part of this art form,” Common noted.
Common wasn’t the only one who was excited to unveil the album. Pete Rock left a comment on the post with his own message. “I honor our friendship since 91 home slice lol,” he noted. “This was a dream I had for years to come together with you on something.” The producer also hyped up the results, telling fans it is well worth the wait. “Now we get to show everyone the results after working with each other on our 1st album ever,” he added. “Man this is exciting my bro Thank you so much for this @Common.”
The duo is best known for their 1996 single “The B*tch In Yoo,” which was a diss record aimed at Ice Cube. Com and Rock discussed the diss during a recent appearance on Drink Champs. The latter went on to admit that he supported Common all the way, but was disappointed to learn that Ice Cube was mad at him. The two men reconciled when Ice Cube and Common squashed their beef in 1997. Common even gave Cube a shoutout on the album announcement, citing him as an inspiration.
Common and Pete Rock have announced their first full-length collaboration, The Auditorium, Vol. 1, set for release on July 12 via Loma Vista Recordings. This highly anticipated project unites one of hip-hop’s most evocative emcees, Common, with one of its most celebrated producers, Pete Rock. The album promises to be a landmark in hip-hop history, blending the past, present, and future into a cohesive and timeless musical journey.
Alongside the album announcement, Common and Pete Rock have released the second single from the project, “Dreamin’.” To promote the single, they also unveiled a VEVO Ctrl session performance video, showcasing their dynamic chemistry and lyrical prowess.
Late last month, the duo released “Wise Up,” the first single off their new project. “Wise Up” captures the essence of the Golden Age of Hip Hop while infusing it with a contemporary feel, making it resonate across any era of hip-hop. This single set the stage for the upcoming album, generating excitement among fans and critics alike.
The Auditorium, Vol. 1 is expected to be an absolute banger, offering a rich tapestry of beats and rhymes that reflect the duo’s deep roots in hip-hop culture. Common’s introspective lyrics paired with Pete Rock’s masterful production create a soundscape that is both nostalgic and forward-thinking.
Fans eagerly await the release of The Auditorium, Vol. 1, anticipating a groundbreaking addition to Common and Pete Rock’s legacies. With the release date fast approaching, the hip-hop community is abuzz with excitement for what is sure to be a historic collaboration.
Common and Pete Rock are not at the beginning of their careers anymore. Or are they? That is a question you have to ask yourself based on the way these two are still delivering at a high level. These two Midwest legends wowed fans with their recent collaboration “Wise Up”. On the lead single to their forthcoming rapper/producer album, The Auditorium Vol. 1, Pete flipped MC Shan’s “The Bridge” to perfection. Couple that with the flawless drum pattern and meticulous flows from Common, the track has become an instant success. It has listeners’ expectations for this album sky high and we do not foresee this tape failing. Part of the reason is because of this second offering from Common and Pete Rock, “Dreamin’”.
This track is equally impressive on all fronts. Common brings the compelling and introspective lyrics and Pete Rock is in his bag with another lethal combo of a killer sample and drums. The “Daydreamin’ and think of you” vocals are stunningly soulful and beautiful, as well as being perfectly mixed. Also giving this instrumental character are the triumphant horn sections and twinkly pianos. All of these elements are in perfect harmony with one another and signify that greatness is inbound on The Auditorium. Speaking of which, the collaboration album is due on July 12. Features will include Bilal, Jennifer Hudson, Posdnuos, and PJ. There will also be 15 tracks and a good chance of all killer and no filler. You can check out “Dreamin’” on all streaming platforms now or you can view the live session that dropped moments ago below. We guarantee you will not be disappointed.
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