Black Thought, Common & Freeway Spit Alongside Method Man & Redman For “4,3,2,1” Remix

“4,3,2,1” is a classic hip-hop posse cut from LL Cool J, Canibus, DMX, and Master P from 1997’s Phenomenon by LL which clearly still lives on. Moreover, a slew of amazing MCs remixed the cut at The Roots’ Picnic Festival during J.Period’s Live Mixtape set on Saturday (June 1). Black Thought, Common, Method Man, Redman, and Freeway linked up to give this instrumental a new rendition, and fans seemed pretty impressed both online and in the live setting. Black Thought in particular spit over a lot of classic instrumentals as well, including Wu-Tang Clan’s “Protect Ya Neck,” Raekwon’s “Ice Cream,” and GZA’s “Shadowboxin’.”

“30 Years Ago Today w. 6 one way tickets in hand we took a risk and left our beloved City Of Philadelphia for the shaky shores of Londontown — specifically Camden — the East Village Of London,” Questlove wrote of The Roots’ Picnic Festival and this particular moment with Black Thought and company. “2 weeks into our stay we did our first festival (a last min side stage add on to [Glastonbury]) and we promised hook or crook we would bring a festival to our city.

Read More: Black Thought Net Worth 2024: What Is The Roots Legend Worth?

Questlove’s Post Thanking Black Thought, Common, Method Man, Redman & Freeway For Their Amazing “4,3,2,1” Rendition

“In 2008 that dream came true when the first @rootspicnic came to fruition,” Questlove continued, later adding a comment in his caption about this Black Thought, Common, Freeway, Method Man, and Freeway link-up. “We wanted quality acts & a variety (some older names, some newer names, some right up your alley and especially the “wtf!!!?” variety——-keeps y’all guessing)——I’m especially proud of our ability to pick em when they are brand new. […] This moment was epic: @methodmanofficial @redmangilla @phillyfreeway @common @jperiodbk @stroelliot & their fearless leader @blackthought making it look so easy. Thank You Philadelphia.”

Full Live Mixtape Set At The Roots’ Picnic Festival 2024

You can see the full “4,3,2,1” remix at around the 13-minute and 45-second mark of the video above.

Meanwhile, hopefully this showing from Black Thought and company went better for Method Man crowd-wise compared to how disappointed he was with Summer Jam’s crowd recently. “Not our crowd at all..” he wrote of the event. “Thanks again, New York and the whole tri-state (that showed up to the event) plus Pete and Ebro I got love for you guys, but never again.. at this point the generation gap is just too wide for me.. #nevercomingback.”

Read More: The Roots’s “Game Theory” Marked A New Era

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Common Reveals Drake’s Dad Squashed Their Beef In Person

Common was one of Drake’s earliest big rap beefs, and it happened so long ago that many current OVO Stans probably don’t know that much about it. Either way, things eventually cleared up and all seems relatively well between both rappers, at least from the Chicago MC’s statements on the Toronto superstar. Moreover, the spitter and actor recently appeared on Drink Champs along with Pete Rock to talk about a whole slew of topics, including some more assessments of Drizzy’s beef with Kendrick Lamar. He ended up revealing some more details about their encounter at the 2012 Grammy Awards that squashed their feud, something that Aubrey Graham’s father apparently was instrumental in achieving.

“I eventually saw Drake face to face,” Common began his recollection of that night. “It was at a point where I was like, ‘Wassup?’ And we had [some] little words. And then 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.’ And then Drake just was like, ‘I ain’t on this.’ So we just squashed it.

Read More: Common Takes Drake’s Side In Yasiin Bey Beef

Common & Pete Rock’s Full Drink Champs Episode

The conversation around Drake’s father squashing their beef begins at around the 34-minute and 15-second mark of the video above.

“I was like, ‘Listen, if we face to face, then alright, I’m done with it,’” Common continued. “‘Even if it was some subliminal disses, I said what I had to say. Right now, we saying we squashing it. We good.’ I felt like Drake was sending me a couple of shots, subliminals. 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.

You know wars happen over women. That’s just what it is,” Common concluded. “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 then I’m like, ‘Come on, man, okay.’”

Read More: Common Tributes J Dilla And Kanye West On “Be” Anniversary

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WATCH: Common Confirms His Beef with Drake Started Over Subliminal Disses and Women

Common Confirms His Beef with Drake Started Over Subliminal Disses and Women

Common and Drake had their lyrical tussle back in 2012. Common fired off “Sweet” and Drake had an epic verse to him on “Stay Schemin.” But what caused it all?

Appearing on Drink Champs, Common said he believes he was being subliminally dissed by Drake and it was all rooted in women.

“I felt like Drake was sending me a couple of shots, subliminals,” Common said. “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….You know wars happen over women. That’s just what it is.”

He added, “Wars happen over women.”

That same girl was Serena Williams. You can hear Common break down the story below.

The post WATCH: Common Confirms His Beef with Drake Started Over Subliminal Disses and Women first appeared on The Source.

The post WATCH: Common Confirms His Beef with Drake Started Over Subliminal Disses and Women appeared first on The Source.

Bilal, Questlove & Glasper Release “All For Love” From Unreleased ’06 ‘Love For Sale’ LP

Screenshot 2024 05 31 at 1.25.05 PM

Today, Glasshaus Presents unveils Grammy-winning artist Bilal’s “All For Love,” the latest single from forthcoming album Live at Glasshaus, a mid-career retrospective featuring a supergroup of QuestloveCommonRobert Glasper, and Burniss Travis. The live record presents Bilal within an ensemble of luminaries to reimagine standouts from his classic repertoire. Live at Glasshaus, out June 14 during Black Music Month, sees Bilal at the peak of his powers, pushing the boundaries of a genre-defying catalog including 1st Born SecondLove For SaleAirtight’s Revenge, and Common’s seminal Like Water for Chocolate.

Screenshot 2024 05 31 at 1.23.16 PM

“All for Love” was a standout track from Bilal’s shelved 2006 masterpiece Love for Sale, a project that has achieved legendary status among fans and critics alike. Despite its artistic brilliance, the album was never officially released due to a premature leak and subsequent disputes with his former label, Interscope Records. This resulted in the album becoming a cult classic and a significant part of Bilal’s musical legacy. 

The post Bilal, Questlove & Glasper Release “All For Love” From Unreleased ’06 ‘Love For Sale’ LP first appeared on The Source.

The post Bilal, Questlove & Glasper Release “All For Love” From Unreleased ’06 ‘Love For Sale’ LP appeared first on The Source.

Common Expresses Gratitude to YE and J Dilla for ‘Be’ on Album’s 19th Anniversary

Common Credit Brian Bowen Smith

Common’s Be has hit its 20th anniversary. Hitting Instagram, the Chicago legend recalled the success of the classic project. “I was reminded that yesterday was the 19th anniversary for Be,” Common wrote. “How grateful I am to Ye and J Dilla and all the artists and musicians who created on that album.”

After much speculation, Common and Pete Rock have finally released their new single, “Wise Up.” The track blends the essence of the Golden Age of Hip Hop with a contemporary feel, creating a sound that resonates across all eras of hip-hop.

This collaboration brings together one of hip-hop’s most evocative emcees, Common, with one of its most celebrated producers, Pete Rock, setting a tone for what could be their most impactful work in decades.

To launch “Wise Up,” Common and Pete Rock partnered with director Marleaux Desiré to create an inspiring and creative visual presentation. The video captures street-level community stories, visually representing the themes explored in the song. It includes visual ideations from ILLIMITÉWORLD and still photography by creative director Alonzo Hellerbach.

“Wise Up” marks a significant moment in hip-hop, showcasing the perfect pairing of Common’s lyrical depth and Pete Rock’s legendary production skills. The single pays homage to their roots in the Golden Age and demonstrates their ability to evolve with the times, offering a universal appeal that transcends generations.

This release is highly anticipated by fans and critics alike, as it signals the potential for more potent collaborations between these two iconic artists. With “Wise Up,” Common and Pete Rock reaffirm their status as influential figures in hip-hop, continuing to shape the genre with their innovative and thought-provoking work.

The post Common Expresses Gratitude to YE and J Dilla for ‘Be’ on Album’s 19th Anniversary first appeared on The Source.

The post Common Expresses Gratitude to YE and J Dilla for ‘Be’ on Album’s 19th Anniversary appeared first on The Source.

Common Tributes J Dilla And Kanye West On “Be” Anniversary

Be will always have a special place in the heart of Common fans. It’s the album that brought him back after the critical and commercial misfire that was Electric Circus. It’s regularly cited as one of the best rap albums of the 2000s. Be is such a good album that Common used the same exact formula to make Finding Forever two years later. Still, nothing has quite managed to recapture the magic. The longevity and the legacy of Be is what led Common to reflect on the album for its 19th anniversary.

The rapper took to Instagram on May 26 to pen a reflection on the album. “I was reminded that yesterday was the 19th anniversary for Be,” he noted. “Be changed my life and it’s amazing how many people come to me young and old who tell me they were inspired by that album. Give Thanks To The Most High.” The rapper also made a point of shouting out his main collaborators on the album: Kanye West and the late, great J Dilla. “How grateful I am to Ye and J Dilla,” he added. “All the artists and musicians who created on that album.”

Read More: Common Thought His Ice Cube Beef Was Going To End In Violence

Common Said He’s Grateful For Both Producers

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Common (@common)

Kanye West and Dilla deserve the praise. The former produced nine of the 11 songs on the album, and the latter produced the remaining two. Com originally planned to have West and J Dilla split the songs on the album, but Dilla’s failing health made it nearly impossible. Com had worked with Dilla on Like Water for Chocolate, and despite the producer’s passing in 2006, would continue to rap over his instrumentals on subsequent albums.

Common had contributed a guest verse on West’s debut album, The College Dropout, but it was during the making of Be that the two men became close friends. “It was the first time Kanye and I hooked up on an album,” he told Vibe Magazine in 2013. “I remember the times were special because we were both excited to work with each other, enthused and inspired. It was the first time I did an album that was instantly labeled a classic.”

Common also asserted that West and J Dilla had respect for each other as producers. “Dilla had a lot of love for Ye. And Ye had love for Dilla,” he told Hot 97 in January. “It was great to see somebody who was as great as Ye just be like, ‘Dilla gave me these joints!’”

Read More: Common Reveals Which Iconic Kanye West Beats He Turned Down

The post Common Tributes J Dilla And Kanye West On “Be” Anniversary appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

WATCH: Common and Pete Rock Release New Single and Video “Wise Up”

Common and Pete Rock Release New Single and Video "Wise Up"

After much speculation, Common and Pete Rock have finally released their new single, “Wise Up.” The track blends the essence of the Golden Age of Hip Hop with a contemporary feel, creating a sound that resonates across all eras of hip-hop.

This collaboration brings together one of hip-hop’s most evocative emcees, Common, with one of its most celebrated producers, Pete Rock, setting a tone for what could be their most impactful work in decades.

To launch “Wise Up,” Common and Pete Rock partnered with director Marleaux Desiré to create an inspiring and creative visual presentation. The video captures street-level community stories, visually representing the themes explored in the song. It includes visual ideations from ILLIMITÉWORLD and still photography by creative director Alonzo Hellerbach.

“Wise Up” marks a significant moment in hip-hop, showcasing the perfect pairing of Common’s lyrical depth and Pete Rock’s legendary production skills. The single pays homage to their roots in the Golden Age and demonstrates their ability to evolve with the times, offering a universal appeal that transcends generations.

This release is highly anticipated by fans and critics alike, as it signals the potential for more potent collaborations between these two iconic artists. With “Wise Up,” Common and Pete Rock reaffirm their status as influential figures in hip-hop, continuing to shape the genre with their innovative and thought-provoking work.

The post WATCH: Common and Pete Rock Release New Single and Video “Wise Up” first appeared on The Source.

The post WATCH: Common and Pete Rock Release New Single and Video “Wise Up” appeared first on The Source.

Common Goes Back To His Battle Rap Roots In His ‘Wise Up’ Video With Pete Rock

Over the past few years, some of the stars of hip-hop’s Golden Era have experienced career resurgences by getting back to their roots and teaming up with producers whose energy matches their own. For instance, Nas hooked up with Hit-Boy to release a string of albums that many fans called his best in years.

Common is the latest ’90s mainstay to mine his youth for inspiration, teaming up with Pete Rock for “Wise Up,” a new single that evokes the spirit of gritty, sample-driven battle rap.

“‘Wise Up’ represents the coming together of a New York Producer and a Chicago MC doing the hip-hop we love,” the near-EGOT winner explained in the press release for the single. “It feels like the spirit of where we come from, the boom bap, the basement, but it also feels forward and new. We wanted this to be the first joint because this record captures a new sound and is a new light but speaks directly to our hip-hop family.”

The song is Common’s first new track since the 2021 release of his fourteenth album, A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2. However, his profile still looms large over hip-hop; Com’s fellow Chicagoan also teamed up with a New York boom-bap producer, DJ Premier, on his new single, “Together,” which samples Premier’s prior collab with Common, “The Sixth Sense.”

Watch Common and Pete Rock’s “Wise Up” video above.

Common Slices & Dices A Killer Boom-Bap Beat From Pete Rock On “Wise Up”

“Y’all gon’ think I’m just talking. But this new Pete Rock joint. I’ma see y’all when I come back, whenever I’m back, and y’all can tell me if I’m bulls***tin’ or not. “It’s in my top. I’ve had a couple people coming in saying, ‘Yo, this is one of your best albums.’ So, I’m excited about it.” Those were the words of Common at a MusiCares panel in Santa Monica on April 22 when divulging on an upcoming project with acclaimed producer Pete Rock.

Outside of that we do not have a ton of information on the record just yet. However, what we can reveal is that Common and Pete are titling this project The Auditorium and that the lead single is here! Just moments ago, the 90’s icons released “Wise Up” with a beautifully shot music video. If the chorus sample sounds familiar to any hip-hop heads out there, it is because Pete flipped MC Shan’s “The Bridge.”

Read More: Rubi Rose Makes Druski Some Spaghetti With Ketchup And Fans Were At A Loss For Words

Listen To “Wise Up” By Common & Pete Rock

It is a masterfully produced single and it shows that Pete Rock has still got it. Additionally, Common delivers a hungry and philosophical performance. “His is on the streets, mines is over instrumentals
The Lord sent my mental to be more than sentimental / The ventricles that I vent through are temples of what I been through
. ” If this project drops this year, we are in for a real treat.

What are your thoughts on this brand-new single “Wise Up” by Common and Pete Rock? Does this get you excited for their rumored upcoming album The Auditorium? Is Common still one of the best lyricists of all time, why or why not? What aspect of the track is your favorite? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Common and Pete Rock. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.

Quotable Lyrics:

Parents tryna get they kids to eighteen, so they will us (Huh)
Youngins is restless, investments in vest-es
My man ain’t from Dallas, but he know where the TECs is—hold ’em
My poker face is golden
Pedigree of a legacy that’s stolen (Huh)
Wise like the old man wit’ food in his beard

Read More: Mo’Nique Takes Back Her Chelsea Handler-Kevin Hart Comments: “The Joke Is On Me”

The post Common Slices & Dices A Killer Boom-Bap Beat From Pete Rock On “Wise Up” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Common Thought His Ice Cube Beef Was Going To End In Violence

Common may have a reputation for being a conscious rapper, but he had no problem going at those who question his pen. He spent years going back and forth with Ice Cube over a perceived diss in his classic single “I Used to Love H.E.R.” Cube fired at Com with the seminal Westside Connection heater “Westside Slaughterhouse,” and then Common responded with the Pete Rock-produced “The B*tch In Yoo.” Great songs across the board, but things reached such a fever pitch by the late 90s that Com was concerned about the next step.

The Chicago rapper recalled his feelings on the matter during a recent appearance on 7PM In Brooklyn. He revealed that something went down between him and Cube in-person in 1995, which pushed things in an unexpected direction. “We had a little confrontation in Atlanta and this was like ’95,” he recalled. “At that point we had a little confrontation. And I was like, ‘Man, this might get ugly.’” Common credited three things with helping to close the book on the beef by 1997. The first two things were the deaths of Biggie and 2Pac following their battle. The third was the encouragement from the Nation of Islam leader, Louis Farrakhan.”

Read More: Common Reveals Whether Drake & Kendrick Lamar’s Feud Went “Too Far,” Recalls His Own Drizzy Diss

Common And Ice Cube Have Become Close Friends

The truce between Common and Ice Cube took place at the Nation of Islam headquarters in Chicago. The event was attended by rappers from all coasts, many of whom were involved in beef at one time. Snoop Dogg, Fat Joe, Mack 10, and Tha Dogg Pound were some of the most notable names. Common told the hosts that he remains grateful for Minister Farrakhan, and Ice Cube’s willingness to bury things. He assured listeners that him and Cube are close to this day. They even co-starred in Barbershop: The Next Cut together.

Common, who’s working on his next album with the man who produced his Cube diss, Pete Rock, is proud of the fact that he avoided violence. “Ultimately, I felt good that we kept it on wax,” he noted. “It was getting to that point with me and Cube. Because they was looking at me like, ‘Oh, Common’s just the backpack dude.’”

Read More: Common Reveals Which Iconic Kanye West Beats He Turned Down

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