common Archives - Page 4 of 9

Today In Hip Hop History: Common Released His ‘Resurrection’ Album 29 Years Ago

October 4, 2023 by newhiphopnews

On this day in Hip Hop history Chicago legend, Common, released his sophomore LP Resurrection. Produced completely by No I.D., this album was a fitting follow up to Common’s debut Can I Borrow A Dollar.

Structurally, the album was split down the middle into two sections. The first half was the “East Side of Stony” and the second half was the “West Side of Stony”. Stony Island Avenue is a street that run’s through the South Side of Chicago, where Common grew up. Throughout the album, Common continued to relate his themes and lyrics to himself, his past, and his surroundings in Chicago creating a very introspective experience.

This album also features one of Common’s most controversial singles “I Used to Love H.E.R.”. As Resurrection‘s lead single, “I Used to Love H.E.R.” was an ode to golden era Hip Hop. The song in it’s entirety is a metaphor in which Common relates Hip Hop to a girl who loses her innocence after being enticed by the materialistic side of life. The acronym “H.E.R” actually stood for “Hip Hop in its essence is real”. In the song, Common explains how Hip Hop culture is being destroyed by gangsta rap culture (which was centered around violence, materialism, and misogyny according to him). This opinion of course upset the West Coast, especially rap legend Ice Cube, who felt it was a personal attack on his brand of music. He in turn responded with the single “Westside Slaughterhouse” featuring Westside Connection.

Commercially, the album was a marginal hit peaking at #179 on the Billboard 200. It showed a growth in sales from his debut and prompted the success of the coming album, one Day It’ll All Make Sense.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Common Released His ‘Resurrection’ Album 29 Years Ago first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Common Released His ‘Resurrection’ Album 29 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Kamala Harris Celebrates 50 Years of Hip-Hop, Fans Express Skepticism

September 20, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Kamala Harris recently marked the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a high-profile celebration. The event, coordinated by the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and Live Nation Urban, was designed to recognize the genre’s profound impact on American culture. Nonetheless, some fans have expressed skepticism, perceiving the Vice President’s involvement as an attempt to pander to […]

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Vic Mensa Reveals ‘VICTOR’ Album Features Tracklist

September 14, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Vic Mensa officially shared an updated tracklist for his forthcoming sophomore album VICTOR (out this Friday). The new project will include features from Omari Hardwick, Jay Electronica, Common, Rapsody, DIXSON, Lekan, Ant Clemons, D Smoke, and Mr. Hudson. Earlier this week, the multi-platinum selling, GRAMMY-nominated rapper/producer also released an additional single from the record titled “LVLN UP” as part of the NFL and Roc Nation’s Songs of the Season initiative through the NFL’s Inspire Change social justice platform. Vic’s song is the newest addition to the multi-tier, season-long initiative that will highlight superstars and emerging artists of all genres. States Vic, ““LVLN UP” is a centerpiece of the VICTOR album. I made it in Ghana using samples of Ebo Taylor, a highlife pioneer from the 60s & 70s that was a contemporary of Fela Kuti. I produced the record and wrote the hook out there, but it wasn’t until I got locked up in early 2022 that I really got the inspiration to complete the record. It’s a super anthemic joint so to have it used in NFL Songs Of The Season works perfectly.” To celebrate the project, Vic Mensa will be hosting an album release event in his hometown of Chicago labeled as the “The Mensa Melee” in which Vic will set up a boxing ring and put on a boxing exhibition soundtracked by the album. Vic and Omari gave fans a first look at the event in the latest trailer shared on Vic’s Instagram account.

VICTOR TRACKLIST:

1. Sunday Morning Intro (feat. Omari Hardwick)

2. Victor

3. RUMORS

4. LVLN UP

5. The Weeping Poets (feat. Jay Electronica)

6. Swear

7. $WISH (feat. G-Eazy & Chance The Rapper)

8. sunset on the low end

9. STRAWBERRY LOUIS VUITTON (feat. Thundercat & Maeta)

10. $outhside Story (feat. Common)

11. Law of Karma

12. Blue Eyes

13. Blue Eyes (Interlude) (feat. Rapsody)

14. Sunday Evening Reprise (feat. DIXSON & Lekan)

15. all i kno

16. Ble$$ings (feat. Ant Clemons & D Smoke)

17. 14 Days (feat. Mr. Hudson)

18. Eastside Girl (feat. Ty Dolla $ign) (Bonus Track)

The post Vic Mensa Reveals ‘VICTOR’ Album Features Tracklist first appeared on The Source.

The post Vic Mensa Reveals ‘VICTOR’ Album Features Tracklist appeared first on The Source.

Vic Mensa’s New Album ‘Victor’: Everything To Know Including The Release Date, Tracklist & More

September 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

In a little under two days, Vic Mensa is finally releasing his second studio album, more than six years after his solo debut. He’s been rolling out Victor since January, when he shared the first single, “Strawberry Louis Vuitton” with Thundercat. Since then, he’s released a music video for “Swish” with Chance The Rapper and G-Eazy and a trailer for the project inspired by the world of modern art. He also joined Chance at a series of shows celebrating the 10th anniversary of The Rapper’s career-making mixtape, Acid Rap, opening with a salute to Vic’s own early fan favorite, Innanetape.

Below, you can find everything we know about Victor ahead of its release.

Release Date:

Victor is due on September 15 via Roc Nation Records.

Features:

In addition to longtime collaborator Chance The Rapper, G-Eazy, and Thundercat, the album will include appearances from actor Omari Hardwick, Chicago rap veteran Common, New Orleans hip-hop mystic Jay Electronica (incidentally, Vic received decidedly less backlash for Jay’s inclusion than fellow Windy City native Noname got), singers Ant Clemons, Dixson, Lekan, and Ty Dolla Sign, and Inglewood indie rap champion D Smoke.

Tracklist:

1. “Sunday Morning Intro” Feat. Omari Hardwick
2. “Victor”
3. “Rumors”
4. “Lvln Up”
5. “The Weeping Poets” Feat. Jay Electronica
6. “Swear”
7. “$WISH” Feat. G-Eazy & Chance The Rapper
8. “Sunset On The Low End”
9. “Strawberry Louis Vuitton” Feat. Thundercat & Maeta
10. “$outhside Story” Feat. Common
11. “Law Of Karma”
12. “Blue Eyes”
13. “Blue Eyes (Interlude)”
14. “Sunday Evening Reprise” Feat. Dixson & Lekan
15. “All I Kno”
16. “Ble$$ings” Feat. Ant Clemons & D Smoke
17. “14 Days”
18. “Eastside Girl (Bonus Track)” Feat. Ty Dolla $ign

Singles:

Previously released tracks include “Eastside Girl (Bonus Track),” “Blue Eyes,” and “Lvln Up.”

Tour:

While a tour has yet to be announced, Vic has a performance with Chance later this month:

LL Cool J Sends Common Special Gift Box: “It’s An Honor”

August 23, 2023 by newhiphopnews

LL Cool J has been know to embrace the artists under him. His generosity extends far beyond music. The rapper recently blessed Common with a limited edition gift box. In a video posted to his Instagram on Monday (August 21), the Chicago native is visibly overjoyed as he unboxes the package. The box contained a few luxury cigars, trinkets, as well a gold chain. The custom-made jewelry is from LL Cool J’s wife, Simone Smith.

“Shoutout to LL and Simone, thank y’all,” he said in the video. “I appreciate being on the F.O.R.C.E Tour — it’s a[n] honor. LL, you one of the greatest, man, for real. One of the reasons I do what I do. He added in the caption: “Thank you @llcoolj for this gift. But also, thank you for sharing your talents with us. You are one of them 1’s.”

LL Cool J Gives The Best Gifts

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A post shared by Common (@common)

Common isn’t the only one to bear witness to LL’s generosity. While appearing on LL’s episode of Paramount’s Behind The Music, Eminem shared his own story about the rap pioneer. He was also gifted a custom-made chain by the rapper/actor. “Since I was a little kid I always wanted a chain,” Em explains, speaking on LL Cool J’s iconic gold chain worn in the “I’m Bad” video. “I was recording with Rick Rubin, and I was like, ‘Yo, can you ask LL where he got his chains from?’ So he had these made and sent them to me.”

In other related news, LL Cool J recently shared his thoughts about older rappers considering retirement. During a recent appearance on Sway’s Universe, the iconic pioneer shared his thoughts on ageism in rap. Furthermore, he believes that music artists don’t have to flirt with retirement in the same way athletes do. “Hip Hop is not a sport,” he began. “It’s like playing guitar or the horn…” He continued: “So I don’t have to stop doing what I do and stop recording at 34.” LL added, “I hear artists all the time flirting with retirement, and that’s really insecurity. Because they don’t know whether or not they’re gonna be able to continue on in their careers.”

[via]

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Common Spilled About How Unimpressed Michael Jordan Was With His Basketball Skills In The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game

August 16, 2023 by newhiphopnews

In a new interview with Men’s Health, Common looked back at some stories throughout his life and career. One of which was when Michael Jordan critiqued his basketball skills after watching him play in the 2010 NBA All-Star Celebrity game.

The two had crossed paths before, but reunited several times after that.

“I had met Michael before because I was a ball boy for the Bulls when I was a kid,” Common said. “He doesn’t remember me from those days, but he also had come to one of my shows in Chicago at the House Of Blues. Mike was watching my show, but I didn’t let people know he was there ’cause he was up in the balcony. Until my last song.”

“When I did, everybody just watched him and just forgot I was on stage,” he added.

Sometime later, the two talked about Common’s role in the NBA game.

“I just played in the celebrity game and hit the last free throws to seal the game,” Common said. “In this picture, when I greeted him, he told me to stick to rapping. He grounded me in this picture, for sure.”

“I couldn’t believe that he didn’t recognize that my game was actually a good game,” he joked.

Check out the full interview above.

2pac Reportedly Wanted To Diss Common While Beefing With Ice Cube

August 9, 2023 by newhiphopnews

During Common and Ice Cube’s rap beef in the mid-90s there was reportedly someone else who wanted in, 2pac. The revelation comes from former Outlawz member and one of Pac’s protégés Napoleon. He sat down with The Art Of Dialogue to explain where Pac fit into the often-forgotten Common and Ice Cube beef. ““I remember when the East Coast-West Coast thing was heating up, I think Common and Cube was going through their beef, like they were dissing each other,” he explains in the clip. “I remember ‘Pac was like, ‘See, if I was cool with Cube right now, I’d be going after Common for him, but now I’m staying out of it.’”

Reportedly the only thing keeping 2pac from chiming in was some friction he had with Cube at the time. Despite that, Napoleon says Pac still admired Cube. “‘Pac had a lot of love for Cube. I never heard him say anything negative about him. I think at one particular time they were closer, and maybe they just went their separate ways. But that’s the only thing I heard him say about Cube, but he definitely respected Cube.” He ends the segment by saying he’s glad that Pac never went after Common because he thinks the two would have really understood each other.

2pac Almost Backed Ice Cube In His Common Beef

Interest in 2pac and his story rose greatly in recent weeks. That started when Las Vegas Police raided a home last month. They later confirmed was in connection with the investigation into 2pac’s murder. That house belonged to Keefe D, someone who has long been associated with the rapper’s killing.

Even more interest sparked up when a ring worn by 2pac in one of his final public appearances became the highest selling piece of hip-hop memorabilia ever sold at auction. It became even more interesting when Drake was revealed to be the one who purchased the ring. What do you think of 2pac wanting to “go at” Common during his beef with Ice Cube? Let us know in the comment section below.

[Via]

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Common Says Nas’ “One Love” is One of the Greatest Songs Ever Written

August 4, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Common is featured in Men’s Health Hip-Hop 50 celebration, highlighting the impact of Nas when reflecting on his own single “Respect for Life.”

Speaking with writer Keith Nelson, Common revealed a fan once said the single helped in his decision to have his kid. Common revealed the song came from a life experience but stated that it was the same personal energy, the ability to connect fans through music, Nas captured through Illmatic.

The legendary @common gets candid about how his experiences with abortion and child molestation resonated with others. https://t.co/0yymY9YWG1

— Men’s Health Mag (@MensHealthMag) August 1, 2023

“He experienced it, and the way he told it was just beautiful. In ‘One Love,’ he talks to his boy in prison,” Common said. “That’s one of the greatest songs ever written. Recently, there was a dude at the play I did called Between Riverside and Crazy who was in a wheelchair. His mother was talking to me, and she said, “He’s so happy to meet you. He loves you, loved the play, and really loves your music.” A friend of his was dying, and he told him to listen to my music. That hit me in a different way because he told him to listen to it because it would give him some hope.”

You can read more of Common’s Men’s Health feature, chronicling his journey in Health here.

The post Common Says Nas’ “One Love” is One of the Greatest Songs Ever Written first appeared on The Source.

The post Common Says Nas’ “One Love” is One of the Greatest Songs Ever Written appeared first on The Source.

Common Claims That Nas Wrote One Of The Greatest Songs Of All Time

August 3, 2023 by newhiphopnews

It’s pretty common for Nas to get massive praise from both rap fans and other rappers. Common became the most recent to do so in an interview with Men’s Health. In the interview, he talks quite a bit about his history with hip-hop. “I remember being at a performance and then walking outside of the show, and this dude came up to me, and he said, ‘Common, I really love your music.” He explained the meaning behind the song next, “I want to tell you that your song “Retrospect for Life” made me decide to have my kid,’” he began the interview. “I wrote that song because I had been through that experience. And there was a moment when I was on the way to the abortion clinic, and the mother of my child decided, ‘We can’t do this again,’.”

That’s what he circled back to Nas, whose influence he credited. “That’s why we related to when Nas talked about what he talked about on Illmatic. He experienced it, and the way he told it was just beautiful. In ‘One Love,’ he talks to his boy in prison. That’s one of the greatest songs ever written.” The song he’s referencing appears on Nas’ classic album Illmatic. Praise for the entire record is also easy to find. In a recent New York Times story they got 50 rappers to tell the story of hip-hop. Eminem specifically spoke about the influence of the album on his career and told the story of how he first found it.

Common Has Nothing But Praise For Nas

The legendary @common gets candid about how his experiences with abortion and child molestation resonated with others. https://t.co/0yymY9YWG1

— Men’s Health Mag (@MensHealthMag) August 1, 2023

Nas just released his newest album Magic 2 last month. It’s a follow-up to his 2021 album Magic. The project also features references to another ongoing series of projects he’s working on with Hit-Boy called Kings Disease. Magic 2 sees Nas teaming up with 21 Savage and making a song with 50 Cent for the first time in decades. The album followed up last year’s Kings Disease III.

What do you think of Common’s feelings towards Nas’ song “One Love,”? Let us know in the comment section below.

[Via]

The post Common Claims That Nas Wrote One Of The Greatest Songs Of All Time appeared first on HotNewHipHop.