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Let me start out by saying that I'm a big fan of Common sense. He's one of my favorite emcees and I consider most of his albums classics or near-classics and I eagerly anticipate his releases. This album was no different and although I can't stand The Neptunes I thought their work on "Electric Circus" was pretty good so the fact that Pharell was all over the album only caused a minor concern.



1. Universal Mind Control (UMC) 4/5
I can dig this. I know a lot of people hated on this when it initially dropped but I'm feeling the old school vibe. If he had called it "Planet Rock 2008" I'm sure people would have liked it more

2. Punch Drunk Love 1/5
Awful beat and it sounds like they wrote their verses in a cab on the way to the studio. I expected more from a Common/Kanye collabo

3. Make My Day 3,5/5
Cee-Lo and Common always seem to bring out the best on each other. This is still their weakest collaboration to date

4. Sex 4 Suga 0/5
The worst Common song ever. the beat is hopeless and the lyrics are just straight gay. There is a long way from "The Ligt" to this. Apparently Erykah Badu was a better inspiration than fat assed Serena Williams

5. Announcement 2/5
Another throw away beat and some uninspirational lyrics from Common. It seems like he dumbed his lyrics down a lot for this release.

6. Gladiator 3,5/5
A decent track but far from previous songs like "The Game", "Chi-City" or "The 6th Sense"

7. Changes 2/5
The beat is trash, the lyrics are more acceptable but it's still way beneath what he's capable of

8. Inhale 3/5
Not a bad song but like the rest of the album it's a step back both musically and lyrically.

9. What A World 2/5
I like the beat but once again Common seems to have forgotten his rhyme book at home or has he fallen victim to the idea that not writing your rhymes down make you a good rapper?

10. Everywhere 3,5/5
At least he ends the album on a high note but where the fuck is Pop's rap ??

Overall : 2/5

The main problem with this album isn't even the beats (although they are borderline horrible at times), it's the lyrics that represent a career low for Common. It's very clear that he's trying to cater to the ladies on most songs but if I want a sappy hiphop love song I'll buy an LL Cool J album. Hopefully Common will stop dumbing down his lyrics in 2009 and give the kind of classic albums we know he can deliver. I for one won't be buying this.

it's very obvious he only made this album to play in clubs, every interview of his i've read is basically him saying he was out clubbing and his own DJ wasn't playing his shit........3/5 for this album, i'm with you on most of it, except i don't mind "Punch Drunk Love" as much as you do

Agreed for the most part I only liked UMC..but he did succeed in making a dance album.

I bought it hoping it would grow on me..but i can't stand listening to this...
hopefully this is a one time thing...

i loved the album. i don't care if it is sounding like a club album. I think it works. "gladiator" is a 5/5 for me.

overall i would give it a 3.75/5

Man, I can't believe Common is making crap like this. I mean, Finding Forever was pretty weak, but it wasn't near as awful as this pile of shit (I won't buy either of them though). And word up, it's mostly the lyrics that are the problem of this album, here's some quotes:

"Yeah yeah, I'll philosophise on TOP OF YA"
"Girl, you bout it you can strip like comic"
"Baby girl I'M A MAN"
"I'ma touch you where the SUN DON'T SHINE!"
"We can woahoowoahoowoah and woop dee woo"
"Now we can push more whips than slavery"

I went to see Common and concert recently and I showed up alittle late. Most of the songs he played were off the last two albums. I never felt so out of place at a hip hop show in my life. I knew none of the songs and I caught myself bragging to younger kids about the days when Common went by Common Sense and performed with a live band. I asked the young kids if he played any "old stuff" and they replied "Yeah, he did 'The Light'". Nuff said..

Sex 4 Suga is one of the dumbest songs i've ever heard

this album is still mediocre, but "Inhale" has stayed in regular rotation

agreed. 2/5 on this album but I love the title track and Gladiator is a banger.

Common needs to stay away from Pharell and Mr west

I hope he'll rebound from this dissapointment

i'd have to disagree about Mr. West, "The People" is one of Common's best singles of his whole career

i do like that track but i mean your gunna sit there and tell me you like the last few albums by common or would you prefer the first four releases?
all i am saying is commons flow sounds better over grimey fresh beats, he's an artist you wanan hear what he's got to say and not to be drowned out
By a beat, As far as i'm concerned Kanye dont even come close to Common and thats just an opinion

Finding Forever i thought was a pretty damn good album in itself. I enjoy everyone of his albums in different ways. UMC is fun to listen to.

Nah Kanye and Common make a good team. Be and Finding Forever were really dope albums. I agree with Pharrell though, they're like water and oil.

artists have to evolve, Fols, you can't just make the same album 7 or 8 times and be considered in the upper tier of MCs

i ge that but the real mc's that do it for the love dont sell the fuck out liek Mr West, if i had a chance to do what they do i would use my status to change the things in the world
give back and stay true to my word, i always hear artists saying i'll never sell out or the famous hip pop shit.

and i understand everyone gets old and wants to get there paper up so they can retire if so just say that and people wouldnt be so pissed
Honesty is key, if they make a bullshit record why dont they admit it and move on insted of leaving people scratching they fuckin' heads.

And its obvious everyone hear has different taste you like alot of stuff with beats i'm more into the words and the knowledge of hip hop,

TIred of the paper stack and hussling rap crap that fills our radio stations tvs from music channels to commercials, commercialized hip hop
gives the real artists a bad look kuss to the average person they think its all the same, so with that being said i'll stick to my dirty raw and lyrical hip hop have a nice day....

i see where your going with what you're saying, but Kanye & Common are the wrong ones to pick on, sure, this is easily Common's worst album, and i still can't stand 808s, but they're far from the "flossy" type

Nuff said my man, deff agree there, worst albums for them but still betta than alot of junk thats floatin around

Kanye and Common are a great match.

From what I hear his next album will be produced entirely by Kanye & No ID