![]() ![]() For the latter, failed or non-existent ties fuel their determination to build their own families and break the cycle.įatherhood is a touchy yet recurring theme that appears in rap music and peels back the emotional layers of some of the most resilient artists. While there are emcees who have - or are themselves - doting dads who vocally love their children, there are others who have strained connections. Rap’s bond with fatherhood has always been an interesting dynamic. Without compromising his artistic integrity, “The Light” was Common’s first taste of mainstream success and he accomplished it by being his authentic self, rapping about love.While many rappers indulge in luxuries like fancy jewelry and cars, there’s one intangible aspect that serves as a more significant flex: A father’s relationship with his children. Passionately sharing his love for Erykah Badu, who also makes a cameo in the video, “The Light” encapsulates everything The Soulquarians were all about. With J Dilla on production, a chopped Bobby Caldwell sample of “Open Your Eyes” was perfect for Common to create his biggest hit as a lead artist. With the addition of The Last Poets, Common pays tribute to the past while embarking on a new future for hip-hop. The gritty sound and detailed narratives of “The Corner” marked a return to Common’s Resurrection days, something that hardcore Common fans were longing for. If anyone thought that Common was a little too eclectic on Electric Circus, Common brought it back to the streets with “The Corner.” Kanye adroitly samples “You Make The Sun Shine” by The Temprees and “What It Is” by The Temptations for a hard-hitting track that feels like a Chicago winter on the South Side. As the album’s first single, “The Sixth Sense” chronicled the continual ascension of Common as one of the best MCs in the game.Ĭlick to load video 3: The Corner (featuring Kanye West and The Last Poets) ![]() Opening the song with Gil Scott-Heron’s famous phrase “The revolution will not be televised,” Common asserts himself and his new musical direction on “The Sixth Sense.” Masterfully produced by DJ Premier, and the only song on Like Water For Chocolate not produced by a member of The Soulquarians, Common addresses a range of topics, including Afrocentricity, shifts in hip-hop culture, and a plethora of social ills. For a rapper who prided himself on being a man of the people, the single served as a reminder of Common’s true place in hip-hop. Kanye took the opportunity to pay tribute to the late, great J Dilla, who had just passed a year earlier. Common and Kanye’s chemistry is undeniable as the duo from Chicago cooked up another gem. Produced by Karriem Riggins and Robert Glasper, with Bilal’s signature falsetto on the hook, “Letter To The Free” won Common an Emmy, making him the only hip-hop artist just shy of entering the EGOT Winners’ Circle.Ĭlick to load video 5: The People (featuring Dwele)Ĭoming on the heels of the widely acclaimed BE, Common came back harder than ever with his stunning track “The People,” the first single from his sixth album, Finding Forever. Tackling the mass incarceration of African Americans, Common continues the rich legacy of African-American protest music. 14: Letter To The Free (featuring Bilal)Īfter penning the Oscar-winning track “Glory” for Ava DuVernay’s triumphant film Selma, Common and the director teamed up once again on her powerful documentary 13th, where the MC delivered this passionate, politically charged song for the soundtrack. Of Common and Kanye’s many collaborations, the track captures the unique chemistry of two veterans who changed the game. A triumphant rejoinder to all the haters, “They Say” is aspirational and inspirational. Click to load video 15: They Say (featuring Kanye West and John Legend)Ī stunning number from BE, “They Say” is a jamming collaboration between Common, fellow Windy City native Kanye West and John Legend.
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