http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.420&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rssSomething about the rhythm of Common's flow -- the way he phrases his intelligent rhymes -- turns his voice into an instrument. He started out as Common Sense, releasing two excellent albums filled with sparse beats and dizzying rhymes that were unusual exports from the pop-focused hip-hop scene in the Midwest. Though he's been pigeonholed as a mellow Jazz Rap minimalist, he's got enough consciousness-stirring lyrics to make a listener sit up and think as they nod to his thick grooves. The album that broke him was <I>One Day It'll All Make Sense,</I> a record with rich, organic beats that balanced his unorthodox vocal style. Touring with a live band (often the Roots) seasoned him for his next effort, <I>Like Water For Chocolate</I>. Stretching hip-hop's boundaries, Common has drawn on everything from thick, Fela Kuti-inspired afro-beat to jazzy live backing, with tracks produced by DJ Premier and the Soulquarians (including drummer/mastermind ?uestlove and singer/keyboardist D'Angelo). In 2002, his sound grew considerably more experimental, and the Jay Dee-produced <i>Electric Circus</i> somewhat alienated fans of his earlier material. After taking a few years to regroup, Common returned triumphantly with <i>Be</i>, teaming up with fellow Chi-town native Kanye West for an exceptional back-to-basics album that many critics have hailed as a modern classic. - Jessy TerryMidwestern Rap/Hip-Hopen720Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:28:54 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.420&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Something about the rhythm of Common's flow -- the way he phrases his intelligent rhymes -- turns his voice into an instrument. He started out as Common Sense, releasing two excellent albums filled with sparse beats and dizzying rhymes that were unusual exports from the pop-focused hip-hop scene in the Midwest. Though he's been pigeonholed as a mellow Jazz Rap minimalist, he's got enough consciousness-stirring lyrics to make a listener sit up and think as they nod to his thick grooves. The album that broke him was <I>One Day It'll All Make Sense,</I> a record with rich, organic beats that balanced his unorthodox vocal style. Touring with a live band (often the Roots) seasoned him for his next effort, <I>Like Water For Chocolate</I>. Stretching hip-hop's boundaries, Common has drawn on everything from thick, Fela Kuti-inspired afro-beat to jazzy live backing, with tracks produced by DJ Premier and the Soulquarians (including drummer/mastermind ?uestlove and singer/keyboardist D'Angelo). In 2002, his sound grew considerably more experimental, and the Jay Dee-produced <i>Electric Circus</i> somewhat alienated fans of his earlier material. After taking a few years to regroup, Common returned triumphantly with <i>Be</i>, teaming up with fellow Chi-town native Kanye West for an exceptional back-to-basics album that many critics have hailed as a modern classic. - Jessy Terry http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793184&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 24793184 tra.24793184 Common art.420 0.99 Universal Mind Control alb.24773651 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/9/4/8/1498490_170x170.jpg 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 true Universal Mind Control (UMC) (With Intro) tra.24793184 213000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793184&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793184&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679900&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 7679900 tra.7679900 Common art.420 0.99 Be alb.7676137 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/6/0/9/1079069_170x170.jpg 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true GO! tra.7679900 224000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679900&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679900&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679902&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 7679902 tra.7679902 Common art.420 0.99 Be alb.7676137 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/6/0/9/1079069_170x170.jpg 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true Testify tra.7679902 156000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679902&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679902&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3069407&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Lyrical Tue, 10 Dec 2002 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 3069407 tra.3069407 Common art.420 0.99 Electric Circus alb.213002 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/8/8/7/0/1300788_170x170.jpg 2002-12-10 00:00:00.0 2002-12-10 00:00:00.0 true Come Close tra.3069407 275000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3069407&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.3069407&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679899&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 7679899 tra.7679899 Common art.420 0.99 Be alb.7676137 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/6/0/9/1079069_170x170.jpg 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true The Corner tra.7679899 225000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679899&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679899&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793189&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 24793189 tra.24793189 Common art.420 0.99 Universal Mind Control alb.24773651 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/9/4/8/1498490_170x170.jpg 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 true Make My Day featuring Cee-Lo tra.24793189 238000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793189&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793189&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793185&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 24793185 tra.24793185 Common art.420 0.99 Universal Mind Control alb.24773651 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/9/4/8/1498490_170x170.jpg 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 true Punch Drunk Love featuring Kanye West tra.24793185 254000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793185&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793185&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679905&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 7679905 tra.7679905 Common art.420 0.99 Be alb.7676137 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/6/0/9/1079069_170x170.jpg 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true The Food (Live (Explicit)) tra.7679905 216000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679905&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679905&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2139027&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Lyrical Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 2139027 tra.2139027 Common art.420 0.99 Resurrection alb.144166 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/1/4/3/1263417_170x170.jpg 2007-11-27 00:00:00.0 1994-01-01 00:00:00.0 true I Used To Love H.E.R. tra.2139027 278000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2139027&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2139027&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679901&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 7679901 tra.7679901 Common art.420 0.99 Be alb.7676137 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/6/0/9/1079069_170x170.jpg 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true Faithful tra.7679901 213000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679901&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679901&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679907&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 7679907 tra.7679907 Common art.420 0.99 Be alb.7676137 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/6/0/9/1079069_170x170.jpg 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true They Say tra.7679907 237000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679907&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679907&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.15658550&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 31 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 15658550 tra.15658550 Common art.420 0.99 Finding Forever alb.15639076 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/4/3/3/3/1083334_170x170.jpg 2007-07-31 00:00:00.0 2007-07-31 00:00:00.0 true The People (Album Version (Explicit)) tra.15658550 204000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.15658550&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.15658550&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679903&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 7679903 tra.7679903 Common art.420 0.99 Be alb.7676137 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/6/0/9/1079069_170x170.jpg 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true Love is... tra.7679903 250000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679903&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679903&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793187&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 24793187 tra.24793187 Common art.420 0.99 Universal Mind Control alb.24773651 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/9/4/8/1498490_170x170.jpg 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 true Announcement featuring Pharrell (Sped Up) tra.24793187 225000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793187&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793187&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793183&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 24793183 tra.24793183 Common art.420 0.99 Universal Mind Control alb.24773651 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/9/4/8/1498490_170x170.jpg 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 true What A World tra.24793183 237000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793183&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793183&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679904&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 7679904 tra.7679904 Common art.420 0.99 Be alb.7676137 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/6/0/9/1079069_170x170.jpg 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true Chi-City tra.7679904 207000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679904&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679904&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793176&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 24793176 tra.24793176 Common art.420 0.99 Universal Mind Control alb.24773650 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/8/4/8/1498489_170x170.jpg 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 true Universal Mind Control (UMC) (With Intro) tra.24793176 213000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793176&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793176&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679906&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 7679906 tra.7679906 Common art.420 0.99 Be alb.7676137 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/6/0/9/1079069_170x170.jpg 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true Real People tra.7679906 168000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679906&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679906&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793191&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 24793191 tra.24793191 Common art.420 0.99 Universal Mind Control alb.24773651 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/9/4/8/1498490_170x170.jpg 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 true Gladiator tra.24793191 247000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793191&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793191&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679908&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 7679908 tra.7679908 Common art.420 0.99 Be alb.7676137 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/6/0/9/1079069_170x170.jpg 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 2005-05-24 00:00:00.0 true It's Your World (Part 1 & 2 (Explicit)) tra.7679908 514000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679908&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.7679908&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793188&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 24793188 tra.24793188 Common art.420 0.99 Universal Mind Control alb.24773651 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/9/4/8/1498490_170x170.jpg 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 true Everywhere featuring Martina Topley Bird tra.24793188 195000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793188&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793188&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10207077&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 10207077 tra.10207077 Common art.420 0.0 Hip Hop Gold alb.10205747 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/5/7/0/3/1323075_170x170.jpg 2006-04-25 00:00:00.0 2006-04-25 00:00:00.0 true The Light tra.10207077 241000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10207077&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.10207077&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793186&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 24793186 tra.24793186 Common art.420 0.99 Universal Mind Control alb.24773651 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/0/9/4/8/1498490_170x170.jpg 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 2008-12-09 00:00:00.0 true Changes featuring Muhsinah tra.24793186 238000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793186&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.24793186&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8938201&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Rap/Hip-Hop Tue, 20 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 8938201 tra.8938201 Common art.420 0.99 Unpredictable alb.8937587 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/9/9/0/1/1811099_170x170.jpg 2005-12-20 00:00:00.0 2005-12-20 00:00:00.0 true U Still Got It (Interlude) tra.8938201 167000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8938201&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.8938201&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2139026&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss Midwestern Lyricists Sat, 1 Jan 1994 00:00:00 -0800 Top Tracks by Common on Rhapsody Online 2139026 tra.2139026 Common art.420 0.99 Resurrection alb.144166 http://image.listen.com/img/170x170/7/1/4/3/1263417_170x170.jpg 2007-11-27 00:00:00.0 1994-01-01 00:00:00.0 true Resurrection tra.2139026 230000 http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2139026&variant=play&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=tra.2139026&variant=data&rws=%2Fcommon%2Ftop-tracks.rss