universal mind control, common Options

[brooklyneast05]

Despite various setbacks actor-rapper Common will finally release his long-awaited album, ‘Universal Mind Control’ on December 9. Originally the Chicago native titled his next project ‘The Believer,’ but has since changed the title to the name of his current single. Common recently revealed to ‘MTV News’ that the album’s concept reflects his vision on making music people can enjoy. “It’s a lot of stuff going on in the world right now. Sometimes people need to release,” he said. “I felt that energy abroad, going to different parties in Spain and London, even back in the States. It was good times. I want people to have good times musically.” And with production by The Neptunes and Kanye West fans can expect to hear Common’s ‘Universal Mind Control’ in local clubs everywhere this winter.

yeah i can't wait to pick up kanye's new album and then turn around a couple weeks later and pick up common's. i'm not so sure how i'll like either of them...

who's looking forward to common

[Simba]

ay that pic's tight


anyway, U.M.C. the song was cool, so the album's gotta be fiah. Besides, it's Common.

<-Is anticipating

[gojira]

LOVE.

[brooklyneast05]

Common was recently speaking in North Carolina, where he caught up with HipHopDX. There, the Chicago veteran emcee talked about his forthcoming album Universal Mind Control. "I’m really excited about it and for me as long as I’ve been making music I always wanted to challenge myself. This album is a lot of free music, a lot of feel good music. I didn’t overthink the subject matters and made music you can dance too, ride out too, and have fun too. I wanted to give people something to smile about, enjoy, and let loose."

Within Universal Mind Control, Common says he has a song that really embodies the political climate America witnessed earlier this month in his home city. "I have a song called 'Changes' and it’s a reflection of what I see in the future, it’s changes going on right now. The youth really have a opportunity due to the fact we have Barack Obama in office. It’s due to the fact that people of all colors can see a black men, with his black women, and family can really do something powerful and lead this country. I wrote it probably five or six months ago, and it really fitting for the climate of the world right now."

Lastly, as artists ranging from Mos Def and 50 Cent have traded fourth quarter releases for a much less crowded 2009, Common explained his own push-back. "I originally was starting this album as an EP which was like a six song collection of songs. It was called Invincible Summer and I wanted to bring it out during the summertime. I did this film Terminator Salvation and I couldn’t finish the album in period I wanted to. I said, 'Man Universal Mind Control is the perfect title for the sound of the music. UMC fits the theme of what the album is about. That sounds like something from back in the days to something futuristic. Check me out on the website ThinkCommon.com, y'all can get the whole album for 99 cents the day the album is released, y'all can't beat that, my music is priceless. [Laughs]"

[Simba]

wtf I wanna jump on that deal

[ReggieM]

UMC

[fameONE]

Common gets his credit, but not enough credit.

Electric Circus was out there, but listening to it now, I can still check it off as an ill album. EVERY ALBUM THIS DUDE HAS EVER DROPPED IS ILL.

[brooklyneast05]

so has anyone picked this up yet?


i'm slackin and i haven't. i was really excited about the whole 99 cents for the album the day it dropped, until it actually dropped and i realized that's only for zune users...bullshit

anyway i still have every intention of going to pick up a copy of this legally.



hiphopdx rate it two and half stars....pretty interested in seeing they they did that. i hope this shit doesn't suck. i've been waiting for a common album for too long for that.

[salcha4u]

Haha, but Common just came out with Finding Forever last year...
Anyway, I don't really like the new style...it's ok. I like Changes cause the style felt more like the old Common (cept sometimes it sounded like a video game wtf). I guess you get used to it though. Some are pretty catchy. Make My Day, UMC (which at first I didn't really like, but it kinda grows), and What A World.

Again...can you say hip pop? haha

[brooklyneast05]

finding forever

[hi-C]

I like the songs I've heard ("UMC" and "Make My Day", but overall it's gotten pretty bad (for Common) ratings.

[Be-Faithful]

There's a lot of better rappers than Common.

[brooklyneast05]

which is relevant how?


this thread is about common and his new album, not whether or not there are better rappers.

[fameONE]

I can't listen to this album enough. I was a little cautious when I saw that Pharrell was the executive producer for the album. I heard that the album would feature production from the Neptunes but I really expected a more 'throwback' sound. Where the hell are you, NO I.D.? Nonetheless, I was more than willing to give UMC it's fair listen for the simple fact that Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr. might very well be the best lyricist alive.

I was pleasantly surprised at how Common hasn't lost his edge. The love/sex songs that he;s been producing more of for the past 4 albums annoyed me, at first. Why? Those love/sex songs, in addition to Pharrell on the track, just screams like an attempt at mainstream. I like Pharrell, I really do, but kanYe is more worthy to rap on a track with Common than Pharrell. The mixed feelings continue as I keep listening to it, but I can't stop nodding my head to the beat.

Nevermind; I just listened to 'Gladiator.'

[brooklyneast05]

well i bought it.


ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, i don't know.


i have a hard time saying "i don't like it" in reference to common, but if i'm being honest...i don't like it. it's just boring to me. i think everything sounds the same pretty much. which, i probably wouldn't care about if we were talking about something produced by NO I.D. or kanye, but eh. the beats aren't "bad" in general, but to me personally they are bad. they aren't the smooth flowing beats that i prefer to listen to common rap over. just in general the whole thing isn't the style of music that i like. it sorta sounds like one big jumble of stuff thrown in together. i feel like the beats are too much or something. common is one of the last people who needs some overwhelmingly busy beat.

pharell and common are not a good match to me. i personally can't even decide half the time whether i like pharell to begin with, much less sticking him with someone who i feel like has a way different style and feel like common. for me, pharrell is either dead on or completely off the target. there's never an in between with me when it comes to him, i either like him or can't stand him.

the sex stuff is annoying. honestly, i don't want to hear songs about sex because it's boring to me. well, no i take that back. i don't want to hear any bullshit rap about sex. if i'm going to be rapped to about sex, it better be really f*cking clever. i mean there's some parts of "punch drunk love" that stand out to me and i'm cool with those, because the innuendoes were clever. in general, the kind of sex songs/lyrics i want, are those kinds that are so cleverly done that you can't decide if they actually meant it to be about sex or if you're just overly horny that day and took it that way. i want it to make me think, i don't want it just shoved in my face because i can turn on the radio if i want that boring shit.

"sex 4 suga"...wtf thought this was garbage.

i'm disappointed, but not surprised i guess, that i don't like it. i'm more of a soul dude than i am a techno one. this will probably stay in my car and get some more mindless plays while i'm going to school. i'm not going to hate on him too much for trying something else, but this was no 808's and heartbreak project. there's a difference between trying something different, and trying something different for the sake of being different. common didn't convince me that he's not falling into the second category with this one. too forced, i'm not interested at all in him continuing down this path.

[Simba]

common, you horny bastard >:O

[fameONE]

Where have all the introspective cuts gone?

If this weren't a Common album, people would be losing their minds over this album. Common set the bar for himself after 'Like Water for Chocolate' and 'Be.'

As it stands, Q-Tip's 'The Renaissance' > Common's UMC

[brooklyneast05]

changes is my favorite on there...but is it just me or is that song so strange and out of place?

[mello20902us]

No Tickkets!! to Obama's big bash!! but I'll be at the hottest spot in Rockville, MD away frome the crowds!!
http://www.seskalounge.com/ best enviorment I can think of.