New Music: Common: "The People" [ft. Dwele] [Stream]
"The People", the first single from Common's forthcoming Finding Forever (out July 10 on Geffen), finds the Chicago rapper staking his pop on a populist message. Produced by Kanye West, the track opens with sampled shouts from "Long Red" by 1970s "Mississippi Queen" rockers Mountain-- a tribute to the late J Dilla, who also used the record in his productions. Common makes allusions to Finding Nemo, Rick Ross, and Barack Obama, while sweet-voiced r&b singer Dwele drops a smooth, synth-laced hook. It's a little weird that a guy known for bucking vapid Top 40 trends is now saying he's just giving the people what they want, and if the song sounds self-satisfied, it is: "When I see them struggling, I think of how I'm touching them," Common raps, hyping Kanye as the new DJ Premier and comparing lyrics to "liquor for the fallen soldier." Quick, where's Bono? Still, at least Common seems aware of the paradox. On the Grammies: "They tried to India.Arie me."
Stream: > Common: "The People" [ft. Dwele]
[from Finding Forever; due 07/10/07 on Geffen]