Common - Electric Circus CD

Electric Circus buy CD music All songs written by Common Sense. Contains samples from "Protect Ya Neck" (as performed by Wu-Tang Clan) and "Power Of Love" (as performed by Alton McClain and Destiny). The music on RESURRECTION seems deceptively simple--jazzy loops over a strong break beat--but this is only because the true focus on any Common Sense album is the lyrics. Common is an underrated rapper, possessing enormous skills on the mic, able to string together seemingly endless syllables and phrases into a fluent, flowing story line. He often speaks in soundbites, using an old commercial's ad-line or another rapper's hook, but always recreating them to fit into the story he's trying to tell, usually regarding his life and his 'hood--Chicago's Stony Island. Common Sense has grown up since his 1992 debut, CAN I BORROW A DOLLAR? Instead of wasting time dogging the "Heidi Hoes" around his way, he turns his talent towards more mature themes. While he spends plenty of time discussing monetary matters in songs like "Chapter 13 (Rich Man Vs. Poor Man)" and "Communism," the album's centerpiece is "I Used To Love H.E.R.," a chronicle of Common's long time relationship with the woman he loves--an extended metaphor for hip hop herself. He sounds sad and jealous describing how other rappers have treated her ("Slammin' her, and taking her to the sewer"), and vows to take her back and treat her right--no false promise when it comes out of Common's mouth. Placing Chicago firmly onto the hip-hop map, Common Sense has brought some sanity and intelligence back to a genre that has missed it the past few years. Common Sense's sophomore release established a level of quality from the MC that would carry through to his most innovative albums, LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE and BE. Spare, relaxed, jazz-laden grooves create a context for this Chicago rhymemaster to do what he does best, and in very few places on RESURRECTION do the verses leave listeners wanting. Narratives, metaphors, puns, and dazzling verbal wordplay are on offer throughout. "I Used to Lover H.E.R.," for example, uses a first-person romance narrative to detail the history of hip-hop, resulting in an extended metaphor that's sophisticated, clever, and delivers a moral message. Common outs himself as an MC with a conscience on tunes like "Nuthin' to Do," which critiques the poor state of many of Chicago's neighborhoods. Thanks in part to Common's intelligent, agile style and scintillating street poetry, and to the album's spare, groovy tracks that owe nothing to trends of the moment, RESURRECTION will still sound smart decades after its release. Engineers: Troy Hightower (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9-15); Stephen Georgiafandis (tracks 2, 4, 8). Personnel: Lenny Underwood (keyboards); Mista Sinista (scratches). Audio Mixers: Mike Koch; Troy Hightower. Recording information: Battery studios, Chicago, IL; Mirror Image. Photographer: Chris Anda. Personnel: Common Sense, NO I.D., The Illustrious and Praiseworthy Mohammed Ali, The Late Show's Ynot Never The Less (vocals), Lenny Underwood (keyboards), Mista Sinister (scratches). Producers: NO I.D. (tracks 1-5, 7-11, 13, 15); The Late Show's Ynot Never The Less (tracks 12, 14).

Electric Circus CD music "The Light" was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Considered by critics to be one of hip-hop's most skilled lyricists, Common has yet to receive the mainstream attention he deserves. But LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, his fourth album, is likely to change that. While positive lyrics and musical uniqueness have always been Common's forte, this MCA Records' debut presented feel-good hip-hop at a time when the genre's most successful artists were concerned with materialism and party-friendly production. Most of the beats on LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE are provided by Jaydee of the Ummah, a producer who helped shape the latter sound of A Tribe Called Quest. And while Common's strongest track, "The 6th Sense," was actually produced by DJ Premier, his TCQ-inspired sound on this album sheds new light on the prolific rapper. Engineers include: Joe Pirrera, Todd Fairah, Kenyatta Saunders. Composer: Larry Gold. Personnel: T3 (vocals, hand claps); Femi Kuti, Vinia Mojica (vocals); Jef Lee Johnson (guitar); Antonio Hart (flute); Roy Hargrove (trumpet); D'Angelo (piano, keyboards, claves); James Poyser (organ, keyboards); ?uestlove (drums); Baatin (hand claps); DJ Premier, Jay Dee, Mista Sinista (scratches); Rahzel Brown, Bilal Oliver, Jill Scott, Monie Love, Black Thought (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Steve Mandel; ?uestlove; Russell Elevado; Bob Power. Recording information: DAR; Electric Lady Studio, NY; Patchwerk Studio, Atlanta, GA; Studio A, Dearborn Heights, MI; Touch Of Jazz Studio, Phiadelph. Photographer: Christian Lantry. Feat.: D'Angelo,Mos Def,Cee-Lo From Goodie Mob,Mc Lyte,F.Kuti Personnel: Common (vocals); D'Angelo (vocals, keyboards, claves); Jay Dee (vocals, scratches); Lonnie "Pops" Lynn, MC Lyte, T3, Baatin, Vinia Mojica, Femi Kuti, James Yancey, Mos Def (vocals); Jeff Lee Johnson (guitar); Antonio Hart (flute); James Poyser (oboe, Fender Rhodes piano, harpsichord, organ, keyboards); Roy Hargrove, Dwight Adams (trumpet); John Paxton (trombone); Stephon Harris (vibraphone); ?estlove (bass, drums); Pino, Richie Goods (bass); Melena (congas); DJ Premier, Mista Sinista (turntables); Black Thought, Cee-Lo, Rahzel "The Godfather Of Noyze", Bilal, Monie Love, Jill Scott (background vocals). Producers include: DJ Premier, Jay Dee, The Roots, James Poyser, Karriem Riggins.

Electric Circus songs ILLADELPH HALFLIFE represents an advancement in hip-hop that has been a long time in the making. Like Gang Starr, A Tribe Called Quest and the Wu-Tang Clan, the Roots sought to widen hip-hop's scope with their debut album, DO YOU WANT MORE?!!!??!, which incorporated live instruments and a jazzy funk feel. Critics praised it, but the band's positive messages didn't quite get through to rap's core audience (nor, it should be noted, did the Fugees' the first time around). It was as if the band had started teaching before its students were listening. With ILLADELPH HALFLIFE, the Roots have opted for a closer relationship with the boom-bap sound of true hip-hop, and they've managed to do so without letting go of the elements that made their debut special. Vocalists Black Thought and Malik B. still inject lyrical science into their rhymes, and here they're joined by fellow rap-educators Q-Tip (on "Ital"), Bahamadia ("Push Up Ya Lighter") and Common Sense ("UNIverse At War"). With ILLADELPH HALFLIFE, the Roots should finally make a very significant mark on the world of hip-hop. Principally recorded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Producers include: The Brother ?uestion, Kelo, Chaos, The Grand Negaz. Personnel: D'Angelo (vocals, guitar, Fender Rhodes piano, organ); Angela Slates, Rahzel, Black Thought, Cassandra Wilson (vocals); Julia Haines (harp); Hub (cello); Steve Coleman (saxophone); Graham Haynes (trumpet); Josh Roseman (trombone); Kamal (piano, sleigh bell); ?uestlove (keyboards, drums, kalimba); Brother Question (keyboards, drums); Scott Storch (keyboards); Raphael Saadiq (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Kenny Eifle; Kenyatta Kelo Williams; ?uestlove; Mel Lewis; Richard Nichols; Tim Donovan; Black Thought; Bob Power; Chaos. Audio Remixer: ?uestlove. Recording information: ?uestions Halfway House, Philadelphia, PA; Battery Studios, New York, NY; Brilliant Studios, San Francisco, CA; Darp Studios, Atlanta, GA; Ivory Productions, Rm.1 & 3; Lotheflex's Dungeon, Philadelphia, PA; Nebula Sounds, Philadelphia, PA; Pookie Studios, Sacramento, CA; Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia, PA; Sonic Studios, Philadelphia, PA; Soundtrack Recording Studios, New York, NY. Photographer: Michael Lavine. Unknown Contributor Roles: David Murray; Dice Raw; Common Sense; M-ill-itant; M.A.R.S. ; Lee Andrews; Malik B.; Q-Tip; Spanky; Bahamadia; Black Thought. The Roots: Rahzel "The Godfather Of Noyze" (vocals, various instruments); The Brother "?uestlove" ?uestion (vocals, keyboards, drums, percussion); Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, Malik "M-Ill-itant" B. (vocals); Leonard Nelson "Hub" Hubbard (cello, keyboards, bass); Kamal (keyboards, sleigh bells). Additional personnel: D'Angelo, Cassandra Wilson, Scratch, Angela Slates, Common, Amel Larrieux, Ursula Rucker, Dice Raw (vocals); Steve Coleman, Graham Haynes, Josh Roseman (horns); Scott Storch (keyboards); Julia Haines, Raphael Saadiq, Spanky, Tracey, Fatin, Lee Andrews, Bad Lieutenant, Kelo, Bahamadia, Dice Raw, M.A.R.S., David Murray, Q-tip, The Jazzyfatnastees.

Electric Circus album for sale Common's third and most introspective album is a career-making effort. The man people knew as Common Sense dropped the later half of his moniker along with the forty-and-blunts rhymes to reflect on themes such as adulthood, the pitfalls of self-hatred, abortion, and fatherhood. Complete with some of the most impressive and inspired production of the '90s, with the lion's share attributed to No I.D., ONE DAY IT'LL ALL MAKE SENSE is one to remember. Common invited an impressive group of friends over for this outing. One standout pairing is his teaming up with Goodie Mob's Cee-Lo on "G.O.D.," where the two ponder the state of religion with more honesty than Oral Roberts and Jim Baker could muster in an entire career. Other guests include Q-Tip, Lauryn Hill, De La Soul, and Erykah Badu. Of course, Common tears through the solo cuts with ease just to show you he doesn't need a little help from his friends. When a '90s hip-hop revival takes root, this is one of the albums your kids will steal from your collection. You better get two. Includes liner notes by Raquel Cepeda. Personnel: Common, Lauryn Hill, De La Soul, Cee-Lo, Erykah Badu, Black Thought "Taria", Canibus, Chantay Savage, Lonnie "Pops" Lynn, Q-Tip. Producers include: NO I.D., Dug Infinite, James Poyer, Spike Rebel, Rob Carter.

Electric Circus CD music PHRENOLOGY was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. Beloved by both the critical intelligentsia and hardcore hip-hop fans, the Roots have made their mark straddling the worlds of rap and soul while being one of the few acts to mine beats and rhymes with the aid of live instrumentation. The three-year gap between 1999's studio effort THINGS FALL APART and 2002's PHRENOLOGY is ended with a platter's worth of hip-hop manna spiced up by guest appearances that lean more toward organic collaboration versus cynical marketing manipulation. Head MC Black Thought leads the charge as he manages to wax poetic about the drug problems of running buddy Malik B on the irresistibly funky "Water" (featuring riffs by guitar great James "Blood" Ulmer). Among the guests who meet this creative high water mark are Talib Kweli (the crisply delivered "Rolling With Heat"), Nelly Furtado (the sweet and sharp "Sacrifice"), and fellow Philly fanatic Jill Scott (the soulful "Complexity"). Lucky fans who pick up the limited edition version of PHRENOLOGY get treated to a bonus DVD featuring live footage of "The Ultimate" and "Double Trouble" taken from the MTV2 $2Bill Show. Additional personnel includes: Musiq, Nelly Furtado, Cody Chestnutt, Jill Scott, Talib Kweli (vocals); James "Blood" Ulmer, Jeff Lee Johnson (guitar); Sarah Chun, Nuah Vi, Ken Golder, Michelle Golder (cello); James Poyser (Moog synthesizer); Knuckles (percussion); Tracey Moore (background vocals); Alicia Keys. Includes DVD disc. Producers include: The Grand Wizzards, Kamiah Gray, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, Cody Chesnutt, Tahir. Personnel: Jill Scott, Talib Kweli, Black Thought (vocals); James Blood Ulmer, Jef Lee Johnson (guitar); Nuah Vi, Sarah Chun, Michelle Golder (cello); James Poyser (strings, Moog synthesizer); Kamiah "Little Klang" Gray (keyboards); Omar Edwards (ARP synthesizer); ?uestlove, Rahzel (drums); Nelly Furtado (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Jason Goldstein; Tom Coyne; Jeff Chestek; ?uestlove; Richard Nichols; Ben Kenney; Bob Power. Recording information: ?uest's Fruits And Berry Ranch (06/2000-09/2002); A House Called Quest, Illadelph, PA (06/2000-09/2002); Battery Studio, NY, NY (06/2000-09/2002); Electric Lady Studios, NY, NY (06/2000-09/2002); Encore Studios, Los Angeles, CA (06/2000-09/2002); Enterprise studios, Burbank, CA (06/2000-09/2002); Motive Studios, The Studio (06/2000-09/2002); Sony Studios, NY, NY (06/2000-09/2002); The Studio, Illadelph, PA (06/2000-09/2002). Illustrator: Tom "Evil Prints" Huck. Unknown Contributor Roles: ?uestlove; Malik B.; Alicia Keys; Mos Def; Ursula Rucker; Omar Edwards. The Roots: Black Thought, ?uestlove, Leonard Hubbard, Kamal The Klanger, Scratch, Ben Kenney. Explicit.

Electric Circus buy CD music The first album by Chicago MC Common, CAN I BORROW A DOLLAR?, is widely accepted in hip-hop's underground as a classic. Raw cuts like "Blows to the Temple" demonstrate why, and give listeners a glimpse at a legend in the making. With CAN I BORROW A DOLLAR?, a younger, more careless Common was simply out to demonstrate his talents to a nation obsessed with New York and L.A. rap. The lo-fi beat structure of the album is reminiscent of the music of the early '90s, when heavy jazz and funk influences dominated East Coast hip-hop. Though the disc is layered with gritty beats and samples that now seem familiar, they seem vibrant when put into context with other material of the same era. The Beatnuts offer one of their early productions on "Heidi Hoe," a track that may shock listeners who are used to Common's more reflective, socially aware lyrics of today. While certainly not his best work, die-hard fans won't be disappointed. Lyricist: Common Sense. Personnel: Common Sense (rap vocals); Tony Orbach (saxophone); Lenny Underwood (keyboards); Kenny Aaronson (bass guitar); Twilite Tone, Tarsha Jones (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Chuck Valle; Kirk Yano. Recording information: Calliope Studios, New York, NY; East Side Sound Recording Studio, New York, NY; Unique Recording Studio, New York, NY. Photographer: Paul Elledge. Arrangers: Twilite Tone; 2pc.DRK; Immenslope; The Beatnuts. Personnel: Common Sense (vocals); Tony Orbach (saxophone); Lenny Underwood (keyboards); Kenny Aaronson (bass); Twilite Tone, Tarsha Jones (background vocals); Immenslope, Rayshel. Producers: Immenslope, The Beat Nuts, Twilite Tone.