I was not going to say anything here about Common’s new CD “Finding Forever” because so many sites have deep intense posts about the album. On the Mindspill I prefer to post about music that needs to be heard but hard to find. I love “discovering” & putting people up on Indie artist.
Like a true Negro, I had been listening to “Finding Forever” for weeks before it came out thanks to some of my favorite Black gossip blogs but eagerly awaited the release so that I can fully support Common.
The day the album dropped, I left the job (on break) to cop the CD (+ I copped “300“). When I got back to the office, I popped it in & jammed all day. A well spent 12.99.
Commons’s music to me is what hip-hop is! Finding Forever is not packed with misogynistic messages or full of bling & self-glorification etc.
My favorite song hands down is “U, Black Maybe”! The beat is cold, the lyrics are powerful & reaching + the hook by sung by Bilal is banging.
Yesterday I was driving to pick up lunch & repeated the song like 5 times before I got back to the plantation. I am not sure if they are playing this song on the radio but if not, they need to because there are many people in the community trapped in a Matrix of self-hate, self-suppression etc that need to hear a message that seeks to uplift & inform.
Of course I know Common is not the only brother out there that is seeking to change the game but he is on majorly on my radar. Perhaps in a few weeks I will be feeling Talib Kweli & his new album “Eardrum” after I get over how incredibly stupid he sounded during his latest interview on News & Notes with Ferai Chideya.
Back to Common: Do you have “Finding Forever” is so what are you feeling right now on it? If you don’t have it, what they hell are you waiting for???
Before I pour my 1st glass of wine tonight; I leave you with:
“Can’t come around
They gon’ wanna bring you down
No one knows just what’s inside
Doing dope and doing time
Why they messing with your mind
Black maybeI heard a white man’s yes
Is a black maybe
I was delivered in this world
As a crack baby
Hard for me to pay attention
And I act crazy
Gotta get over from the tip
I watch the fat lady sing a song
On how we guerillas in warfare
And I’m the kingest kong
They say we dreamin wrong
Them same strips that them older cats lingered on
Now the walgreens is gone
Hope is killed fiends are born
We leanin on a wall that ain’t that ain’t stable
Its hard to turn on the hood that made you
To leave We afraid to the same streets that raised you
Can aid you. What other black births came suit
the rage up in harlem and the southside
Brothers is starving with there mouth wide open
Floating across state got the workout plans so they can move weight
The fate of the black man, woman, and child maybe……When we talk about black maybe
We talk about situations
Of people of color and because you are that color
You endure obstacles and opposition
And not all the time from…from other nationalities
Sometimes it come from your own kind
Or maybe even your own mind
You get judged..you get laughed at..you get looked at wrong
You get sighted for not being strong
The struggle of just being you
The struggle of just being us..black maybe…”
Anonymous / August 26, 2007
I really like your blog…but please take the time to proofread your posts. Too many daggone typos! Disturbs my flow. 🙁
Bygbaby / August 26, 2007
Anonymous – Thx for reading & challenging me. I think much faster & better than I type, which is why I have a ghetto disclaimer. Hang in there with me, one day I will change.
Bygbaby
Cluizel / August 26, 2007
Black Maybe is my favorite too…I was just annoyed that the first voice I heard on the album was kanye’s…come on homey…we know you’re hot…stop.
Erica C. / August 26, 2007
I got the cd a couple of weeks ago. Like you Bygbaby, I like to put out artists that no one has ever heard before. I don’t like to conform to what everyone is listening to at the moment. It’s boring.
The cd is great I really like it. My favorite tracks are 12-Forever Begins, 4-Driving Me Wild, and 9-So Far To Go.
I’m still waiting on you to check out Kate Bush!!!
Good Post!
Shay / August 26, 2007
I started to order this a while ago from Amazon.com and got distracted by a phone call and never did order it….I’ll get right on it today. Thanks for the review. (I still listen to “Like Water for Chocolate”) The last CDs I purchased were Chrisette Michele and a Latino group called Pacha Massive (I love their music even though I can’t understand what they are saying cuz it’s in English and Spanish but it’s still nice)…oh, and I did download (legally) a few songs from DJ Jazzy Jeff’s E.P. Return of the Magnificent. Just thought I’d share…
Bygbaby / August 26, 2007
Cluizel – I am too annoyed by KW, he gets on my last damn nerve. I used to be into him & got his 1st 2 albums but now when I here his voice I just think about what an ass he is.
Erica C – I am digging you favs too especially “Driving Me Wild”. I heard Kate Bush but…
Shay – You will not be disappointed (hopefully). I’m gonna check out Pacha Massive cuz I love Latin music. And that DJJ CD is tight!
Bygbaby
Xcentric Pryncess / August 28, 2007
I have been sleeping on COmmon lately–I need to go cop it
Sugar / August 28, 2007
Oh yeah! I’ve been pumping it for a couple of weeks. I think I like “So Far to Go” and “Forever Begins” the most. Those are my jams. I’m usually flipping back and forth between the two.
Oh, have you heard of this artist named “Blu”? He’s a hot up and comer. My BF put me on to him. Very nice. A young dude too!
Stephen Bess / August 28, 2007
yeah, I’m lovin’ Common. I have all his older cds. He’s a bad brother. I have to buy this cd. I’m not hip to it yet. I was aware that it is out, but I haven’t heard it. I know…I’ve been under a rock. 🙂
aulelia / August 30, 2007
i’m glad i’m not the only one who finds kanye annoying. i find him pretentious…i’m kind of on the fence on common since the oprah interview. i think the issues concerning hip-hop like misogyny torture him so it would be interesting to see what he says on the album. i might give it a listen.
the prisoner's wife / September 1, 2007
yeah, this song is dope…
Jose / September 3, 2007
I actually wrote two pieces for Blogcritics.org: one on Common’s ascendancy to mainstream success and the other on Talib Kweli’s Eardrum. And in both instances, I echoed your sentiments. These are both albums that you can just play and let it keep rockin’, and that’s great. I’m more personally attached to Talib’s album, but Common’s album has less holes. With both albums, I felt they were so crisp, something you usually don’t get with “underground” rappers.
U, Black Maybe is my joint too. Well done. And thanks for giving me a shoutout on some blog I saw a few days ago. Good to know you’re reading, too. Peace …
Bygbaby / September 3, 2007
Xcentric Pryncess – make that move, you will be happy you did!
Sugar – Good picks & I ill check out Blu.
Stephen – You have too bus on the road, slow down & have a listen.
TWP – Thx for stopping by & happy to see that you are in the know!!!
Jose – I read your Common post & I think we are in synch! In regards to Talib, give me some time cuz it takes me time to get over being turned off.
Bygbaby