Avg Rating: 
4.6 ( 37 total votes )
You met her in 1992, and what you loved most she had so much soul. The two of you related, mentally and emotionally, and it wasn’t long before you knew that throughout your life she’d be there for you. And you’d be there for her. You got married and while she went through some weird phases, you really couldn’t ask for better. But as time passed, familiarity bred complacency. You still loved her, but now every time a hot young chick crossed your field of vision your eyes would stray. “I wish my wife was … ...Read the full album review
Fans can also check out Common's previous albums: Common - Universal Mind Control | Common - Finding Forever
DJBooth Album Review
You met her in 1992, and what you loved most she had so much soul. The two of you related, mentally and emotionally, and it wasn’t long before you knew that throughout your life she’d be there for you. And you’d be there for her. You got married and while she went through some weird phases, you really couldn’t ask for better. But as time passed, familiarity bred complacency. You still loved her, but now every time a hot young chick crossed your field of vision your eyes would stray. “I wish my wife was still like that,” you’d think. The sad irony was that she was so good to you, for so long, that you began to take her for granted.
And then your 20th anniversary rolled around. You made reservations at that new restaurant everyone had been talking about. A couple glasses of wine, amazing food, some reminiscing on how you first met, and suddenly you realized how stupid you’d been not to appreciate her those last few years. Not only was she as beautiful as ever, she’d seen the world, grown wiser, become kinder. In fact, she was better now than ever.
Who I’m talkin bout y’all is Common…and his new album The Dreamer / The Believer. Incredibly, it’s been 20 years since Lonnie Rashid Lynn, then known as CommonSense, dropped his debut album, and since then he’s consistently turned out albums with a level of depth and creative visions few of his peers could match. And yet since he doesn’t generate headlines like Kanye or amass power like Jay-Z, the steadily and consistently dope Chicago emcee is often overlooked in the “greatest rappers of all-time” debate. Consider The Dreamer / The Believer a wake up call then, a reminder of just how good the man is and how much respect he deserves.
Greatness is never achieved in a day, or in a year or even a decade, so it really shouldn’t be a surprise that Common’s finally found the perfect balance between his more avant garde leanings and battle rap roots. Blue Sky covers an immense amount of territory in a mere four minutes as Common opens the track with a short, chopped flow full of rewind worthy punchlines - “Stay mellow (Melo) like LaLa / Young fresh with dollars, ladies go Gaga” – and then closes with a distorted dream sequence that builds layer upon layer into a wall of sound. Similarly, (half) title track The Dreamer finds Common somehow rhyming about both cash and universal liberation with enough skill that neither feels out of place. How many rappers could include both Ferrari references and Maya Angelou on the same track?
In retrospect Common’s often maligned Electric Circus album, and to an extent the less memorable Universal Mind Control, was for the best. They taught him how to push boundaries without straying too far. With that in mind he’s careful to balance every experimental cut against a more undeniably hip-hop banger like Ghetto Dreams. The addition of fellow legendary lyricist Nas over a bass-booming beat and plenty of big booty references equal the kind of high-caliber cut that can be used as ammunition against anyone even dreaming of calling him soft. Even more aggressive is the misleadingly titled Sweet, which finds Common as angry and willing to brawl as we’ve heard him in years. I mean, I’m not saying he’s firing shots at Drake with “stop singing, la la la, you ain’t no mother**kin Frank Sinatra, little bi**h,” but I’m not not saying he’s firing shots. And then when on the very next track he flips the mood entirely for the Sunday afternoon mellow Gold, it doesn’t sound hypocritical or forced, it sounds like different sides of the same complex man.
This isn’t Common’s first one producer, one emcee album – Kanye did the vast majority of the excellent Finding Forever – but ironically the Kanye of Finding Forever was far more classic hip-hop influenced. This is as much No I.D.’s album as it is Common’s and just like the album’s emcee, Dreamer / Believer’s producer remarkably manages to display an enormous range, from the piano cinema of The Believer to the party starting Celebrate, while still maintaining a sense of cohesion. Together the two vets have created a work that’s worthy of some serious recognition. I’m not yet sure exactly where it ranks in the best albums of the year discussion, but I am sure it belongs in that discussion. Frankly, if you’ve been taking Common for granted, like so many of us have, it’s really time to stop that s**t and recognize a hip-hop legend.
Watch video of Common breaking down every track on The Dreamer / The Believer here.
Listen to More: Common Written by Nathan S.
More From Common
Submit a Review and/or Rating
Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: Total Ratings: 37
|
DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 55 |
Rating:
man this album was amazing. this and the roots album are defiantly best albums of the year
|
| Posted on Dec 20, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 86 |
Rating:
Nice finish to the end of the year.
|
| Posted on Dec 20, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 224 |
Rating:
This album is just way too damn good. 2011 has been a great year for hip hop.
|
| Posted on Dec 20, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 410 |
Rating:
Say hello to Album of the Year.....thanks Common!
|
| Posted on Dec 20, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 144 |
Rating:
agree with everyone above...mos def in the running with the roots for album of the year!
|
| Posted on Dec 20, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 53 |
Rating:
People should Take Care of and Watch the Throne, cuz Common just took over the Cole ("whole") World by storm.
|
| Posted on Dec 20, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Excellent Album
|
| Posted on Dec 21, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Common, the Roots, Phonte...makes my album of the year list..
|
| Posted on Dec 21, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Listened to the album about three times today, and at least 8 out of the 12 tracks hold replay value in the future months for me. I picked mine up hard copy from target, and it came with two additional "unreleased remixes of "The Believer" and 'Ghetto Dreams". (I feel they could have easily been left out. However, I have never been one to complain about free gifts.) Overall The Dreamer / The Believer is a wonderful album, and is easily in the top ten to be released this year.
|
| Posted on Dec 21, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 1 |
Rating:
All Of The Tracks That I've Listen To So Far Have Been Incredible. *Common* Work So Hard To Deliver Us [The Fans] Something We Can All Really Appreciate & Love. For In This Day & Age "Everyone Claims To Be Hip Hop Or A Main Force To Be Reckon With" But The Matter Of The Facts Is That Those Are The Same People That Have Damaged The Game Itself. Regarding This Album: Its Just AWESOME/This Is HIP HOP. I'm So Excited For *NAS* To Drop His As Well. Much Love From Las Vegas. One Love.
|
| Posted on Dec 21, 2011 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Dec 21, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 6 |
Rating:
I agree, best album of the year right there
|
| Posted on Dec 21, 2011 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1805 |
Rating:
 I never was a Common fan, but this album really pushed me towards it.. He did amazing work in this album.. I really liked all the records in this, and about 8 of them have alot of replay value.. but in my oppion not the album of the year..
|
| Posted on Dec 21, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 3 |
Rating:
Album of the year, hands down! :)
|
| Posted on Dec 21, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Yo this album, fire son!!! I've spun the entire album straight through a few times and I don't think it's going anywhere. It's very reminiscent and the sound is IDeal.
|
| Posted on Dec 22, 2011 |
|
Professional  Total Ratings: 91 |
Rating:
Good Hip Hop....
 DJ Sandman (WBTP 95.7 The Beat -Tampa, FL / BumsquadDjz / 1200Squad / RapattackLives.Com / Dynasty's Tour Dj / Laws Tour Dj / Dreampusher Mixtape Best of the Booth Vol. 5 |
| Posted on Dec 22, 2011 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Dec 22, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Diggin the album and will be taking an extremely close listen this weekend
|
| Posted on Dec 22, 2011 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 9611 |
Rating:
another classic from Common...
|
| Posted on Dec 22, 2011 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Dec 23, 2011 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Dec 25, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 11 |
Rating:
GOAT
|
| Posted on Dec 26, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
such a dope album. i won't say "common is back", because to me he never left. but this is certainly amongst my favorite work of his.
|
| Posted on Dec 30, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 8 |
Rating:
I agree Common, The Roots, Phonte and Tyler Woods are some of the best albums of the year. And Jeezy and J Cole as a honorable mention.
|
| Posted on Dec 30, 2011 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Amazing album, perfection. Another classic album my Com Sense!
|
| Posted on Jan 02, 2012 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 128 |
Rating:
As a long time fan of Common, it hurts to jip him of a 5 star review. Needless to say, this is definitely one of my top albums of the year, but I find myself snoozing through some of these tracks.
|
| Posted on Jan 09, 2012 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 15 |
Rating:
Amazing album
|
| Posted on Jan 10, 2012 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 10 |
Rating:
True hip-hop and full of inspiration, I love this album and we all know Common is a legend.
|
| Posted on Jan 11, 2012 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Love it!
|
| Posted on Jan 11, 2012 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 74 |
Rating:
Album of the year (2011)
|
| Posted on Jan 12, 2012 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Jan 12, 2012 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 121 |
Rating:
I never reviewed this, so I listened to the entire album again several times and finally got a chance to really go over the lyrics.
I admit, I was one of the people who took Common for granted. Back when I used to listen to him over the years I felt like he mastered his lane and agreed with others that he was something similar to hip hop's answer to Marvin Gaye or a classic Motown singer. His smooth, thought provoking songs were always wonderful listens. But there was always something missing in his early days to me, I felt he needed more edge in his delivery and range. I felt bored and too relaxed at times. Others felt like that too, that Common wasn't as highly regarded as other MCs because they felt like his music was only for "soft guys and coffee shop chicks". Boy, did he answer that with this album. From the beginning track featuring Maya Angelou (when I knew it was gonna get ugly) to the end with Pops belief dedicated to Crispus Attucks and Marcus Garvey, you can let the album pretty much play straight through. He shows a great balance of edge and fire (Ghetto Dreams, Blue Sky) as well as the smooth reflective/story telling & inspirational songs he's mastered many times (Windows, Cloth,The Believer). Other than 'Celebrate' which whose balling subject matter has been rapped about many times, even that grows on you after repeat listens. It's one of Commons best and a classic. 5 stars. |
| Posted on Feb 01, 2012 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Your reviews leave me wondering...
What is there to like here? |
| Posted on Feb 08, 2012 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Mar 11, 2012 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
cloth and the believer are my two favorites on this album
|
| Posted on Mar 25, 2012 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
If you know Common then you know his work.Theres really nothing to say, but Good,Lyrical,& Beats.This is one of commons story albums.
|
| Posted on May 08, 2012 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Jun 14, 2012 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Album of the year. Straight up classic
|
| Posted on Jun 17, 2012 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Jul 03, 2012 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on Apr 05, 2013 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Real MC. Much improved from last album. good production from No I.D.
|
| Posted on Jun 09, 2013 |
FEATURED ARTIST
FEATURED ALBUM
TOP 20 MUSIC CHARTS
The top rated new Hip Hop & R&B songs on DJBooth, updated every Sunday.
