Avg Rating: 
3.8 ( 76 total votes )
Common - Universal Mind Control ft. Pharrell Williams
Artist: Common
Featuring: Pharrell Williams
Producer: Neptunes
Album: Universal Mind Control
Label: Think Common Music Inc./Warner Bros.
Clearly tired of being pigeonholed as a “conscious rapper,” critically-acclaimed emcee Common is taking a new direction with his upcoming eighth studio album, Universal Mind Control (formerly titled Invincible Summer). Choosing not to feature any Kanye West production on the new disc, the Chicago native will experiment with a club/techno sound that everyone in the industry has seemingly dug the past year or so (oh hey, Timbaland). For the first official single, entitled Universal Mind Control, Common teams up with Pharrell Williams, and together they channel their inner Afrika Bambaataa (remember Planet Rock?). While some might see this new approach as “selling out,” the majority of listeners should recognize hip-hop’s diversity, and consequently, Common’s true mastery of its various forms.
This song first appeared on the
Rap Chart
on June 2, 2008
Listen to More: Common , Pharrell Williams , Club Written by Burmy
More From Common
Submit a Review and/or Rating
Member Reviews and Ratings
Showing 50 of 76 Ratings. See All Ratings
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 868 |
Rating:
This song is a trip, its crazy hearing common flow over a beat like this i'll have to hear it a couple more times ,but for now i'll spin it
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2130 |
Rating:
I was highly anticipating "Invincible Summer" for the fact that it was Common, though I was afraid it was going to be like Electric Circus stuff. I'm as open minded as the next intelligent hip hop listener, but I really couldn't dig this style from Common. I'm so sad. It's different, but not something I would just listen to on the regular like Common's classic tracks. Sometimes the Neptunes and Pharell ruin things. This is an example on one of those times. But at least I know this is what Common wanted to do with this album...be different and make music types he hadn't make yet...so I can respect that, cuz I respect Mr. Lonnie Lynn Jr.
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2281 |
Rating:
...and bein fly. I heard this song a week ago and loved it off the bat! Common is one of the truly gifted artest in the game. This is different and I can see where some might not feel this from him, but I ain't some! This is fire!
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
it go hard tight beat
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 99 |
Rating:
im diggen it id bump it
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 360 |
Rating:
I just played this over and over in my car.. won't say its truly a classic but this song deserves stars! common maintains his lyrical integrity throughout the awesome club beat by the neptunes, so don't hate on his chosen style, just listen
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 269 |
Rating:
Um fresh, unreal Bangin. Common is one of best and greatest. Unlike anyone else. This is bangin.
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
crazy flow comin from Common. his lyrical content is always on point and i can dig the beat, though im not big on the chorus; maybe if it got rid of the echo?
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
WOW.....Straight to the ipod. Common&Pharrel....PFSH!
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 128 |
Rating:
Dang, did not expect this, but Common worked it and worked it well. Thanks Pharrell for your crazy influence.
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 205 |
Rating:
I CAN DO CARDIO TO THIS HAHA .. GUD TO HEAR THE NEP SOUND..
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
As a big fan of Common I have been looking forward this new album since it was announced. It's definitely got a Bambaatta feel to it which is something I haven't heard in a while. Common comes hard as always and even switches up his flow on this one. In a way I was glad to see that Common wouldn't be working with Kanye on this album. Don't get me wrong they are a great pair, but working with different producers can be refreshing and that is made clear with this song. The question I have now is what will be the rest of the album's "sound." No matter what I will be picking up a copy on the first day.
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
|
Rating:
why da hell will u make a track with pharrel, dats dumb! wack wack wack! Men where Dead Prez at!!!! Common is whack to me!
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Crew |
Rating:
As much as I admire Pharrell and as much as I love Common, their completely contrasting styles came together quite well on this collaboration. Many listeners will find it extremely difficult to accept this type of vibe from Common but I always believed that diversity is essential for a long lasting MC.
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
3/5 ... i personally like the new techo/club beats on new rap songs (Say Yeah - Wiz Khalifa) ... but this song is just aite ... nothing krazy ... hate to say it but the beat doesn't fit common's flow ... i dont think this will even do that great in the clubs ...
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
mmm...dont really care for this song
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 484 |
Rating:
Common is the best
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 73 |
Rating:
My favorite rapper has done it again. he isn't given enough respect in this game now a days but he is a very versatile artist. I can't believe he won't use any of Kanye's beats though. He really is taking a new direction. Common is speaking truth and if people are calling him a sell out, it's because they don't realize they sold out to alll these ringtone artist a long time ago.~(**)~
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
|
Rating:
better than I thought. he's really tired of the conscious-rapper label? hmmm. There's plenty of other stuff to rap about besides money, clothes, cars and ho's. this song reminds me of Mos Def's Jam On It. However, Common does sound a lil unsure here. i think he can def improve on this though.
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
Tastemaker |
Rating:
i luv listenin to Common, dis is a different style then how he usually raps but its gud i like it. its a banga.
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
I cant see knockin this in the wip...BUT damn does this make me wanna start b-boyin again. 3.5
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Just hit rewind...yea. From an ex b-boy prospective, I gotta give this a 4.5 / 5.
Hip Hop. |
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
Tastemaker |
Rating:
This is money!
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
ME LIKE
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
i like dis alot cuz the beat sounds nice and commons flow is nice
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 11662 |
Rating:
Once again, a WINDY CITY native proves to the world that you can make music for the club and it doesn't have to follow a magic formula. There might be a curve for long time fans to adjust to, but this will win 'em over eventually.
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
This one song almost sold me on the cd already. The neptunes killed the beat
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 904 |
Rating:
This is a breakdancers dream right here. Z is right, Chicago is coming with the freshest music right now.
This gets better the more times I listen to it.
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 407 |
Rating:
This beat is crazy and I would never expect Common to flow on something like this but it works...Neptunes did their thang on this track...
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Common has always been a beast ths shit bangs
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
! bling like the neptunes sound!
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
I like this song alot but i don't know if it's because i like the Neptunes/Pharrel's production or if it's because i like Common, but i don't think i can listen to this and then go back and listen to Common's other stuff. But the song is still good.
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
dont like neptune dont like pharell at all. This song is confusing wheres The Game at his beats alone will rock pharells voice
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 61 |
Rating:
This is like a love it or hate it type of song. Personally, I love it. Commons flow over this beat is another type of music and its sick. It could definetely get radio play but it might be risky if he released it as a single. Great song though. Classic.
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
NOOOOOOOOOO! "Electric Circus" material...and that is definitely not a compliment...we really do need Common's conscious brand of hip-hop it balances things out! i understand his artistic need to deviate and do somn different but please do that shit and still do a "BE" album...am pleading!
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
i love it its so crazy ^_^
|
| Posted on May 29, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
This sh*t is hot, but im not to crazy about Pharrell on the hook. He kinda brings it down. hot though, its not what i expected when i heard this song
|
| Posted on May 30, 2008 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 687 |
Rating:
I love this sound from Common but if it wasn't him, i'd say some of the lines are corny.
|
| Posted on May 30, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Ayyyyyyy yoooooooooo!!!!!!!
|
| Posted on May 30, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Aiiiiiiiiight!!!!!!
|
| Posted on May 30, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Lovin da beat. It's in rotation.
|
| Posted on May 30, 2008 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on May 30, 2008 |
|
|
Rating:
|
| Posted on May 30, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Yo Common took it back to the "ROOTS" the group and the roots of hip hop
|
| Posted on May 30, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Neptunes beat is hot on this, I'm really feelin this club banging beat and the percussion. Hook was okay, I didn't like the echo effect, but Common proves he can make some club music here. Its a new look and it still sounds like he needs to work on it more, but so far this is solid.
|
| Posted on May 30, 2008 |
|
Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 908 |
Rating:
I remarked that Nas was the "last true living king of hip hop". That statement was not 100% correct. Nas is still my favourite rapper of all time (has pretty much always been), but Common is still on everyone's top 10 for the greatests list, and if he isn't, he should be.
|
| Posted on May 30, 2008 |
|
DJ Booth Member |
Rating:
Always liked common, sick lyrics and tight beat, aint really feelin Pharrell but the song his hot
|
| Posted on May 30, 2008 |
Showing 50 of 76 Ratings. See All Ratings
FEATURED ARTIST
FEATURED ALBUM
TOP 20 MUSIC CHARTS
The top rated new Hip Hop & R&B songs on DJBooth, updated every Sunday.
