::: Common - Finding Forever :::

Common, the hip-hop lyricist is back with his album entitled "Finding Forever" which was produced by the ever so lovable, always controversial Kanye West. This album has a barrage of wonderful tracks but just a few stood out. Now what would an album be without the artist paying tribute to their roots? Both Kanye and Common do their thing on the track "Southside" where the pay homage to the streets of their hometown, CHI-town. As we all know, Common one of the most culturally aware cats out there and with the track "U, Black Maybe" he stays true to form. Common takes a moment to say that "U, Black Maybe", ".talks about situations of people of color and because you are that color you endure obstacles.the struggle of just being you, of just being us." He gives us a break from the heavy, deep thinking songs and hits us with "So Far to Go" that has good old D'Angelo (yes ladies, "How Does it Feel"  D'Angelo) on gracing the track with his smooth falsetto voice that makes us remember why we loved him so much in the first place. My personal favorite is "Misunderstood" which chronicles the struggles of a drug dealer and a stripper, both people wanting better lives, both people defined by profession, both people choosing the harder road to get to where they want to be. Listen to their stories. The title track "Finding Forever" is a perfect way to end his album with it's slightly patriotic sound. This track talks of the America 's crises and societal woe's and Common speaks of a better tomorrow. It ends with a powerful message from Common's father. In listening to this man speak, you know in an instant where Common got his cultural awareness and poetic delivery from. All in all this album leaves you thinking about the role you play in society, how you contribute to the world and it leaves you with the question, "What is your legacy?" Buy the album and maybe Common can help you figure it out.

Review by: ~ MacKinzey