Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
A former Source magazine "Unsigned Hype" winner, Common Sense almost single-handedly put Chicago hip-hop on the map in the early '90s with his excellent debut, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, which displayed a truly unique sound that, nevertheless, situated the rapper somewhere between the ground staked out by A Tribe Called Quest and Gang Starr. Can I Borrow a Dollar? features the fabulous, oddly muted production of 2 Pc. Drk Productions (Immenslope and Twilite Tone). They opt for a spare, minimalist production that prominently features understated keyboard loops over simple drum tracks, occasionally augmented by saxophone or flute for an overall jazzy, laid-back feel. The production perfectly complements Common Sense's hiccuping/singsongy vocal style and involved rhymes. His lyrics are packed with allusions and references to pop and street culture nearly as eclectic as those of the Beastie Boys. Though sometimes lighthearted to the point of aimlessness and occasionally veering into harder-hitting (vaguely misogynistic) sentiments, Can I Borrow a Dollar? acted, for the most part, as an antidote to the exaggeratedly hardcore rhymes of a lot of early-'90s hip-hop. Stand-out tracks such as "Charms Alarm," "Take It EZ," and the only outside production, the Beatnuts' characteristically bell-driven "Heidi Hoe," are calls to arms to all hangers-on and fakers in the hip-hop community. This is one of the most underrated hip-hop debuts of the '90s.
© Stanton Swihart /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - Common Sense, Performer - Gary Glenn, Composer - Gary Glenn, Lyricist - Immenslope, Producer
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - Immenslope, Producer
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
2pc DRK, Producer - Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - The Beatnuts, Performer - The Beatnuts, Producer
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - Ernie Isley, Composer - Ernie Isley, Lyricist - Immenslope, Producer - Marvin Isley, Composer - Marvin Isley, Lyricist - Ronald O'Kelly, Composer - Ronald O'Kelly, Lyricist - Rudolf Isley, Composer - Rudolf Isley, Lyricist
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Bob James, Composer - Bob James, Lyricist - Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - Common Sense, Performer - Immenslope, Producer
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - Common Sense, Performer - Twilite Tone, Producer
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - Common Sense, Performer - Twilite Tone, Producer
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
2pc DRK, Producer - Bobby Humphrey, Performer - Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - Common Sense, Performer - L. Mizell, Composer - L. Mizell, Lyricist
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - Common Sense, Performer - Immenslope, Producer
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - Common Sense, Performer - Ronald O'Kelly, Composer - Ronald O'Kelly, Lyricist - Rudolf, Marvin, Ernie Isley, Composer - Rudolf, Marvin, Ernie Isley, Lyricist - Twilite Tone, Producer
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - Immenslope, Producer
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Common, Performer - Common Sense, Composer - Common Sense, Lyricist - Common Sense, Performer - Twilite Tone, Producer
(P) 1992 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
A former Source magazine "Unsigned Hype" winner, Common Sense almost single-handedly put Chicago hip-hop on the map in the early '90s with his excellent debut, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, which displayed a truly unique sound that, nevertheless, situated the rapper somewhere between the ground staked out by A Tribe Called Quest and Gang Starr. Can I Borrow a Dollar? features the fabulous, oddly muted production of 2 Pc. Drk Productions (Immenslope and Twilite Tone). They opt for a spare, minimalist production that prominently features understated keyboard loops over simple drum tracks, occasionally augmented by saxophone or flute for an overall jazzy, laid-back feel. The production perfectly complements Common Sense's hiccuping/singsongy vocal style and involved rhymes. His lyrics are packed with allusions and references to pop and street culture nearly as eclectic as those of the Beastie Boys. Though sometimes lighthearted to the point of aimlessness and occasionally veering into harder-hitting (vaguely misogynistic) sentiments, Can I Borrow a Dollar? acted, for the most part, as an antidote to the exaggeratedly hardcore rhymes of a lot of early-'90s hip-hop. Stand-out tracks such as "Charms Alarm," "Take It EZ," and the only outside production, the Beatnuts' characteristically bell-driven "Heidi Hoe," are calls to arms to all hangers-on and fakers in the hip-hop community. This is one of the most underrated hip-hop debuts of the '90s.
© Stanton Swihart /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 00:49:03
- Main artists: Common
- Composer: Common Sense
- Label: Relativity Records
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
(P) 1992 Relativity Records
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.