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Common spent the '90s carrying the Native Tongues torch through an era dominated by gangsta rap, earning a sizable underground following. Positive-minded alternative rap came back into vogue by the new millennium, and Common managed to land with major label MCA for 2000's Like Water for Chocolate. The album established him as a leading figure of alternative rap's second generation, not just because of the best promotion he'd ever had, but also because it was his great musical leap forward, building on the strides of One Day It'll All Make Sense. There's production work by the Roots' ?uestlove, neo-soul auteur D'Angelo, the Soulquarians, and DJ Premier. But the vast majority of the album was handled by Slum Village's Jay Dee, and his thick, mellow, soul- and jazz-inflected sonics make Like Water for Chocolate one of the richest-sounding albums of the new underground movement. Common isn't always a master technician on the mic, but it hardly matters when the music serves his deeply spiritual vision and smooth-flowing raps so effectively. The singles "The Light" and "The 6th Sense" are quintessential Common, uplifting and thoughtful, and helped bring him a whole new audience. They're well complemented by the slinky, jazzy funk and lush neo-soul ballads that make up the record. Not everything is sweetness and utopia, either; Common sends up his own progressive image on "A Film Called (Pimp)," which features a hilarious guest appearance by MC Lyte, and spins a gripping first-person tale of revenge on the streets on "Payback Is a Grandmother" (though the tougher "Dooinit" feels a bit forced). The album could have been trimmed a bit to keep its momentum going, but on the whole, Like Water for Chocolate is a major statement from an artist whose true importance was just coming into focus.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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Michael Archer, ComposerLyricist - James Poyser, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Vinia Mojica, FeaturedArtist - James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Roy Hargrove, FeaturedArtist - Ahmir Thompson, ComposerLyricist - ?uestlove, Producer - D'Angelo, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Femi Kuti, FeaturedArtist - Jay Dee, Producer
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Tony Allen, ComposerLyricist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Jay Dee, Producer
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
Garry Shider, ComposerLyricist - Glen Goins, ComposerLyricist - Michael Archer, ComposerLyricist - George Clinton, ComposerLyricist - Tariq Trotter, ComposerLyricist - RAHZEL, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Roy Hargrove, FeaturedArtist - Ahmir Thompson, ComposerLyricist - ?uestlove, Producer - D'Angelo, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - The Roots, Producer - Kelo, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Jay Dee, Producer
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
Norman Harris, ComposerLyricist - Bruce Malament, ComposerLyricist - Bobby Caldwell, ComposerLyricist - James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Jay Dee, Producer
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Bilal, FeaturedArtist - James Poyser, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jill Scott, FeaturedArtist - James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Jay Dee, Producer
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, FeaturedArtist - James Poyser, Producer, ComposerLyricist - James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Jay Dee, Producer
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
Michael Archer, ComposerLyricist - James Poyser, Producer, ComposerLyricist - James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Ahmir Thompson, ComposerLyricist - ?uestlove, Producer - D'Angelo, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Jay Dee, Producer
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Chris Martin, ComposerLyricist - DJ Premier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - ALBERT JOHNSON, ComposerLyricist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Kejuan Waliek Muchita, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - MC Lyte, FeaturedArtist - Bilal, FeaturedArtist - James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Jay Dee, Producer
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Jay Dee, Producer
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - R.L. Altman III, ComposerLyricist - Titus Glover, ComposerLyricist - Slum Village, FeaturedArtist - Jay Dee, Producer
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
John Starks, ComposerLyricist - JAMES BROWN, ComposerLyricist - Fred Wesley, ComposerLyricist - James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Slum Village, FeaturedArtist - Jay Dee, Producer
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
Peter Lord, ComposerLyricist - Sandra St. Victor, ComposerLyricist - Michael Archer, ComposerLyricist - James Poyser, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Ahmir Thompson, ComposerLyricist - MACY GRAY, FeaturedArtist - GOD, Producer - ?uestlove, Producer - D'Angelo, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Vernon Smith, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
Cee-Lo, FeaturedArtist - James Poyser, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Thomas DeCarlo Burton, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Geffen Records
Karriem Riggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Lonnie "Pops" Lynn, FeaturedArtist
℗ 2000 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
Common spent the '90s carrying the Native Tongues torch through an era dominated by gangsta rap, earning a sizable underground following. Positive-minded alternative rap came back into vogue by the new millennium, and Common managed to land with major label MCA for 2000's Like Water for Chocolate. The album established him as a leading figure of alternative rap's second generation, not just because of the best promotion he'd ever had, but also because it was his great musical leap forward, building on the strides of One Day It'll All Make Sense. There's production work by the Roots' ?uestlove, neo-soul auteur D'Angelo, the Soulquarians, and DJ Premier. But the vast majority of the album was handled by Slum Village's Jay Dee, and his thick, mellow, soul- and jazz-inflected sonics make Like Water for Chocolate one of the richest-sounding albums of the new underground movement. Common isn't always a master technician on the mic, but it hardly matters when the music serves his deeply spiritual vision and smooth-flowing raps so effectively. The singles "The Light" and "The 6th Sense" are quintessential Common, uplifting and thoughtful, and helped bring him a whole new audience. They're well complemented by the slinky, jazzy funk and lush neo-soul ballads that make up the record. Not everything is sweetness and utopia, either; Common sends up his own progressive image on "A Film Called (Pimp)," which features a hilarious guest appearance by MC Lyte, and spins a gripping first-person tale of revenge on the streets on "Payback Is a Grandmother" (though the tougher "Dooinit" feels a bit forced). The album could have been trimmed a bit to keep its momentum going, but on the whole, Like Water for Chocolate is a major statement from an artist whose true importance was just coming into focus.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:17:32
- Main artists: Common
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Geffen*
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 2000 Geffen Records ℗ 2000 Geffen Records
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