LIVE: The Summer Spirit Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion

All photos by Boney Starks | @boneystarks. PLEASE support. I’m convinced that the Summer Spirit Festival is the grown and sexy Woodstock. Over 20,000 people made the pilgrimage to the Merriweather Post Pavilion to see Eyrkah Badu headline an amazing lineup of modern soul and hip-hop talent, including Common, Janelle Monae, The Roots, B.O.B. and [...]

New Music: Common feat. Queen Latifah – Next Time

You might remember “Next Time” from when it was released some months ago as an ‘unreleased track’. It has now been re-released reportedly as the first single from Common’s upcoming Go! Common Classics “best of” album - set to drop May 25.  Produced by Kanye West,  this version is much better in sound and features new verses from Common and lovely melodies from Queen Latifah. [...]

Interview: Common at BMI’s “How I Wrote That Song” panel, Hollywood

Common always seems to be a few years ahead of his time. The Chicago MC was once scolded by the hip-hop community for his more adventitious projects–Electric Circus and Universal Mind Control–however now it’s almost the norm for hip-hop artists to rhyme over electro beats. Ever forward thinking and innovative, the MC has not only [...]

Giant Step presents New Year’s Eve w/ Common & Rye Rye, at The Delano, MIAMI

WHO: New York’s Giant Step returns to Miami to ring in the New Year at Delano. Grammy award-winner Common will be joined by his live band for an exclusive performance in The Florida Room with additional music by DJ Tommy Ryk. Up-and-coming hip-hop star and M.I.A. protégé Rye Rye takes over the Poolside for a [...]

EXCLUSIVE AUDIO: The Roots, Common, and Amerie at The Velvet Room, Atlanta

Common + The Roots – Come Close, Love Is… [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Amerie + The Roots – Why Are U?, One Thing [Audio clip: view full post to listen] The Roots – You Got Me [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Download: All three tracks in a Zip file. On [...]

Elevator Fight Added to Hennessy Artistry Tour with Common and The Roots

I got the word that the illustrious Zoe Kravitz and her band Elevator Fight for getting added to the Hennessy Artistry Tour, supporting Common and The Roots. If you don’t know, we interviewed Elevator Fight before their show in DC, and I’m glad to see that the group has taken a giant leap forward. Congrats [...]

Kid Cudi – Poke Her Face (Make ‘Em Say)

Regardless of what you think of Kid Cudi (his emo tirades are well documented by now), Cudi’s latest release “Poke Her Face,” is reinventing how music is getting pushed from the Internet to the mainstream. After the success of “Day N’ Nite,” and the Crooker’s remix, Cudi’s people were scrambling to find a follow-up to [...]

[DC] TUESDAY: Q-Tip vs Common at Almaz U Street

New Common – Make My Day and What A World

Common – What a World feat Chester French [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Common – Make My Day feat Cee-Lo [Audio clip: view full post to listen] Common’s Universal Mind Control is still slated for release on December 9th, although I wouldn’t be surprised if it got pushed back again. So far, it’s [...]

Common’s Universal Mind Control – tracklist

Common’s Universal Mind Control drops Dec 9th ’09. Tracklist: 01. Universal Mind Control 02. Punch Drunk Love (Feat. Kanye West) 03. Make My Day (Feat. Cee-Lo Green) 04. Sex 4 Sugar 05. Announcement (Feat. Pharrell Williams) 06. Gladiator 07. Changes 08. Inhale 09. What a World 10. Everywhere

Video: Common feat Pharrell – Universal Mind Control

I’m growing to like this song, even though the video is a tad suspect. Invincible Summer Universal Mind Control drops next month.

Video: Common – Universal Mind Control (Teaser)

I couldn’t stand this song when I first heard it, but I predict that this track will be a club sensation. The Neptunes really did a good job capturing the essence of early hip-hop with this track even if Common’s rapping skills are so-so. And of course, there are…wait for it…ROBOTS! I actually predicted that [...]