from Launch:

10/30/02, 10 a.m. ET) -- Common's Electric Circus, due out on December 10 on MCA Records, boasts an all-star lineup of collaborators including Prince, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, ?uestlove from the Roots, and Sonny from P.O.D., among others.

The Neptunes and the Soulquarians (Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, James Poyser, Pino Pallidino, and Jay Dee) handle the album's production.

Blige appears on the album's first single, "Come Close," produced by the Neptunes.

While Common's gold 2000 album Like Water For Chocolate explored more soulful, funk terrain, Electric Circus melds the Chicago bred rapper's rock and jazz influences. "I feel it's a fusion of new music," Common told LAUNCH about the album. "We try to create something new within hip-hop, and it became a fusion of all the influences that we have in our music, whether it be a Pink Floyd or Jimi Hendrix or the Beatles, whoever it may be. As I opened up to new music I was able to implement that into my music, and interpret it in my own way. So, it's definitely for me a blend of that. And Miles Davis's On The Corner. It's kinda a fusion of a lot of that."

The album's sequencing has not been finalized; however, the following songs are slated to appear on the record: "I Am Music," featuring Jill Scott; "I Got Da Right Ta," featuring Pharrell; "Come Close," featuring Mary J. Blige; "Ferris Wheel," featuring Vinia Mojica and Marie Daulne of Zap Mama; "Soul Power"; "Aquarius," featuring Erykah Badu and Bilal; "Heaven Somewhere," featuring Omar Lye-Fook, Cee-Lo, Bilal, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Lonnie "Pops" Lynn; "Jimi Was A Rock Star," featuring Erykah Badu; "Between Me, You & Liberation," featuring Cee-Lo; "Electric Wire Hustle Flower," featuring Sunny from P.O.D.; "New Wave," featuring Laetitia Sadier; "Star *69 (PS With Love)," featuring Bilal and Prince on guitar; "The Hustle," featuring Omar Lye-Fook and Dart Chillz.

-- Billy Johnson Jr., Los Angeles

This sounds like it's gonna rock some serious shit.

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[This message was edited Sun Mar 2 9:42:46 PST 2003 by IstenSzek]

Can't wait!

The last Common LP was fantastic, especially "Request Line". Still got the LP as one of my 10 CDs in my car autochanger.

Rico said:

Doh!!! Getting my Common and Black Eyed Peas LPs confused! Damn fool! Got 'em both in my car, along with Mos Def's last one. If you ain't got either of these, get em now!

Ahhh I am really looking forward to this album!! I discovered Common way back when he was making appearances on De La's stuff and never looked back... a new Common album will do me very nicely! It's been a bit of a drought for new music this year. I wish Dead Prez would release a new one soon too...

So whats the name of the Prince track??

Harlepolis said:

"Star *69 (PS With Love)," featuring Bilal and Prince on guitar

Essence said:

That will def be a must have. Thanx 4 the info