True Hip-Hop fans stand up! Get your ballots out, get the keys to the vault, clear the shelf, put this one way up top! Chi-towns finest, Kanye and Common have just saved summer. We all knew he had it in him, but this time Eryka's ex delivers. I don't do track for track reviews, check it for yourselfs. But if you have not seen the video for Go -the John Mayer (our generations Sting IMO) hooked single, directed and produced by West, head over to yahoo music, you be the judge. What so ever you do, cut your burners off for this one, put your blank cd's away, you can not burn a classic, don't ever burn a classic! This one deserves to be unwrapped and enjoyed as the artist intended it to be, linear notes, parental advisory label and all.

A little off topic, but that new Eminem video for "ass like that" is hillarious.

The album's excellent - head and shoulders above the competition (not too difficult) - but it's too early to be calling it a "classic".

I'm getting this and Gorillaz today!

This album was released like... TODAY.


Too many people calling it a classic before the general public embraces it I think.

Good, I was just starting to really get into his last album.

He's doing a record signing at Tower Records in NYC tonight @ 6:30 pm. B.E. there or B.E. square*!


.
[Edited 5/24/05 15:18pm]

I got it in the post today. I'm off to listen to it now!

BE is a great record. Im listening now! Yessirr!

CinisterCee said:

CinCee, who cares if the general public embraces it? The masses are asses.

The album's off the chain.

The album is HOTT. But it wasnt too off guard when they called The Blueprint a classic b4 it came out which it was, so was All Eyez On Me which it was, and Life Before Death, which it was also.

I would put it just 1/2 mark from classic because I have yet to embrace it.

Electric Circus wasnt that far off either from my classic rating if it wasnt for a few thrown in trax.

Be is a hot album though. Thank you Common.

This is a great album. What has really dissappointed me since I watched the accompanying DVD is how much Common distances himself away from Electric Circus and how much of a failure he considers it. As an artist, I don't think he should be ashamed of what the album represented. So what if everyone perceives the album as "Erykah's doing" If that's the space he was in at the time, I think he should be proud of that.

Just because the new album is more accessible doesn't necessarily make it better than the last one, as far as I'm concerned. As good as BE is, personally I think Electric Circus is light years better.

psykosoul said:

Electric Circus was what made me LIKE Common, he should embrace his children u are right.

Just cuz sum TRL folks dont recieve it well doesnt make it bad at all. Where would Prince be if he gave in2 what people wanted from him all the time?

I bought "BE" today wOOOOOooooo it's tight!

psykosoul said:

Really, psyko? I already find I'm spinning the new one more. EC will always have a special place in my heart though. The day I bought it is the day I met him.

BE is definately more accesible, more commercial and hopefully folks will give him the love he deserves and he gets huge.

Does he refer to it as 'Erykah's doing' or is that what others have called it?

I saw footage of him talking about the song Go and how it was about his sexual fantasies. He wanted to put it out there that you can be conscious and still like sex. It seemed to me that he was sort of forcing this idea especially after I heard him in a recent interview sort of poo-pooing his past abstinence and was too happy to let everyone know he wasn't celibate and how he doesn't mind getting with women. Dude, why do you have to tell us that you like sex? Everyone is multi-faceted. Just rap about it and we'll figure it out. I don't think he needs to try to prove anything.

JackieBlue said:

Overall, others are calling it that. But his responses don't really negate what others have said about him, his image and his relationship with Erykah. It seems Be was somewhat like his "Black Album": trying to prove something to certain individuals.



That last statement is kinda makes me wanna withdraw some of praise I initially gave this album. It's like I found out too much info. Though nothing on Be sounds forced, but he released Electric Circus with the intention of sound nothing like his peers. Now, he seems ashamed of that. Collaborating with hip-hop's current golden child Kanye, didn't really do anything to set him apart. It's a damn good album, I just lost a little respect for Common after watching that portion of the DVD.

TheOrgerFormerlyKnownAs said:

Oh I definitely wish him the best and hope he gets the accolades he's deserved for so long. I just love albums that aren't afraid to take chances. And Electric Circus is definitely one of those albums he went "left" with. Apparently he went through a lot of shit during the aftermath of it's release: his label folded, he ended his relationship w/ Erykah, and there was not a welcome reception for the album by critics or consumers. He really gives the impression that the album was a huge mistake. I hate that because I think it's the best of all six of his albums.

I want to get Be but I definitely hear what you're saying. I didn't know he looked at Electric Circus that way which is sad.

before u lock my love awayyyyy

before u lock my love awayyyyy

before u lock my love awayyyyy

before u lock my love awayyyyy

psykosoul said:

One could make the argument that Worldwide Underground sounded more like a Common album than a Badu album, and vice versa for Electric Circus. Ironic.

But EC qualifies as both a good album and a noble failure. It's not a bad album by any stretch -- "Heaven Somewhere" is virtually a masterpiece -- but it wasn't cohesive, really and wound up repressing Common's core skills on the mic.

He doesn't need to run from that. He should be proud he strove to expand his sound, a la De La Soul or The Roots, or Dre3K.


Now, BE? It sounds very promising, so far, I've only listened to about half of the album. Not as raw, but stripped-down, clean, and complementary to Common's skills.

All Kanye West production except 2 major highlights from J. Dilla is a big reason I am enjoying this album.

CinisterCee said:

When the sessions for BE were completed. Kanye had done 50% of the LP and Dilla did the other 50%. I would love to hear the remaining Dilla tracks.

psykosoul said:

ha! didn't know that.

Listening now...

So far so good. Better than that Electric Circus mess.

namepeace said:

I was wonderin' like "where's ?estlove" on this album. I wudda liked him to have produced "Chi-City" that's the only track kinda skip over..not that it's bad but didnt leave anything for me to remember about it other than it sound like that part from "Jigling Baby" but saying Chi-City instead

I love the album lovin it more.

My favorite songs: FAITHFUL!!! "TESTIFY" "REAL PEOPLE"

paisleypark4 said:

I hate that ?uest is missing from this album but I can respect that Common kinda wants to move on. So far my jams are Love Is, Faithful, It's Your World, and They Say.

I heard it yesterday. It's aiiight, but it can hardly be called "classic", especially when Kanye West produced it.

NWF said:

Kanye's album was pretty close to classic if it wasnt for sum throwaway trax like "School Spirit" and that one with Ludacris...which wasnt that bad.

I like Kanye's productions and it gives it a modern-nostalgia feel...a warmth that is missing in 'south beats' ..i.e. a little too clear and Casio keyboard made in my opinion. But not every area of hip hop needs to sound the same.


I feel it was labelled classic because there was just about no filler. 10 trax. Just abotu every song had substance and SAID something. Something that is missing in hip-hop today. Or would u rather hear "Im A Hustler" by Cassidy? Or "Poppin Them Thangs" by 50 Cent? The production was on fire, it fit Commons voice and raps very well.

NWF said:

When you make statements like that, no one will take your opinions on music seriously. Kanye has produced many a classic beat and song. Jesus Walks and Encore just to name a few.

popgodazipa said:[quote]True Hip-Hop fans stand up! Get your ballots out, get the keys to the vault, clear the shelf, put this one way up top! Chi-towns finest, Kanye and Common have just saved summer. We all knew he had it in him, but this time Eryka's ex delivers. I don't do track for track reviews, check it for yourselfs. But if you have not seen the video for Go -the John Mayer (our generations Sting IMO) hooked single, directed and produced by West, head over to yahoo music, you be the judge. What so ever you do, cut your burners off for this one, put your blank cd's away, you can not burn a classic, don't ever burn a classic! This one deserves to be unwrapped and enjoyed as the artist intended it to be, linear notes, parental advisory label and all.
/quote]
So far from what I've heard, I am kind of digging it.