I'm not a real connaisseur when it comes to rap-/hiphop-music but there are quite a few acts out there that I enjoy very much. One of them is Common, a true artist, intelligent raps, good beats and the right use of samples, not your average 'bling-bling & ho's'-rapper.
Well, Common is coming to town next month, in the coolest venue of Amsterdam (the Paradiso). I'm really thinking about going, I only have one question: How does Common perform live? Is it him and a couple of his homies screaming on the beats of a DJ, or does he actually perform with a band?
The only hiphop-concert I've seen was Beastie Boys a couple of years back, and they absolutely fuckin' rocked. They had a mixture of both, Mixmaster Mike laying down the beats and samples and at one point they picked up their instruments.... I've seen live-footage of other rappers I like on record, but absolutely blew live.....totally stoned and drunk, screaming stupid stuff nobody understood....

Is Common like that live? Or does he come with a funky band a la The Roots to rock the house??

Please let me know, I'm really interested if this is a gig I should see!

Thanks!

abierman said:

He is close to Kanye West, who has been producing him recently and when I saw Kanye last year Common came out to the surprise of everyone there and rocked it hard! Kanye had an intriguing band with string section but I'm not sure whether Common takes a band out. I've talked to others who have been to Common's solo shows and loved it. Band or not, he's definately heartfelt. That's all I got.....

_

Thanks for that, I'll try to find some more reviews on him online.....sounds like I gotta be there!

oh yes Common is definitely the truth when it comes to performing. i hope he comes to VA this year, the last time he came i mistakenly missed him.

i saw Common in London in July 2005 and I was a huge fan of the Be album but jeez he was boring.

he had a dj and a sofa on stage. he may have had a keyboard player as well.

Common is the one of the dopest live hip-hop acts next to these cats



I've seen him at 8 least times and he's had different band configurations. The most consistent is Kareem Wiggins on drums,Omar on Keys, Derrick Hodge on bass and DJ Dummy. Sometimes James Poyser is with him on keys and I've seen some recent appearances with a horn section and a guitar player.


Here are some samples from tv appearances

play your cards right
http://www.youtube.com/wa...rGJl6wIBp0

real people
http://www.youtube.com/wa...L6nrTyvVaY

It's your world (react now mtv benefit after katrina) - this is one of my favorite performances from dude
http://www.sendspace.com/file/q41t04
[Edited 2/15/07 21:04pm]

Scrapluv said:

maybe he didnt have the resources to fly a band to Europe butit look'd bare bones up there.

Still tho, i'd buy his next album.

I have friends that have seen him multiple times, some shows have sucked, others were FRESH. I guess it all depends on the tour and his frame of mind. I have seen live video of him before where he ROCKED it though. I would go and throw the dice.

Scrapluv said:

Thanks for that! This is exactly how I'd like to see him!!!!
[Edited 2/16/07 14:28pm]

jerseykrs said:

I will go, tickets are only $20!!!