Review 1 of 7

wvufan07 writes:

4of 5 Stars

I agree with rolling stones Be was a perfect album, like No Country For Old Men was a perfect movie. The best two songs on the album are The People and Drivin' Me Wild. What Common did in this album was talk about subjects that he had talked about before. Rolling Stone called it "Tired" and in a couple songs I must agree. This album is still pretty good still, I especially like Commons camparisons to the suberbs and the projects. Good Album, but not as good as Be. I will be hearings Commons Next Album Invincible Summer. 4/5 Stars B.

Jun 13, 2008 23:47:13

Review 2 of 7

waldodio writes:

3of 5 Stars

Although not a fan of rap, how can I not warm up to an album by such a GORGEOUS man? Besides, a lot of it has the hip and cool feel of an early 70's Marvin Gaye album. As noted, most of my appreciation of Common comes from the fact he's smooth, intelligent, and ridiculously FINE! By the time he raps 'we can come together' I'm afraid it's too late. I already did.

Jan 8, 2008 12:21:23

Review 3 of 7

thatguy211 writes:

5of 5 Stars

Ok, the south is running Hip-Hop right now. 50 cent's new album is about to come out. What would you rather have? A real artist come out and make a great album? One that can show people what hip-hop is supposed to be like. Or Let the south and 50 run things? Ignorance, or Hip-Hop? Hip-hop, or ignorance? Quit your fucking crying ya'll. I have always felt that an artist should put their all into an album. I feel Common Sense always does that. Don't shit on something that can make people wake the fuck up. I guess you want Fitty to stay around. I guess you like beats that sound like they were made by little kids. You know something? Beats from the south are just like little kids playing Playstation. They are just pressing buttons. It's the sad truth. You know I'm right. That's beats and lyrics. They just doing whatever.(Outkast, Goodie Mob, Scarface, are excluded from the previous statement...I am also taking responses at this time.) The south sounds so cheap. Southern "hip-hop" is like Mcdonalds breakfast. You know it's bad, but you like it anyways. Don't shit on real emcee's bitches.

Sep 4, 2007 02:52:49

Review 4 of 7

SME writes:

2of 5 Stars

BE had the distinction of showcasing Common's compleatness as an artist: Thoughtful, humorous , with an understated edginess so indictive in his style which puts him in a class all his own. there are few albums these days, particualrly in the realm of Hip Hop that possess such an indellable and strong vibe worthy of its hype. As mainstream Hip Hop tries to bash you to death with bling, bump, and boogie, Common is the intellectual high-roader always extracting meaningful content where ever possible in his prose.
"Forever" is yet the continuation of his alliance with Kanye West, and this time , I found it overproduced, over-self indulged, and lacking many of the elements of the strong element of solid lyrical wizardry that makes Common so unique. The chops are still there, but the overall sound of the album almost seems as if Kanye is trying to sream out some attention-getting over the top of Common via his lush pre assigned-chords, re-treaded samples, and repetive loops and chorus made to stick in your head long after your turned off your Ipod. I found "Intro", "Star Of The Show", and "The People" way too familiar, and even listless. "Drivin Me Wild" albsolutely drove ME wild with Lily Allen's squealing the hook over the elongated sampled harmonics pervasive in the track. A nice idea, but a less-than-great outcome. And why Lilly Allen, anyway? It's a mismatch, with Common overpowering the abstract-intentioned track with his skill alone.
If there was one redeeming track, for me, it was the neo-afrocentric social and racial commentary of "U, Black Maybe", which shows Common at his thoughtful, provocative, and understated best. Not one to travel over tired euphamisms in his approach to racial stigma, he again does a redeemable job of tackling a complex topic of interracial descrimination and malfeces only and a poet and artist of his calibre can do, with both abstract and concrete references that substatiates his own experience in it.

It is unfortunate that the rest of this release isn't more in that vain. Although he is tredging new ground and paying homage to those musical influences that have impacted him across all genres, Finding Forever is yet another Kanye West album..which would be fine..If Kanye West was also doing all the rhymes. It would be good for a KANYE album, but not a great COMMON piece of work. I think this union would serve best to be dissolved, and maybe he would fair better with a diferent producer. I think JustBlaze or 9th Wonder might be in line for some consideration.

Aug 16, 2007 16:45:06

Review 5 of 7

inca76 writes:

5of 5 Stars

Commons last album BE was hailed as a classic and finally gave Common the credit he deserves thanks largely to Kanyes production (and the heat he was attracting at the time) giving the album a beautifully cohesive feel and tempo.

Fans expecting another Be may feel Finding Forever doesnt quite measure up but, on closer inspection, they might just discover an unfamiliar place in music the album title refers to.

In Finding Forever the smooth uniform feel of Be gives way to tracks that complement each other but also breathe completely independent of one another.A dozen tracks (plus a bonus track) is just around the right length for a great album (Nas'illmatic or The Roots Tipping point spring to mind)and half the album is excellent, the other half absolute gems.

While rap music of late to often tries to blind you with bling and beat you eardrums into repetitive submission, Common and Kanye with support from J.Dilla, DJ Premier Will.i.am and D'angelo among others present an
album perfect in more ways than one.The record plays easily thru leaving you with a measured taste of greatness each time and even a feeling that the GOOD music dynamic duo are closing in on their shared dream, to make hip hop credible outside the glossy bubble in which it usually resides.
Always versatile with subject matter (being one of the best true freestylers in the game never hurts)and as fresh as ever on the mic, the only complaint I'd have is that the raps are so relevant that they will have to age some day, just life Phife, Ali and Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest did after a decade of worship but in saying that Resurection still gets good rotation on my stereo so not to worry.
Common has always been great, and ever since his debut in the early nineties he has stayed true to his first love - hiphop, and that faith has rewarded him with a place as one the greatest Mcs of all time and a spot, riding shotgun next to one of the greatest producers of all time as well.
Dont believe me? Then just how does an MC who doesn't rhyme about guns, drugs or jewels have a top selling album after nearly 20 yrs in this business?.
Finding Forever is yet another reason.

Aug 13, 2007 06:15:20

Review 6 of 7

DaGod6ee writes:

5of 5 Stars

An Instant Classic. It definatly is a great follow-up to his other classci, Be. He shows his lyrical versatility on Finding Forever. KanYe helps out by adding his Musical versatility. Their chemistry usually result in great music. Finding Forever is no exclusion of thier great music.

Aug 9, 2007 07:36:02

Review 7 of 7

DJKevyKev writes:

Not Rated

<a href="http://kevinnottingham.com/myblog/2007/07/20/review-finding-forever/">
http://kevinnottingham.com/myblog/2007/07/20/review-finding-forever/</a>

Jul 26, 2007 17:27:20