Common- 'Finding Forever '
(Universal Music Group , 2007)
Rating: 9

Is there any more obvious misnomer in hip hop today than Common? On his much anticipated seventh album, the Chicago native and erstwhile backpack rapper and street poet reminds his fans just how powerful both he and the entire genre can be with a brilliant offering that stands as his finest effort to date. Finding Forever finds Common hitting his artistic stride as he seamlessly builds on his long established reputation as one of rap’s truly great MCs. While he has always engendered critical respect for his talents on the mike, he has accomplished the rare artistic feat in simultaneously offering his most commercially accessible and undeniably focused work of his storied career. Commerce and art rarely merge in a way that truly benefits both aspects, but Common has pulled off some seriously elusive symbiosis that deserves to transcend whatever self-imposed delineations and short-sighted boundaries exist within and beyond the genre of hip hop. Finding Forever is an adrenalized portrait of a surging creative force that can be appreciated at first listen yet demands repeated examinations.

Having staked his claim as one of rap’s foremost poets more than a decade ago, Common has steadily refined his ability to elucidate his thoughts while never confusing genuine passion for maudlin proselytization. While his subject matter is considerably weightier than the average McGangsta and somehow manages to avoid the use of the term “crunk”, Common never presents himself in an irreproachable manner. His stories walk a fine line between narration and commentary, and this balance allows him to connect with the listener in an engrossing and engaging manner befitting someone with his wealth of charisma. While he can (and frequently does) muse on sociopolitical themes, Common is also at ease when describing the lust in his heart for “thick broads” and his disdain for rap megastars who “were better as drug dealers” (the missive he unfurls at an unnamed “gorilla” rapper and presumed vitamin water pitchman is one of the absolute best lines Common has ever produced). Few de facto frontmen assume the spotlight without a healthy ego, but Common’s ego functions in a way that informs his music and infuses his delivery with the kind of substantive confidence that separates him among lyrical purveyors. At the heart of his work is a rapid-fire flow that remains unquestionably smooth while brimming with the ideas of an artist who has tapped into a creative and damn near transcendental vein that few artists ever get to explore. Finding Forever is a culmination of the gifts Common has displayed since he first burst onto the Southside scene and a rare example of promise made great.

Inasmuch as Common is undoubtedly the headliner on his latest effort (a feat easier said than done for less accomplished rap artists today), he nonetheless utilizes a wide array of collaborators in fleshing out his tracks. Unlike many rappers however, Common uses the talents of these collaborators to amplify and not distract from his skills. While other forms of music have always offered backbeats that help propel whatever vocal output is in play, hip hop is somewhat unique in its ability to produce another layer of sounds to assist that which is verbalized. In reuniting with frequent collaborator and fellow Chicagoan Kanye West for the majority of the album, Common has found someone with a healthy enough ego to challenge him for the spotlight on Finding Forever. In listening to the album, it’s pretty clear that West must have some pretty killer beats compiled for his own forthcoming release if he feels comfortable giving these tracks over to Common. These are some of the most vital beats West has ever engineered, and they perfectly compliment Common’s lyrical prowess and his effervescent flow. Other joint efforts both behind and in front of the mike with the likes of J Dilla (who died shortly after laying down his track), Will.i.am, Lily Allen, Bilal, and D’Angelo yield similarly rewarding creative outpourings. It’s difficult to label any of these songs as being standout tracks given the omnipresent depth of this album, but the West-helmed “Drivin’ Me Wild” represents a new commercial high for Common as he describes the fascination with celebrity and self-promotion that pervades every segment of modern society while Allen reaches for higher octaves amidst a sugary refrain.

It’s been nearly two decades since Chuck D warned the world not to “believe the hype”, but that was before he had a chance to listen to Finding Forever. This is the kind of album that would stand as a crowning achievement if the future didn’t portend such high hopes for an artist the caliber of Common. Like Public Enemyand A Tribe Called Quest before him, Common has crafted a transcendent work that showcases both his individual talents and his ability to mesh with other similarly talented individuals in rounding out a sound that is uniquely identifiable and intensely vital. In pushing himself, Common has pushed the boundaries of an entire genre that seemingly has an appetite for its own figuratively and all too often literally. Common may not have actually found “forever” just yet, but we’re all the beneficiaries of his willingness to at least look.

- Brant Miles