Common: "Raw (How You Like It)"

Common's The Dreamer, The Believer comes out on December 20. It's always easy to overlook these late-year releases when you're caught in the hoopla of the holidays and "Best Of" lists, but from what I've heard this album should be a good one.

 

Common: "Sweet"

More new material from Common. Despite the name, this track is anything but sweet. Produced by No ID, who handled every song on his upcoming album, The Dreamer, The Believer.

Common: "Blue Sky" (Music Video)

Common: "Ghetto Dreams ft. Nas" (Music Video)

Common: "Ghetto Dreams ft. Nas"

No description necessary. Common's The Dreamer, The Believer, is due sometime in November, and if this is any indication it'll be great.

Common: "Ghetto Dreams ft. Nas"

Jon Stewart and Bill O'Reilly Discuss Common's Invitation to the White House Poetry Event (Video)

Jon Stewart accepted an invitation to The O'Reilly Factor to debate the "controversy" regarding Common's invitation to the White House poetry event. It aired yesterday, and Stewart took O'Reilly to school. The debate was incredibly one-sided, with O'Reilly grasping at straws the entire time, adding validation to the notion that this whole issue is nothing more than a manufactured attempt to smear the Obama administration. The only point I would have liked to see Stewart make is that a couple of lines in Common's nearly two-decade long career do not constitute an entire body of work. Stewart could have cited other quotes from Common's songs to contradict the fewer number of potentially negatively interpretable messages he has made.

The Daily Show: Tone Def Poetry Jam (Video)

I pondered commenting on the ludicrous story regarding Chicago rapper Common that Fox "News" is stoking, but initially opted to ignore it for its sheer stupidity. I did write on Twitter about how ironic and utterly moronic it was that on the day Tyler, the Creator's album was released, Common, of all people, was the one in the news for being controversial. Really, Fox? Common? I give up. The anchors at Fox have a fetish with being news makers rather than news reporters. But the fact that they're digging for something so trivial as Common getting an invitation to a White House poetry event to flip into controversy is outrageous. I'll continue to ignore Faux News and save for consolation the fact that the Republican party has no viable candidate to legitimately compete with our boy as we move forward towards 2012.

Anyway, as far as this post goes, on last night's The Daily Show, Jon Stewart added some excellent insight, perspective and much needed levity to the Common "controversy."

BET Awards GOOD Music Cypher (Video)

Common: "Next Time" (Prod. Kanye West)

An unreleased Common track, produced by none other than Kanye West. Duh. Round of applause to Andrew at Fake Shore Drive.

You know how Com and 'Ye do, they do it for the people!

Common: "Next Time" (Prod. Kanye West)

Common: "Strange Fruit ft. John Legend" (Prod. Kanye West)

Here's a track that was left on the cutting room floor for Common's Finding Forever. This one's a gem; all thanks go to 2DopeBoyz.

Common: "Strange Fruit ft. John Legend" (Prod. Kanye West)

Consequence: "Whatever You Want (Remix) ft. Kanye West, Common Kid Cudi, & Big Sean"

Props to the New Music Cartel on this one. Now I'm stepping away from the internet for a while to get some work done.

Consequence: "Whatever You Want (Remix) ft. Kanye West, Common Kid Cudi, & Big Sean"

Common: "I Want You" (Illmind Remix)

Illmind remixes Common's track off of Finding Forever for his upcoming remix album. Spotted at NahRight.

Common: "I Want You" (Illmind Remix)

Kid Cudi: "Make Her Say ft. Kanye West & Common" (Music Video)

Cudi's Man On The Moon is scheduled for a September 15 release date.

Common: Interview on Tavis Smiley (Video)

Common speaks on his role in the Terminator flick, his next album, and more. From The Amajanese Blog.

Common: "NY State of Mind" + "I Used To Love H.E.R." + "Announcement" (Video)

From Andrew at FakeShoreDrive:

Last night Microsoft and VH1 hosted a Musicology 101/launch party for Common's new clothing line with Microsoft, Softwear, at the Hard Rock Cafe in Chicago. Biz Markie spun the majority of the evening with Common taking the stage for his set a bit later. Microsoft really went all out for this event. I'm not a PC, but g'dang if they didn't show me a good time.

Prince: "Play That Funky Music ft. Common" (Live)

Two summers ago, Prince had a massive residency at the O2 arena in London, where he played about 20 shows or something. All The Way Live just released a recording of Prince playing "Play That Funky Music," but with Common jumping on for a surprise freestyle session. I couldn't find a picture of the both of them, so naturally I chose the next best thing.

"You know how I do it, it's your man Common Sense / On stage rockin', with my man Prince / Yo, I gotta just rap this / My man from Minneapolis"

Chea!

Prince: "Play That Funky Music ft. Common" (Live)

Common: "The Light ft. Erykah Badu & Kanye West" + Freestyle (Video)

The FADER, in conjunction with Levi's, hosted a G.O.O.D. Music Showcase at Austin, Texas' SXSW Festival last week. Judging by the setlist and the guests (GLC, Cudi, Consequence, etc.), it seemed like a hell of a show. Kanye was there supporting all his artists and even did some older cuts from The College Dropout. But in this video clip, special guests Common and Erykah Badu joined forces to perform "The Light," and then do a little impromptu freestyle session.

Common: Interview & Freestyle at Hip-Hop 101 Festival (Video)

Via FSD.

Happy Belated New Year From Common

Is this worth posting? I'm not quite sure. But I'm about to get my wisdom teeth pulled and will be so drugged up for the rest of the day I may not be able to get back at you all later. So I guess I almost had to post this. I'll try to do what I can by later in the day, we shall see. Peace, ya'll.

Common: Sunday Night Sound Session Interview (Video)