Common

Unlike many of his rap contemporaries, Rashid "Common" Lynn has matured artistically — but he had a head start. Back in 1992 when he released his debut CD, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, under the name Common Sense, he was already sage beyond his age — and since then, his...

By Michael Roberts

August 9, 2007

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Unlike many of his rap contemporaries, Rashid "Common" Lynn has matured artistically — but he had a head start. Back in 1992 when he released his debut CD, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, under the name Common Sense, he was already sage beyond his age — and since then, his work has only grown more confident. Finding Forever continues this trend so subtly that some listeners may see it as a holding action. Still, its best material builds on his past in a richly satisfying way.

Pal Kanye West's production is displayed on eight songs here, and if "U, Black Maybe" feels a bit too retro-moralistic, "The People," a wonderfully intricate track, and the Lily Allen featurette "Drivin' Me Wild" couldn't be tastier. As for "So Far to Go," co-starring D'Angelo, it beautifully captures the sound of swooning.

Common's latest is thoroughly adult hip-hop, and if that description sounds contradictory, it's only because so few of the genre's artists have been able to make this transition successfully. The music's of the moment, but it feels like Forever.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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