bigted

Queen Latifah "U.N.I.T.Y."

:yeahthat: Happy 2009!

No truer words have been spoken, this is frustrating

He killed the wrap up once again, that "Million Dollar Backpack" was probably the most underrated album of the year too http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/20772972.aspx

That's a nice list Visqo

awesome, can't wait to hear that

Sorry about that Visqo, better luck next year, but this year it's all about the Eagles baby!! :wickedwisdom:

Nas "Election Night"

Brian Mcknight "Who Would Of Thought", that "I'll Be Home For Christmas" album is brilliant

LL Cool J "Ill Bomb"

Merry Christmas!

Juice Crew "Cold Chillin Christmas" http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...2/19040900.aspx

Illseed from allhiphop.com posted a bunch of dope Christmas videos, enjoy them y'all: http://allhiphop.com/stories/rumors/archiv...5/20765029.aspx

Merry Christmas To All!

I Came Up With A List Of The Best Videos Of 2008, Merry Christmas and Enjoy: LL Cool J “Baby” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts1KQ3UpOkE Janet Jackson “Feedback” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhbLbBpn7II TI “No Matter What” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFXzQBJkm2g Nas Feat. Keri Hilson “Hero” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DirBbksulqQ Mariah Carey “Touch My Body” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzxR8OH-fDQ The Game Feat. Travis Barker “Dope Boys” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W85TPepF8Rg LL Cool J “Rockin' Wit The GOAT” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6AgeLqBQcM The Game Feat. Keyshia Cole “Game's Pain” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCdNimBSdxs Alicia Keys “Superwoman” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK8t0gP4isE Wyclef Jean Feat. Paul Simon “Fast Car” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8orx8mgeksE Ice Cube Feat. Musiq Soulchild “Why Me” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MB2Y6UU9Rg Musiq Soulchild Feat. Mary J. Blige “IfULeave” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzpDx5L0Olg Will.I.Am “It's A New Day” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8dz2rzx9zM Busta Rhymes “Don't Touch Me”(Throw Da Water On 'Em) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTFbaE2WYFo Jaheim “Never” Music Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmM8x8If-8I Snoop Dogg “Sensual Seduction” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKz-RXSeIYA Talib Kweli “Hostile Gospel”(Pt.1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EArGQ12v-8Q Ice Cube “Gangsta Rap Me Do It” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzeZhCt5PVA Nas Feat. Game and Chris Brown “We Make The World Go 'Round” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8BgVlFTWpo KRS ONE “Stop The Violence Movement/Self Construction 2008” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llBZbF90tXE KRS ONE “Criminal Minded 08” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdqbAr8mMKI LL Cool J Feat. Wyclef Jean “Mr. President” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCrNDMWJDiY Beyonce “If I Were A Boy” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVTyLqkez6A Fat Joe “300 Brolic” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEcsWtXSDY8 Ludacris feat. Chris Brown and Sean Garrett “What Them Girls Like” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQv9aXTvuZI Snoop Dogg feat. Mista FAB and Too Short “Life Of Da Party” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai7ASY3HWCw

I think Snoop, Ludacris, and Common made great albums, I don't see how those albums were the most disappointing, but it's nice to see a critic finally diss Lil' Wayne for a change instead of kissing up to him like most have these days. I liked a lot of the albums that was mentioned in the top 28 albums lists, they mention a lot of the albums that were slept on including the ones made by Ice Cube, The Roots, and Immortal Technique, some good taste there.

The most positive thing Soulja Boy could do is stop recording, his music is painful for the ears

Can't sleep on the Clipse, they drop some raw hip hop

Common's new CD's dope, some feel good stuff right there, some clean fun like Big Willie Style, btw Turntable what interview was it where he said he didn't like the album?

Congrats Visqo, I guess it was fun while it lasted

You do know Nas had nothing to do with either track right? Here Comes Escobar is some DJ taking Nas's Vocals from "Surviving the times" (off his Greatest hits CD) and putting on different instrumentals. Real Hip Hop has a clip of a Nas interview as an intro and then some random dude (who isn't Nas) rapping after KRS's verses. Allhiphop.com can be good, but sometimes they really get fooled by internet dj's putting up their own mash-ups. I was hoping somebody would notice that, lol, both tracks are still hot though

It's on now Visqo, you're gonna smashed out of the playoffs this week

I can't believe that the '08's nearly over already, lots of great stuff that came out thanks to the internet, here's my favorite songs I discovered this year: Nas "Here Comes Escobar": http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19134693.aspx Snoop Dogg Feat. Lil' Kim "Sensual Seduction" (Remix): http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19134687.aspx Killer Mike Feat. Big Boi "My Chrome": http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19134670.aspx Kool G Rap Feat. Haylie Duff "On The Rise": http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/19114378.aspx DJ GQ Feat DMX, Junior Reid, and Dawg E. Slaughter "Bad Boys": http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/19080209.aspx Consequence “Q.U.E.Another E.N.S.” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19119455.aspx Fat Joe “300 Brolic” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/19108524.aspx AZ “Undeniable” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/19108505.aspx Donny Goines Feat. Dame Grease and others “Do It For Hip-Hop Remix” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/19114362.aspx DJ KaySlay Feat. Papoose, Big Lou, and Busta Rhymes “The Last Lyricists” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19085196.aspx Foxy Brown and TI “In The Trap” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...2/19175751.aspx Foxy Brown “Star Cry” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19182432.aspx Omar Cruz feat. The Game “Gangsta Music” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...5/19189957.aspx Jadakiss “Roc Boys Freestyle” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/19202584.aspx Cassidy “Feelings Hurt” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...5/19189777.aspx Snoop Dogg “Never Hafta Worry” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19220079.aspx Papoose “Scream” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/19214981.aspx Fabolous “Hey Papi Freestyle” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19220071.aspx Talib Kweli “Momma Can You Hear Me?”(Produced By Kanye West) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19225487.aspx Jim Jones feat. The Game “Don't Love Me No More”(Remix) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19225508.aspx Jean Grae “#8”(Produced By 9th Wonder) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19238484.aspx Papoose feat. C-Murder “Ride Out”(Remix) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...8/19259800.aspx Consequence feat. John Legend “Feels This Way” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19272127.aspx Skillz feat. Pimp C “Get Off The Boo Boo” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19272133.aspx Cassidy “50 Bars” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19272151.aspx Talib Kweli and Res “Industry Diary” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...2/19278458.aspx Q-Tip “Fever”(Produced By J. Dilla) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/19282738.aspx Snoop Dogg feat. Too Short and Mista Fab “Life Of Da Party 08” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/19282739.aspx Capone-N-Norega “Hollywood” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19282740.aspx Pete Rock and Redman “Best Believe” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...8/19305747.aspx KRS-ONE feat. Nas “Real Hip Hop” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/19310286.aspx KRS-ONE “Criminal Minded Remix”(Produced By DJ Premier” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/19316195.aspx Torae feat. Sha Stimuli and Kel Spencer “Save The Day” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19323699.aspx The Roots/Black Thought “75 Bars”(Black's Reconstruction) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/19332767.aspx Rakim “It's Nothing” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...5/19339403.aspx Common Produced By Just Blaze “The Light 2008”(It's Love) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/19345103.aspx Talib Kweli “Independent Hustle” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/19345070.aspx Wale feat. Bun B “Go Mode” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/19345052.aspx Rakim “Hip Hop” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...7/19349662.aspx Method Man and Redman “Broken Language 2008” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/19358434.aspx Joell Ortiz “'90s Free Agent” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/19359454.aspx Snoop Dogg Feat. Pharrell “Sets Up” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/19375249.aspx Fat Joe “Thank God For That White”(Produced By DJ Premiere” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/19375177.aspx Q-Tip “Midnight '08”(Produced By Cool and Dre) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19385953.aspx Sheek Louch feat. Styles P, Jim Jones, Hell Rell, and Jadakiss “D-Block/Dipset” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19385957.aspx Snoop Dogg “Deez Hollywood Nights” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...5/19398377.aspx Ice Cube feat. Scarface and Nas “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” (Remix) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...7/19421870.aspx The Roots feat. Dice Raw, Peedi Crakk, and DJ Jazzy Jeff “Get Busy” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/19411659.aspx Talib Kweli feat. Joell Ortiz and Blu “Hostile”(Remix) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/19439554.aspx Sheek Louch Feat. Jadakiss and Styles P “Gettin' Stronger” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...2/19453398.aspx The Roots feat. Styles P and Mos Def “Raising Down” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19467709.aspx Busta Rhymes “Lights, Camera, Action”(Produced By Teddy Riley) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/19494575.aspx Red Cafe feat. 50 Cent, Jadakiss, and Fabolous "Pape Touchin'"(Remix) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19467606.aspx Rakim feat. Lil' Fame “I'm Back” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/19501834.aspx Big Boi feat. Andre 3000 and Raekwon “Royal Flush” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19508483.aspx AZ feat. Consequence “Heavy In The Game” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/19520416.aspx Warren G Feat. Black Nic, Bad Lucc, and Halla “Mr. President” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...5/19527195.aspx Janet Jackson Feat. Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Fabolous, and JD “Feedback”(Remix) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/19533385.aspx The Roots feat. Wale and Chrisette Michelle “Rising Up” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19563342.aspx Wyclef Jean Feat. Lupe Fiasco “Fast Car”(Remix) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19570987.aspx Ludacris “Stay Together” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...2/19577682.aspx Green Lantern feat. Fat Joe, Akon, and Fabolous “I'm So Fly” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...5/19657628.aspx Joell Ortiz “Dear President Obama” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/19667037.aspx EPMD “Run It” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...8/19681232.aspx Nas “Be A Ni**er Too” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19692452.aspx KRS-ONE feat. The Game, Nelly, Busta Rhymes, Ne-Yo, Method Man, Redman and others “Self Construction”(Short Version) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/19707724.aspx Mariah Carey feat. Jay-Z and Jermaine Dupri “Bye Bye Remix” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/19707687.aspx The Game feat. Keyshia Cole “Pain” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/19691175.aspx LL Cool J feat. Jim Jones, Method Man, KRS One, and Lil' Kim “5 Boroughs Are Back” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...8/19744315.aspx TI “No Matter What” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/19752422.aspx Joell Ortiz “Fifty Shots”(Stream Of Consciousness) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/19760131.aspx Papoose “We Shall Overcome” (Sean Bell Song) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...2/19772741.aspx Lupe Fiasco and CL Smooth “Paris Tokyo Remix” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...7/19810162.aspx Talib Kweli and Busta Rhymes “Follow The Leader Freestyle” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/19872494.aspx Common “Universal Mind Control” (Featuring Pharrell) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...2/19916990.aspx Nas “N.I.G.G.E.R.”(The Slave & The Master) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/19898359.aspx Nas “Black President” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/20045811.aspx LL Cool J feat. The Dream “Baby” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...2/20091770.aspx Nas feat. DJ Khalad “I'm On” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...7/20137121.aspx Alicia Keys Feat. LL Cool J “Teenage Love Affair”(Remix) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/20196502.aspx The Game feat. Keyshia Cole, Jadakiss, Bun B, Pusha T, Fat Joe, Young Buck, and Queen Latifah "Pain Remix" http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...2/20250325.aspx Akon feat. Michael Jackson “Hold My Hand” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/20256593.aspx TI “What Up, What's Happening” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/20256604.aspx Nas “Breathe” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...7/20264741.aspx Big Boi feat. Mary J. Blige “Something's Gotta Give” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/20281244.aspx Cormega feat. PMD, Grand Puba, KRS-ONE, and Big Daddy Kane “Fresh” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/20333503.aspx Heavy D feat. Junior Reid and Olivia “Long Distance Lover” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/20346801.aspx Ludacris “Politics As Usual” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...7/20341883.aspx Game Feat. Nas “Letter To The King” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...5/20415098.aspx Ice Cube feat. Musiq Soulchild "Why Me?" http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...5/20415049.aspx KRS One “Rider Freestyle” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/20370328.aspx LL Cool J “Marley Marl Freestyle” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/20376220.aspx AZ feat. Papoose “Knowledge Freedom Remix” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/20376199.aspx DJ Revolution feat. KRS One “The DJ” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/20376194.aspx Young Jeezy feat. Nas “My President Is Black” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/20429038.aspx Chamillionaire feat. Trae and Slim Thug “My Life” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/20434697.aspx Mariah Carey feat. LL Cool J and Ghostface “Lovin' U Long Time Remix” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...2/20437696.aspx TI feat. Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil' Wayne "Swagger Like Us" http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/20441912.aspx Game feat. Common "Angel" http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...8/20423856.aspx LL Cool J feat. 50 Cent “Heartbeat” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/20447367.aspx Ludacris feat. Chris Brown and Sean Garrett “What Them Girls Like” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/20370361.aspx Lil' Kim feat. Wyclef Jean and Mavado “Carribean Connection” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/20464786.aspx LL Cool J feat. Grandmaster Caz “Ringtone Murder” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/20470476.aspx LL Cool J feat. Wyclef Jean “Mr. President” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/20473559.aspx Ludacris feat. Floyd Mayweather “Undisputed” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/20513806.aspx TI Feat. Trina and Foxy Brown “Whatever You Like”(Remix) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/20542767.aspx Naughty By Nature “Hip Hop Honors” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...7/20560552.aspx David Banner, Busta Rhymes, and Talib Kweli “Black President Remix” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/20570730.aspx Wale, Rhymefest, Christina K, and Royce 5'9 “Black President Remix Pt. 2” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...5/20587634.aspx Twista, John Mayer, and Joe Budden “Waiting On The World To Change” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...6/20591313.aspx DMX, Styles P, Sheek Louch, King Phaze “Yonkers Anthem” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/20614772.aspx EPMD “Listen Up”(Produced By Teddy Riley) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...9/20634903.aspx Chamillionaire “Texas For Sale” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...1/20641852.aspx Chamillionaire Feat. Ludacris “Creepin'”(Solo) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...3/20688973.aspx Ludacris Feat. Nas and Jay-Z “Doin' It For Hip Hop” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/20693127.aspx Chamillionaire “Swagga Like Us” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...4/20693115.aspx AZ feat. Nas “Grammy Remix”(The Essence) http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...0/20708425.aspx KRS ONE Feat. Eneeone “Radio” http://allhiphop.com/stories/multimedia__m...7/20727403.aspx

dope

http://allhiphop.com/stories/features/arch...8/20740233.aspx Common: My Mind Spray Published Monday, December 08, 2008 8:00 AM By Alvin 'aqua' Blanco “Truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense, [but I did five mill']—I ain't been rhymin’ like Common since,” quipped Jay-Z on his song “Moment of Clarity.” The point is clear; rhyming for the sake of the art doesn’t really pay. But then again Chicago rhyme slinger Common isn’t doing so bad. Surely you’ve seen Lonnie Rashid Lynn hawking Zunes and Lincoln Navigators, getting his acting on in flicks like Wanted and American Gangster, and on tour performing selections from his eight albums. On December 9th he drops his latest LP set of MP3s, Universal Mind Control, proving that having the skills can pay the bills. Common has long embraced his spot as the conscious MC not to be tested on the mic (ask Ice Cube). Right now the former Common Sense speaks on how all his corporate sponsorships and acting gigs mean better music, what he learned making music with the likes of J Dilla and Kanye West, and that pending album with Q-Tip. Seems like Common is seeing things clearly. AllHipHop.com: You had people ready for Invincible Summer. Obviously now it’s Universal Mind Control, what happened? Common: We was close to finishing, I really was planning on bringing out the album, in July, and actually the 1st day was June 24th I had in my mind. It became a album [Ed. Note: Invincible Summer was originally announced as an EP.] We was almost done and then I got the movie The Terminator. So I was like, “Man I got to do this,” so during that process while I was doing it I couldn’t work at the same pace that I was working at. I had to push it back. AllHipHop.com: Did the title change reflect a change in the music as well? Common: Oh yeah, well the title change happened because first of all a lot of people, like my mother, would say, “Why you gonna still call your album invincible summer?” I was still kinda like look, I like the title, I’m calling it Invincible Summer. But at one point a friend of mine, ‘cause she heard the album, she like was like, “Man, Universal Mind Control, that’s what the album feel like. That would be a good title”. I felt that was more fitting for the album, the sound of the album. I’ma come with Invincible Summer at some point. AllHipHop.com: You had also mentioned that your doing the movies allows you to do music without caring about the business aspect. Can you elaborate on that? Common: First of all I’m an artist, so music is the way I express myself. Man I love music, so when I get a chance to do it I’m feeling grateful. I’m looking for the challenge and, for some reason, when I started taking on acting I felt challenged, a challenge in me as an artist too. It was a new challenge, and I just kept working on it and working on it and then I finally started getting opportunities to do some movies. In the interim I would be working on music, and it felt like a weight was taken off my back as far as the responsibility of, “Man you got to sell this amount of records,” you know or your music has to be so big ‘cause that’s what’s sustaining your income, your life. As far as financial things go I felt like that weight was taken off a little bit. Not that I came in and just started getting super, super money on the movie side. Like I said, it did take some of the responsibility off of music as the only source of income. And now, with me doing more movies it’s given me a chance to go out, touring ‘cause I want to. So that’s a joy for me 'cause I love music so I want to do it, for the love of it. That’s the reason I first got into it of course. We young men so we all think about making a living. You know we all want to get, get money too. But I got into Hip-Hop just because I loved it. When I first started writing, money wasn’t even on my mind. So if I can kind of create that same environment for me as a musician where it ain’t even no way or shape about money, that’s gon’ make the music that much better for me. It’s going to allow me to have more fun. The biggest thing/purpose for me making music at a lot of points is just to affect people's lives. I’ve seen the presence that it could have and that’s my biggest focus, even still. I wanted to affect peoples lives in a way that they just gon’ be having a good time enjoying themselves. Sometimes it’s like, “Damn I got to make sure I get’s paid”, you know? As an artist you try to separate that s**t from your mind when you working. You try to just do the art and then once the arts [is] created, you go out there and you go market that stuff. I want my music to reach even more people now. But it’s just like I’m having more fun doing it that’s all just what really it just boil down to. It’s good to be like, I’m working on this audition, but when I’m riding on the way to go do something I’m in the car writing a song. Here let me read this script, let me go work on something, it keeps me flowing. AllHipHop.com: Because of the type of artist you are it’s almost like a lot of your fans want Common to be broke. Then you got all these sponsorships and the acting so cats start whispering things, Common’s kind of selling out. What do you say when people say stuff like that? Common: I mean being at the point that I’m a man, I got things that I want to do in my life, people to take care of and a family to support, and investments to make. So I want to keep building and building, and making things flourish so that I could provide for my family and my community and all those around me. So, my thing is I’m very focused and know that I’m cool with making money and not putting money first. I still want to live well. The point is I don’t mind if a corporation comes to me and wants to do a deal if it’s something that fits with me and won’t take away from me artistically. Then I mean I’m grateful. Not only is it an opportunity to make money directly but it’s also expanding audiences for me. If you don’t change for money or you don’t change for doing some type of partnership for the business or whatever, then shoot you should take it as a blessing. Then you doing the right thing, that’s what you should be doing. Otherwise, it’s difficult for a artist if they not able to make a living [from just music] if they not able to keep creating you know what I mean? It’s tough for them to make a living and really be able to stay creative ‘cause then they got to try and find another job. It always used to scare me like, “Man I don’t want to work no day job.” [laughs] So I’m bout to make the best music ever. And I’m a believer that if you make the music as good as possible and just make good quality music, then it’s gon' come to light and people will get to it. Sometimes it may take a continuous evolution of that, but it will come to light. I’m a believer in that like, that, at some point, you just keep putting quality and growing with what you do, as an artist and people gon’ recognize it and expand your audience. And really what I’m doing with the films, the commercials and different things like that, is just expanding my audience and letting people know more who Common is. AllHipHop.com: Over your career you’ve worked with production giants, Dilla, Kanye, the Neptunes; what have you gained from working with some of them? Common: Working with Dilla I just learned that…that’s somebody that I felt was like all he knew was about making good music. I mean of course he wanted to make money but his love was with the music man. His mom told me he was walking around when he was three years old with 45’s on his wrist. His dad would walk him to the park, he would have 45’s on his wrist. I felt that coming through him. With Kanye I feel like I learned about song making. He really knows how to make songs and he’s just so passionate and I also learned about being able to present your stuff with confidence and say man, “This is what it is,” and not being like, “Ok, am I offending anybody?”' Cause I know in my heart where my heart is, and I know I don’t want to offend nobody. I recognize that in Kanye. I mean even if people did get offended his heart is in the right place. I kind of learned from him, as far as making songs, it got to have good choruses. You got to bring in these certain type of melodies. He was really the person that was like, “Ok, we gonna do some raw Hip-Hop, that’s gon’ still reach the masses.” We’re gon’ make sure it reach the masses. That’s what his approach was. Working with the Neptunes is like…first of all we’re not working with samples so that was something different in some ways. But I did that too with J-Dilla and ?uestlove, but the point is that the Neptunes had a whole different approach in production. Pharrell might start the beat and then Chad will come add on. Pharrell is definitely one who will, tell you, “Man we should do the hook like this,” and then come with an idea for the hook. He is one of the greatest producers I have ever worked with or the Neptunes together, some of the greatest producers. Between them and Kanye they will make sure that song is done til the end. They ain't just gon' let you rap a certain way. Kanye, 'cause he and I had known each other for a while and he was definitely like, “Nah, re-write the rap.” Pharrell will be like, man I think we could make this better. He will say like you can do better. It’s different approaches but both of them get to the finish line. No ID. Man, he is just one of the greats that people really don’t know but he has done some incredible stuff. Working with him; we were both new, this was our first time even making records. We were making demo’s together, it was just about making music man. He would make cold beats and I would just write the raps. And he would give me his opinion and say, “Man I think you could change this.” But most of the time I was stubborn at that time. Man, but overall that was just the raw creation right there. We didn’t know much about making the great hook or whatever. I would luck up, any hooks that we had that was good I would luck up, I was just focused on the raps more than the hooks. AllHipHop.com: Now what’s up with this super group you and Q-Tip are supposed to be putting together? Common: Yeah, we still gon' make it happen. It’s called The Standard and Tip got his album and once my album come out and we get to getting that material out there… We just talked and said man we got to start doing it. We had the idea and then we both started doing our thing. I believe it’ll be happening soon, like at some point in the next year I believe we’ll have some songs ready to put out. I’m just looking forward to working with somebody of that talent. I listen to Tribe I listen to Tip now and it’s like that’s a timeless dude. They made some music that’s forever and he making music that’s just incredible. I feel like what we doing is two jazz musicians getting together to make a album.