COMMON IN URB

Rapper Common is the topic,
you know we gonna rock it,
O-Dub represents,
read my interview when I drop it.

Two choice quotes:

URB: These days, it seems like most rappers treat the label “conscious” like a kiss of death. They want to distance themselves from it.

C: When they started saying that to me I was defensive the first time like “why do they have to label me that?” Then I started looking more throughout music history and you look at the artists they say are conscious, then I am proud to be called that. You’re looking at Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, KRS-ONE. That lineage right there? Okay, call me conscious. When you look back in history, if I’m labeled as a conscious rapper it’s going to mean something. More than the booty shake rappers.


URB: Electric Circus took hard knocks from the critics and more importantly, a lot of your fans say it’s their least favorite of your albums. Do you think you were unfairly judged on that album?

C: I don’t think it was unfairly judged. People have their opinions and they’re going to feel what the feel. I think it was a case of me coming through the door with a certain look and a certain feel. I think I took a big jump. And what’s funny is people say to me “Why did Ahmir [aka the Roots’ ?uest Love] and them give you that music?” And I be like, “Look, they don’t give me nothing that I don’t already ask for.” Ahmir used to ask me, “You sure you want to go this far? You’re taking them all the way to the end.” But I guess I wanted to because I knew this was a new beginning. I had to get to this new beginning. That was the end of that chapter and I don’t apologize. I won’t say it’s the perfect record but I feel like it was some good work.

--O.W.