Be

Chicago rapper Common returns with the album 'Be'. Produced by Kanye West, this album is set to send shockwaves on the urban circuit. 'Be' scales back on guest appearances compared to Common's 2002 set 'Electric Circus', which featured Mary J. Blige, Prince and Erykah Badu, among others.

Common describes the titles meaning as "simply to do without trying hard. I got to that point because on every album, I found myself trying to innovate a new music. This album, I felt like letting it be. If it sounds like something I've done before, so be it".

Highlights include 'Go', which Common says is about "going back to your fantasy". The guest appearance by singer/songwriter John Mayer may raise eyebrows, but his sampled voice is put to intriguing use on the track. Others include 'The Food', which is the first track West and Common created for the project as well as 'The Corner' featuring the Last Poets and 'Faithful' featuring Bilal and John Legend.