Common - Nobody's Smiling (Album Thread) 4th single - The Neighborhood f. Lil Herb & Cocaine 80's

mossman1975 said:
Not feeling this album, production is weak by NO ID standards and lyrically Common has gotten lazy
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I agree regarding the lyrics. Lyrically this is nowhere near the level of his best work. Don't get me wrong there are good songs on this album but Com has some struggle bars.
 
70% of this album is ILL. Like best album of the year ill.

But that 30% is like someone straight up sexually assaulted my eardrums, it's so bad.

And the worst part is it's the production. When the beat is ill, the song is ill, and when the beat sucks, it's like Common just didn't want to admit it or something.
 
Mini Review --

The Neighborhood: This song is beautiful from the James Fauntleroy opening to the Curtis Mayfield sample, to the Herb verse. It came on and and I got really excited. Love the horns on this as well, well done Dion.

No Fear: I appreciate the bars but this is a forgettable track.

Diamonds: This beat is a problem, I don't care what anyone says. I thought Sean was a perfect fit here, I enjoyed his verse.

Blak Majik: I enjoyed this track as well as the concept. I thought Jhene was on point and a nice fit here, I wish she would have sang one more verse though, or a bit more than she did. Also, they could have introduced her at a different point or in another way (when she came in on Childish Gambino's Pink Toes it was special in a way... she sang a bit longer... I was hoping for something more like that) Com kinda messed up a little on his flow as far as how he rode the beat in the beginning... at 40 seconds in, when he raps about Badu for a second, he sounds off.

Speak My Piece: I was hype the first time I heard this record. I have always liked that Big line for one, also it was well used as far as the content of the song. Great Track.

Hustle Harder: This record put a smile on my face for sure. Being a female and working hard as hell to stay on point, I appreciated this record. Dreezy should have spit a little harder, I know its in her, she gonna be nice though. I have never heard of Snoh Alagrea, but I liked her singing at the beginning. Will have to look her up for sure.

Nobody's Smiling: As always I appreciated the bars. The beat sounded like a Yeezus type of beat I thought, I did not think Com was a great fit on this. Also I felt that the main sample was a little too distorted and did not flow with the track well. I did not think the Malik Yusef piece fit well either. Maybe it will grow on me, I doubt it though.

Real: This song was cool, sounded like a radio friendly, summertime type of jam. Pretty forgettable for the most part.

Kingdom: This is one of the hardest records Com has ever put out, this is Hip-Hop music, period. When the sample comes in, I feel some type of way. You just know it will be an epic track. I LOVE everything about this track, from the content, to the video that Hype Williams shot (it felt like Belly) The bars were a problem on every level, Vince killed it as well, perfect feature. NO ID was too on point.. this record is my favorite on the album.

Rewind That: We all know the importance and significance of this track. Dilla did so much for the culture I personally will be forever grateful. I like that Com opened up and gave us the back story on their friendship as men and as well musically. Very, very special record. "Waking up every morning to a J Dilla beat.... man I was blessed." Lovely and we will see you in Paradise King.

Out On Bond: That story telling is back and I love it. Com rides this beat perfectly. Song is a problem and Vince did his thing.... 1nce again. And the beat... a problem.

7 Deadly Sins: The hardest track on the the album as far as the bars. The sample was amazing as well. Impressive.

Young Hearts Run Free: I loved this beat, this production, the flow... felt good. Cocaine 80s are on point and a great fit on the places they were placed on this album. Very nice.

City to City: Always appreciate the bars, I don't think this beat was a good fit for Com. The way he rode this beat lyrically did not match up well.
 
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Been listening to this all day, I would give it a 7 to 7.5 out of 10 right now.

A couple weak songs but for the most part its dope and my dude Common still got it
 
I think the problem with Common is that once he released Be, everything is being compared to that. Be was a classic, from beginning to end I don't have to skip a track. Production and lyrics meshed so wonderfully together, perfection. So everything after will obviously be lackluster from Common.
 
JorPun662 said:
I think the problem with Common is that once he released Be, everything is being compared to that. Be was a classic, from beginning to end I don't have to skip a track. Production and lyrics meshed so wonderfully together, perfection. So everything after will obviously be lackluster from Common.
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This is pretty much how I feel, though there were times where i actually liked Finding Forever better than Be.
 
JorPun662 said:
I think the problem with Common is that once he released Be, everything is being compared to that. Be was a classic, from beginning to end I don't have to skip a track. Production and lyrics meshed so wonderfully together, perfection. So everything after will obviously be lackluster from Common.
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Resurrection and One Day It'll All Make Sense > Like Water For Chocolate = Be though
 
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JorPun662 said:
I think the problem with Common is that once he released Be, everything is being compared to that. Be was a classic, from beginning to end I don't have to skip a track. Production and lyrics meshed so wonderfully together, perfection. So everything after will obviously be lackluster from Common.
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I feel the same way about "Be". I love that album and it easily one of my favorite hip-hop albums. Perfect album and I don't ever skips a track. Be to me is easily Common's best and most complete work. He has other good to very good albums but none flow perfectly the way Be does.

However, I don't expect Common to produce "Be" like quality all the time. For example I thought Finding Forever was a damn good follow up to Be, not as good as the previous album but damn good. Common really hasn't put out a horrible album out since be other than UMC. The last album was average to me and this one is better. I just feel like his lyrical quality has fallen off since Finding Forever.

I don't want Common to make "another Be" but I think he has the ability to create another album where production and lyricism mesh wonderfully together again.
 
stillmaticshay said:
Mini Review --

The Neighborhood: This song is beautiful from the James Fauntleroy opening to the Curtis Mayfield sample, to the Herb verse. It came on and and I got really excited. Love the horns on this as well, well done Dion.

No Fear: I appreciate the bars but this is a forgettable track.

Diamonds: This beat is a problem, I don't care what anyone says. I thought Sean was a perfect fit here, I enjoyed his verse.

Blak Majik: I enjoyed this track as well as the concept. I thought Jhene was on point and a nice fit here, I wish she would have sang one more verse though, or a bit more than she did. Also, they could have introduced her at a different point or in another way (when she came in on Childish Gambino's Pink Toes it was special in a way... she sang a bit longer... I was hoping for something more like that) Com kinda messed up a little on his flow as far as how he rode the beat in the beginning... at 40 seconds in, when he raps about Badu for a second, he sounds off.

Speak My Piece: I was hype the first time I heard this record. I have always liked that Big line for one, also it was well used as far as the content of the song. Great Track.

Hustle Harder: This record put a smile on my face for sure. Being a female and working hard as hell to stay on point, I appreciated this record. Dreezy should have spit a little harder, I know its in her, she gonna be nice though. I have never heard of Snoh Alagrea, but I liked her singing at the beginning. Will have to look her up for sure.

Nobody's Smiling: As always I appreciated the bars. The beat sounded like a Yeezus type of beat I thought, I did not think Com was a great fit on this. Also I felt that the main sample was a little too distorted and did not flow with the track well. I did not think the Malik Yusef piece fit well either. Maybe it will grow on me, I doubt it though.

Real: This song was cool, sounded like a radio friendly, summertime type of jam. Pretty forgettable for the most part.

Kingdom: This is one of the hardest records Com has ever put out, this is Hip-Hop music, period. When the sample comes in, I feel some type of way. You just know it will be an epic track. I LOVE everything about this track, from the content, to the video that Hype Williams shot (it felt like Belly) The bars were a problem on every level, Vince killed it as well, perfect feature. NO ID was too on point.. this record is my favorite on the album.

Rewind That: We all know the importance and significance of this track. Dilla did so much for the culture I personally will be forever grateful. I like that Com opened up and gave us the back story on their friendship as men and as well musically. Very, very special record. "Waking up every morning to a J Dilla beat.... man I was blessed." Lovely and we will see you in Paradise King.

Out On Bond: That story telling is back and I love it. Com rides this beat perfectly. Song is a problem and Vince did his thing.... 1nce again. And the beat... a problem.

7 Deadly Sins: The hardest track on the the album as far as the bars. The sample was amazing as well. Impressive.

Young Hearts Run Free: I loved this beat, this production, the flow... felt good. Cocaine 80s are on point and a great fit on the places they were placed on this album. Very nice.

City to City: Always appreciate the bars, I don't think this beat was a good fit for Com. The way he rode this beat lyrically did not match up well.
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Mini review?? :tongue: :lol:

It was a really good review.
 
Played it once.

Nothing about it really made me want to play it again. But ill give it another spin eventually
 
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Pretty solid album. The beats could be more live, but they pretty much fit Common and he comes through lyrically. Beat wise there should've been more songs like Real, Rewind That, The Neiborhood, and Diamonds. That was my first time hearing Vince Staples as well, real nice verse. Lil' Herb had a nice showing too. I'd say overall this is like a 7.5/10. It really makes me want to spin The Dreamer/The Believer again cause I remember it being good, but at least for me it got lost in the shuffle.

Just ran back Dreamer/Believer, wow, i remember it being good, but not that good. I guess all those Juicy J tapes coming out made me overlook Common's album a bit :lol:
 
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SoleByThePound said:
It's not bad, but I'm just not feeling it. I also realize that everyone has different opinions so there's a chance you will like it.
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i hope so but his last best album was be from 2005

the dream and finding forever where not bad either but common was at his musical peak with his first 4 albums
 
No I.D.'s production on this is bad.

My problem with The Dreamer, The Believer is that the beats got stale really quickly. They were good, but wore thin - I thought it has to do with his drums and the way he EQ's some things. But this album, the beats are just bad and uninspired to begin with.
 
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