Nobody's Smiling by Common Review

Nobody's Smiling by Common Review

Despite some jokes earlier I am not the biggest Common fan. I like him, i like his ability and some of his music but i've never been a huge fan of his work. Be was a great album, he certainly has a solid back catalog but when i heard about Nobody's Smiling I had some mixed thoughts. Given Sense is a Chicago native is he going to tackle the problems obviously going on in the newly named "Chiraq?" Well, he would as we found it. It's a ten track LP and I will go over the three bonus tracks. I can say, I am more surprised than you are at what I'm going to say here.

The Neighborhood feat. Lil Herb and Cocaine 80s

But be careful don't drown in the gold. I know it glows but it's cold

The Cocaine 80s are a collective of Chicago artists including namely Common and No I.D., if you were unaware. I've never heard of this Lil Herb guy, but he does his job here. One of the Cocaine 80s members sings the opening very well and I was pleasantly sucked into this track. Referring to Common's upbringing in Chicago during the real crack boom, very good opening.

No Fear

Sitting on stairs, in street affairs. Jordan Airs, hes got at least seven pairs

Great point there Common. With people growing up in poverty and broken homes, buying Jordans and jewelry would be the last thing you'd imagine someone would go for. Common also provides some words to his daughter and most likely meant to influence a lot of the young girls out there.

Living life with no fear. Putting that truth in my baby girl's ear. Told her that dudes gonna want some ass, and whatever you do, do it with class

+1 for the Biggie Smalls reference

Diamonds feat. Big Sean

Fuck. This. Shit. Big Sean you may the least talented motherfucka in Hip hop the day Gudda Gudda retires. This corn ball straight up sucked the life outta this shit with his whiny ass voice. No love dawg, no respect. Whole heartily I say, Fuck you Big Sean. Sense is good here as you'd expect but Lil Sean goes on for so damn long at the outro with his squeaky ass voice. Straight ass cheese bruh.

Blak Majik feat. Jhene Aiko

Made something out of nothing, that's blak majik

The hook here is actually done well by someone who really does have more musical talent than a fucking dung beetle like Little man back there. Common is much more triumphant here in his success from leaving the situations that went down in Chicago.

Speak My Piece 

Technically featuring the Notorious B.I.G with a sample of his voice chopped on the chorus. References to Hip hop greats like Biggie, Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons, Slick Rick, and Doug E. Fresh. This follows a similar tone to Blak Majik.

Hustle Harder feat. Dreezy and Snoh Aalegra

Black and blue outside his soul, carries a heart of gold

Dreezy is really the last name i'd pick in 2014 but that's irrelevant. The MC's alright here, no complaints about him. This is more specifically that Comm has taken a beating in life time and time again but he isn't giving up and he's still going. Well...not really it is for the chorus then it's about a girl. The verses go on about a girl who's hustling to get what she wants then in the last bars Comm salutes young girls out there with big dreams struggling to get what they want.

Nobody's Smiling feat. Malik Yusef

Back to what you'd expect from this LP, the struggle of Chicago and it's overly unnecessary murder rate. The Malik also pretty decent in his verse, he's more just of an icing on the cake of this song overall as some of these features tend to be. (Unless you're big Sean)

Real feat. Elijah Blake

A star is born in a Chicago storm. The name is Common, I'm anything but the norm

Well put Common Sense. The hook refers to the people that seem to so badly want to be of the criminal lifestyle and clearly don't fit it. I enjoyed this.

Kingdom feat. Vince Staples

Second row of the church with my hood on. My homie used to rap, he was about to get put on, At his funeral, listening to this church song

I believe this is the longest track here, how is it? Just...awesome. There's not a dull moment in it. Vince Staples delivers the best guest appearance on the album bar none. I was borderline ready to hit repeat after this. Everything about its, especially production which i'll get to that later on.

Rewind That

In dedication to lost producer and friend of Common, J Dilla. This would normally be a depressing listen but similar to some past tracks the beat is very triumphant. Like you're gone, but you'll always be with us. This is what a lot of memorial tracks should sound like. It's personal and very sad but it doesn't bring you down, it can almost pick you up when you're in those state of minds. May be one of Common's brightest moments.

Deluxe Tracks

Out On Bond feat. Vince Staples

This is a story told by the view of a man being released from the pen and going back into society. It's a very solid bonus for a deluxe edition. I certainly prefer it over that Diamonds shit. Would recommend hearing this.

7 Deadly Sins

I heard this a matter of hours ago and i can hardly remember it. I was like "man this is great!" but i didn't realize the track had been over for a minute now. Forgettable to be honest. Or maybe its just me

Young Hearts Run Free feat. Cocaine 80s

I've heard that this track may be a spiritual successor to I Used to Love H.E.R. I can see that, and i don't think it is as good but it is a great listen.

The Highlights:

Kingdom

Rewind That

Blak Majik

The Lowlight:

Diamonds feat. Medium Sean

The Gem:

Speak My Piece

Is it Worth a Purchase?

I was genuinely blown away by this project. The top notch production, the quotable bars, the great guest appearances. (well Most of 'em...) I do hope this wins something this year, I'm holding this as my top project of 2014 right now. I haven't heard everything this year of course and i'll drop plenty of more 2014 reviews and hear some without reviewing but, i don't know if this will be surpassed to me. I'm teetering on an A- and an A. Feeling a very strong A-, maybe an A in the future. Pick this up.

Overall Grade: A-

Love that type at the bottom. Until Next Time, One Love.