Universal Mind Control - Common
December 15, 2008 | Author: Rhydian H.M.
“Universal Mind Control” is Chicago rapper Common’s eighth studio album, following shortly after last year’s popular LP “Finding Forever”. The album features a number of guests including Kanye West, Martina Topley-Bird, Cee-Lo and Pharrell, who collaborates on several tracks as well as being heavily involved in the album’s production as part of The Neptunes (with Mr. DJ responsible for the remaining production).
“Universal Mind Control” was originally set to be named “Invincible Summer” and was pushed back several times for release earlier in the year.
On the first track “Universal Mind Control”, Pharrell joins in early on the album, as Common opens with an aggressive techno/club vibe (departing from his conscious thought-provoking rap fluency). Common goes with the flow in his melodic word play “Some pop, some lock, some move robotic; like Cash Money, I stay in pocket” and “Chicks exotic, mix hypnotic; superhero-row boy I’m bionic”.
Next Pharell takes a chance to hype the album “You know you like it, it’s calling your name;. n*gga, this is that new sh*t and it don’t feel the same.”
The next track is “Punch Drunk Love”, where Common teams up with long time co-worker and fellow Chicagoan Kanye West. Together Kanye and Common turn the “sexual switch” on, and rhyme lustful lyrics about a seductive girl. Kanye opens the hook “Hey baby, am I crazy? Or was u giving me the eye?”. Common’s lust can’t be contained as he rhymes “That a*s is so divine, it’s slippery when its wet girl…I feel like its home when I’m in between ya thighs”.
Pharell joins Common again on “Announcement”, and together they add more color to the mischievous trend of the album with provocative sexual boasts and vaunts of their prowess. Common opens the track “I’m gonna take it to the tip top baby: everybody I’d like to announce, throw your hands up when we in the house”. The rest of the track is filled with eroticism, as both Pharell and Common have some fun.
The album then makes a turn near the end with a taste of pop sound in “Everywhere”, as guest Martina Topley-Bird opens up singing before Common jumps in for lyrical relief, followed by a finale of pop vocals again from Martina Topley-Bird. “Inhale” is another renegade track, as an instrumental melody is coated with scratches to back Common’s wordplay.
“Universal Mind Control” was released on December 9 (check it out here), finally allowing you to get the full enjoyment of Common’s current attitude to hip hop.
