The Secret to Common’s Comeback Album

[@diggingthegreats]

Get 15 tracks to sample on Tracklib for free: www.tracklib.com/diggingthegreats Song Sampled: www.tracklib.com/music/artists/soul-dog/cant-stop-loving-you

[@dreamulator]

dope vid!

[@WuntaykTimmy1]

Daupe! Vid 🦜

[@kerronsmith6168]

Bro. Big fan. Do you think 9th could have been a native tongue and/or soulquarian?

[@amandlaxoki]

@@kerronsmith6168 great comment/quiz my brother. IMO, 9th is perfect fit for both collectives 🙏🏾❤️💯

[@peace_of_mind_00]

...goto the corner & testify or just be. Then go home and be faithful cause love is ...like being in the chi city or telling ya son it's your world.

[@Trrack10]

Be (intro) will forever be in rotation

[@diggingthegreats]

Same 🔥

[@rayneozier]

Such a great record. One of my favorite Kanye beats. Be (intro) and The Corner are near perfect instrumentally

[@VincentFree]

100%

[@Ichabodbrain]

The corner beat is crraazzzzyyyy

[@webinfront]

That song sounds like triumph and freedom

[@richardpayton9671]

What I liked about this album is that there was no filler. Just 11 tracks, no army of guest rappers, just a concentrated 43 minutes of soulful quality.

[@Happeninlad]

It's a great point. I remember that time just coming into what I liked in music and I always wanted more and more (in terms of album sizes). But then I realised that albums with a more common outlook was what I wanted. Listening to albums rather than individual tracks was what felt right. The larger albums just couldn't bring that. This is one that really struck a cord.

[@lowlowseesee]

just like the film Predator. its lean.

[@jennyneon]

Common's "Be" is just amazing. My favorite song on "Be" is so hard to pick but Real People is so underrated, the sample chop is so simple yet so effective. Kanye, J Dilla & Common did an incredible job on this.

[@ACSanchezium]

Yo same here. Be is one of my favorite tracks!

[@Trill104]

“Love Is” is my favorite song off the album. One of the greatest Marvin Gaye samples ever.

[@nickpeitchev7763]

The closing track just means too much to me

[@dannicosworld8252]

It’s your world is a favourite of mine

[@MrJavonnthomas]

@@Trill104that’s a top 5 Dilla beat

[@thomasnelson5758]

It's pretty crazy how two of my favorite hip hop albums of all time (Late Registration and Be) were released in the same year and produced by the same person on his own label running with the same creative circle. Seriously. GOOD Music forever

[@diggingthegreats]

🔥🔥🔥

[@mikelewicki1557]

Makes sense more when you think about it. Many of the tracks on Be and Late Registration were made during the same studio sessions w/ Kanye

[@lyndxnjoel6917]

Yeezy the GOAT.

[@masilomoshesh1475]

Have both on vinyl. It just sounds different with the living room sound system🔥. Just need College dropout.

[@fauxdauteur]

"It's Your World" is probably my favorite song of all time. The inspirational message, J Dilla's soulful production, and Common's lyricism are just so perfect. And hearing the kids at the end saying what they wanted to do when they grew up always makes me smile. Love that unbridled sense of hope, which I feel can easily be lost in adulthood if you let it.

[@tlev9602]

Came to the comments to see if anyone else was gonna mention that track!!! I've played that track Millions of times I'm sure since I bought that album.

[@fauxdauteur]

@@tlev9602 Oh snap, great minds think alike then haha. When did you buy the album/discover 'It's Your World'? 'Be' and Common's previous works were before my time, but in the past couple years, I've been going down the J Dilla rabbit hole. I'm trying to check out every project he's worked on to expand my hip-hop palette lol.

[@MajorG13]

This track deserves its own vid lol

[@mike.tag.autosport]

Do we have an update on lil bro who said he wanted to be a duck?! 🥹🥹🥹🥰

[@Sjcstro84]

It's your world is my favorite as well.

[@C116-b1z]

I always loved the spoken word Common’s father does on his albums. It’s Your World is one of my favorite tracks ever. So beautiful.

[@HelloMyNameIsCody]

That’s commons father ? Woah thanks for the hiphop 101 info sir !!

[@Bramv]

​@@HelloMyNameIsCodyCommon has a song with his pops on a lot of his albums. it's really cool

[@blusef1]

Woah I didn’t know that was commons father!

[@smanqele]

@@blusef1 I even think in earlier albums his father's closing piece was called "Pop's Rap"

[@TheRealLeonardWashington]

Yea it’s your world has aged beautifully. Easily my favorite song on BE. Side note: Common’s pops is also at the end of Retrospect 4 life talking about wanting to whoop Jesse Jackson’s ass 🤣💀

[@bladerunner27x]

As a Chicagoan, “BE” is an album that is a time capsule of Chicago during the 70’s and 80’s. Common is talking about places, people and situations with soulful music, that where lived experiences. “The Corner” and “Faithful”, 🔥🔥🔥

[@paul-scanlan]

The John Mayer session that produced the “go” in Go also led to Bittersweet Poetry, a track intended for Late Registration that got altered and changed to a Japan-exclusive bonus track for Graduation. It’s on KZbin somewhere; one of my favourite Kanye songs, well worth a listen.

[@diggingthegreats]

🎶Bittersweeeeeet - you're gonna be the death of me - I don't want you, but I need you - I love you and hate you at the very same tiiiiime 🎶

[@x_VineM_x]

On the MTV promo, John Mayer flexin on Ye about his watch. Lol

[@JohnDoe-vc5qb]

@@x_VineM_xit means he’s more stuntastic 🥲

[@abrashio]

Man I loved that track. Graduation had a plethora of tracks floating out there. Collecting them all, finding good rips of them, and burning a CD of them all made the Ultimate Graduation disc

[@ConchienceClothing]

@@diggingthegreatshave to be a real fan to remember this track

[@pervertedalchemist9944]

"Be" was huge comeback for Common. It was one of those projects that you had to have in your collection at that time.

[@Ojace_mecca]

"Be" to me is Common's own Illmatic, both albums didn't exceed 12 tracks with songs that have great replay quality like a sequel, also there are couple of songs with relatable theme from two different artists telling their own experiences; (chi-city = new york state of mind), (it's your world = the world is your) (the corner = represent) there are couple of other songs with similarities, it is like the Bible and the Quaran, You can't say you truly appreciate one without appreciating the other for real...

[@davido3109]

😲😳!!! Thanks for the infos!!! wow wow!!!

[@AGETheGawdYT]

Dope. I compare it to Illmatic also. Imo, 2 albums that are just so concise, so perfect, no skips and have many similarities. Honestly, I might even say my Top 2 Hip Hop Albums of all time are Illmatic and Be.

[@Ojace_mecca]

@@AGETheGawdYT you’re right Illmatic and Basement Evolution are amongst the few hip hop album that’s so appealing not because of their commerciality rather because of their depth and clarity...

[@izzo4185]

Resurrection had better bars , was more hip hop than any of common releases IMHO resurrection was truly commons illmatic plus it had the classic I used to love her

[@Ojace_mecca]

@@izzo4185 “I used to love her” is a masterpiece for real, Resurrection is a great album too, “Basement Evolution” is mastery art. Nas One Love defined love behind bars, Common’s Love Is took it a step further to the underground love. What’s that thing about Resurrection is more hip hop nah! Common has always been into jazz feel the J Dilla effect, Ye only added his soulful effect.

[@jayden.6]

my Dad was Common’s best friend in college. this makes me happy to see and hear. ❤

[@dmug]

When I heard Common say “Yes…” on the intro for Be, it was like an affirmation that this was the Common of old. There’s so much I could say about this album but I’m gonna go listen to that interview now…

[@diggingthegreats]

Full interview with Derrick Hodge dropping Monday (just too much to edit and release on one day haha) really great convo - more on Be, his career working with Glasper, Mos Def, Jill Scott - such a great conversation

[@dmug]

@@diggingthegreats Understandable.

[@adamstickelbault]

⁠@@diggingthegreatsdrop the link

[@adamstickelbault]

@@diggingthegreatsand tell Derrick that they need to do a live recreation of the “Be” album for an upcoming anniversary

[@arky_tech]

Totally underrated album, Kanye soul samples were so good during that period, common really felt lyrically refined and dope concepts/call backs to the songs.. hard to find albums that check so many boxes

[@diggingthegreats]

It's so good!

[@jjbing3]

It introduced a lot of people to Common. I only knew a few songs by him such a “Come Close” and “The Light.”

[@thaxtonwaters8561]

Common has been my favorite M.C. since 1993. I kinda lost track with him around the Finding Forever album but he's still in my top 5.

[@Wrekkshoppe]

You should listen to his 'Black America Again' album, released back in 2016. It's a really good return to form for him. He's rhyming like he's HUNGRY, and the production is lovely. I consider it his new classic. Give it a listen.

[@SkySplitterInk]

@@Wrekkshoppe Agreed another great one for sure.

[@BlackDrac82]

The Dreamer, The Believer is great, very underrated

[@DOOM8529]

Be is such a beautifully human album. The themes covered in songs such as “Faithful”, “Love is…” and “Real people” are explored in a heartfelt and earnest manner. It’s hard not to be moved or inspired by this album particularly the intro and outro tracks. Not to mention how the rhythm and atmosphere of the instrumentals match the lyrics. Everything about this just feels so soulful, deeply honest and passionate. I wish there was an instrumental version of this album. Anyway brilliant video as usual it feels like privilege to be able to view work, outstanding content.👍✌️

[@zainaquil]

Those are my favorite songs Kanye and Dillas peak production nothing will beat the soul samples on that album and commons lyricisms

[@JohnnyBananas0]

I listened to this album probably more than any other. It was on repeat for a year or two. It’s still one of the only albums that’s downloaded on my phone and plays in my car when I don’t start Spotify

[@KingCalla]

One of the most underrated rap albums of all time. An absolute masterpiece.

[@FormalFilmsProductions]

This is one of my favorite hip hop albums. The production throughout is just hypnotic and chill

[@VeegovonDOOM]

The color palette of where you record is fantastic. It's super warm.

[@joedellava7805]

Showing how Dilla samples that Marvin track is a testament to his stand alone next level producing twenty years ago. Thanks for breaking that down 🤘

[@KJon25]

Be is an album I feel gets overlooked at times. It's amazing and fits so well with Finding Forever.

[@dreambrother80]

This album is borderline flawless. It should be mentioned more as a top 20 greatest hip-hop album ever made. Awesome breakdown video as usual 🙌

[@pgil13]

i’m so glad you did this album. this album has been on rotation since i discovered it in 2006

[@lu.smoove]

Fun facts for all my hip-hop nerds, a young J. Cole can actually be spotted in the crowd at the Soulquarian block party…crazy inspiring 🙏🏾

[@JonathanConda]

Such a dope breakdown…but for true music heads we gotta preach how incredible Electric Circus is. Commons opinion seems to be motivated by record sales and public opinion. In 30 years we’ll be coming back to it like “Here, My Dear”

[@yungmu9271]

You made me go back and listen to it for like the first time in 6-7 years. Good God, the album is actually FLAWLESS from Be to It’s Your World!

[@dokksavage8286]

Bro, you need to breakdown “It’s Your World”. The whole album is a soulful palette of resurgence.

[@barbedwirefire]

this album REALLY takes me back to a moment in time. A lot of music does that to me…but this album….is like an actual Time Machine. So wild.

[@ScottThePisces]

The concepts for every video you do are always so amazing brother! I LOVED this album, and basically every single piece of music you've covered on this channel. Props to you bro!

[@SCMESD]

Yo, when that vocal sample by the Temprees comes in….. whew!!! That was a phenomenal breakdown. I was glued to this video.

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏🙏

[@jsaichek1220]

One of my favorite albums of All-Time! This came out my senior year of High School. I live not far from Chicago and I have family there. This album soundtracked some of my most memorable trips to the city that year. I played this album so much that I could rap it word-for-word from memory without it even playing.

[@leonbattle5256]

Thank you for breaking this down so well. These albums that are so nostalgic deserve this type of attention today. Just warms my soul. Such a classic

[@wojteksocha2002]

It's your world (especially part 2) makes my cry every time I listen to it, my god this album has soooo much heart and soul ❤❤

[@AustinGigstead]

I really like the one he made after too, the production sounds super creative and for me is a no skip

[@diggingthegreats]

Finding Forever is also 🔥

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

Yeah that was hard, too. The People is one of my favorite beats ever. Such a beautiful instrumental

[@Prodbykayyso]

Man Common Like My Favourite Old School Rapper so much maturity behind his words , thanks for this

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏🙏

[@DJAUDIO1]

That era was Unparalleled. This has stood the test of time. Amazing video. ❤

[@steve.santiago]

Such a great album. Both Kanye and Common were at the height of their respective super powers.

[@AkramDeX]

This is AMAZING!! I always felt like the Be album was not talked abut enough, thank you !

[@1c2reative]

I was in highschool when "Be" was released. The feeling listening to it for the first time, the verses and the production...right in the feels. Album is nothing short of a masterpiece, till this day. Long live hip-hop🤍

[@cotyparms9666]

Thanks! @diggingthegreats please make more content please I look forward to your videos bro

[@cotyparms9666]

Do a Frankie Beverley and Maze video

[@diggingthegreats]

Thank you so much for the support - absolutely on the list 🔥

[@djflipside33]

One of my favorite albums of all time

[@cocoatea4369]

One of my FAVORITE hip-hop albums, It's Your World is also one of the absolute greatest things I've ever heard. Incredible storytelling & editing as usual. So cool that you talked to Hodge as well!

[@LOREOFTHETHINGS]

Forever love this I was in 8th grade and fell in love with hiphop foreal the 1st time

[@Wishlake]

BE was my gateaway to the genre. 'Faithful' was the first song I'd loop like crazy.

[@georgemam3764]

Hearing The Food - Live was what got me in to hip-hop, I've been wanting to see a video on this album for a long time. Keep up the good work man, you're killing it!

[@Islati]

The song you used at 3:10 is one by me from my first album, Evergreen, titled “Liquor Lullaby”

[@jnac216]

Be will forever be a classic album

[@tsientific]

Just found this channel and I’m in love. This era was special. And I loved Electric Circus too 😂

[@sebastianm9665]

Thank you so much for this video , my favorite album of all time deserves its flowers

[@benyaq]

Dude your channel is awesome and I absolutely love how you are essentially giving a lesson on soul music!

[@bangarJb]

Love this!! Such a huge Common fan and love seeing these kinds of vids! PLEASE PLEASE do Finding Forever next

[@lisamixx]

I love that u did this!!! This my fav album ever!!!!

[@adrianmarroquin7773]

I just remember a couple months ago when you had like 2K followers this feels great to see this is my favorite music channel

[@Becauseimme]

Yes the samples! This album reminds me of my ex wife because it came out when we first met and we would play “BE” all day err day. It’s bittersweet to hear that album and I can’t get through it without dropping a few😢.

[@kedwin79]

IMHO both Be and Finding Forever are his best albums. I cannot skip a single track.

[@AGETheGawdYT]

This album is a genuine Classic and I wouldn't be mad if you called it the greatest hip hop album of all time. Its pure genius. No skips. Kanye at his peak, Common at his peak, Dilla its just, perfect.

[@joelhenderson2837]

That's my favorite Common album.. it is a masterpiece.

[@enzigenes]

This album got me through college. Great album and great times.

[@johntaua]

Thanks a lot for bringing me back to the times I’ve been listening to this album over and over again. Truly a masterpiece.

[@Michael_0589]

Thank you for this. Love is is one of my favourite songs of all time. Finding out how it was made just blows my mind. Crazy how we would bump this on a friends iPod on campus in the land of the Zulu. Mad love for this channel.

[@TheOriginal009]

Man I really wish The Food has a studio version but the Chappelle Show cheering kinda adds to the flair of it.

[@92alpha13]

I remember get a Maxi single of Ed OG & the Bulldogs for Love comes and goes. On the b side was the song Easy Comes Easy Goes by the Last Poets. I think this pre-dates Common’s The Corner. It was my first time hearing them and I had no clue who they were and was shocked by how long they been in the game. Great review as usual!

[@zaystation.]

Heard The Food -Live for the first time watching Dave Chappelle with my brother and I remember being so enamoured i listened to this album for weeks, being born when I was my first exposure to Common was when he played that guy in Wanted. This is a great video

[@chodagreat7876]

Once or twice a year i come across channels that make my soul glow ❤

[@bradymiddleton9776]

This is one of my favorite albums. Being a Chicagoan from the same community as Common, it means so much to me.

[@bradymiddleton9776]

“Waiting for the Lord to rise I look into my daughter's eyes And realize that I'ma learn through her The Messiah, might even return through her If I'ma do it, I gotta change the world through her”

[@ACSanchezium]

More Common?! hell yeah lets goooooooooooo!!!

[@TheSabinCole]

Love how you breakdown the history of everything, great vid!

[@AdrianMoseley]

This channel is elite ❤

[@jamesbelkin9204]

I put 'Be' up there with 'illmatic' both had a huge impact on my life. Leading up to the release of 'The Auditorium' I had 'Be' on constant repeat and it has the same effect on me as it did nearly 20 years ago! I'd say it's gotten better with time. As for the production? What can I say? That's just Kanye at his sweetest most soulful point of his career. It dawned on me this past summer while listening to 'Be' is that this album's production IMO is what 'Livin Proof' is to DJ Premier. I always felt like 'Livin Proof' sounded like Premier but it was unique in that nothing else he was producing during that era or after sounded like it; I feel the same about the beats Kanye produced for 'Be' Straight masterpiece!

[@damianharris8913]

Its in my top 5 along with illmatic

[@DOSOLTD]

I enjoy watching you do your thing with theses videos and breakdowns with the research , knowing in the future many will dig through my albums and find so many samples they enjoy!

[@Tlhakxza]

Man to me LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE is COMMON'S best album of all,Be is second. How that album didn't even get a nod by the powers that be at the Grammys is truly beyond me. I am gonna bump both albums tomorrow✌🏿🇿🇦 much love to you and your channel brother.

[@izzo4185]

Resurrection has better bars batter beats

[@allpositivenetwork]

Another great video. It's crazy you picked that sample from Tracklib because that's the one No Id used for Common's "Hungry". And that was my favorite joint from One Day it'll all Make Sense

[@diggingthegreats]

🤯 didn't catch that - I was just digging through and picked one - love the connection 🔥

[@Champagneonly]

An INCREDIBLE album!!! Another great video family!! … I remember John legend winning a Grammy and saying he knew it would be a great year cause he got nominated for his vocals on “ they say “ which was my favorite song on this album

[@stephenstrussvideo]

Man, Derrick Hodge is a real one. Love all of his work, especially with Glasper.

[@LyricalToneLLF]

Thank you.

[@soulaschoolofhealingarts]

This channel is a immediate watch - congrats.

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏🙏

[@DarrinNoNAME]

Man, this channel grew so fast.. congrats man. Another great video

[@Goshaunharris]

I got to open for the Last Poets Twice in Tucson Arizona, Umar bin hassin is Amazing person.

[@moriontax]

Loved this Album and It’s Your World as a literal internet kid growing up! Never left my rotation and played it sparingly because everytime I did the outro would always give me goosebumps…Loved this album man

[@zeitgeistx5239]

My fav album. I thought I was the only one who loved Be and the Corner.

[@davido3109]

The food live!!!

[@djjus-e-nuff8970]

Amazing work as always bro! Shoutout to Serato Stems. An absolute GAME CHANGER!!!

[@zoradaughter]

Be is my favorite Common album. ❤

[@Nickpetronio]

Be and Finding Forever were awesome back to back albums. Common and Kanye went in. Dang, and I haven’t listened to them in so long this makes me want to go back and hear em lol

[@fish21_]

been waiting for a video on this album an absolute underrsted classic💜

[@diggingthegreats]

It's so good 🔥

[@JoshuaSkaja]

I like how at 10:28 he just cold sings the string line in tune & in the right key

[@benjaminmtang]

you just so eloquently articulated all the elements i love about this album (and more!) thank you

[@adamg4701]

These video need to be longer! Such dope content

[@dannyjamz23]

So dope that your using stems to show us all these what if’s Man your doing amazing work

[@jeffjdmv]

Definitely a timeless hip hop masterpiece. “Be” will never get old.

[@floopeygoober446]

Will always be a special album for me. My first step into common’s catalogue after hearing that verse on late registration on the Gil Scott heron beat. Prime ye and dilla production. Hugely under appreciated piece of work

[@cequario]

so far to go. one of the best tunes period.

[@fedegambamusica]

Que buen análisis de un disco impresionante e imprescindible. Un abrazo desde Argentina

[@krackentoast]

You are the one out of 5, that I respect. I was so happy to see you play bass for NAS!! I'm heading to Chicago in October to witness history. Nas, DeLa, and the Wu!! History!! As an engineer and producer.. having lived out east during such heavy music movements.. I just had to thank you for reaching out and teaching all of us, how these masterpieces were made. You are a GOAT for sure. Every video that you share should have 1M. Views and 250k likes. Peace, brother

[@kmxrie]

Wish I knew what the (I’m assuming copyright-free) background song was that’s playing in the very, very beginning of the video. I hear it everywhere but never know the name for it! Besides that, another amazing video as always. I’m so happy I stumbled upon this channel last year. I love being educated more on the history, breakdown and production of music. The editing, the set up and structure of the video, the personality and charisma, all of it is so - perfect. It’s a crime that this channel doesn’t have more subscribers and views; can’t wait for that day to come!

[@CED.Dweller]

🎉🎉❤❤ One of my recurring favorite albums…and Common turned out to be repeatedly one of the coolest people I’ve ever met. Can’t say that for every artist…

[@Jarles666]

I love all your videos so much. Thank you for giving new life to these samples and all the music you cover. Thanks for spreading the good vibes

[@J.Artistry]

Great video.. This has been one of my favorite albums since I heard it my sophomore year in highschool. This is one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time forreal.

[@WuntaykTimmy1]

I was juss listening to Go! At work. All the old people were like "Oooo what's this" Def gotta show em this video. All praises 🗣️ 🦜

[@diggingthegreats]

🙏🙏

[@rapfreak7797]

Be is my favorite Common album, just solid all the way through from concepts, to lyrics, to delivery, to production.