Common - The Dreamer/The Believer (2011)

Common is a rapper that could have retired ten years ago and still be considered one of the all time greats.  He’s got arguably more classic albums to his name than any other MC to ever do it, and he’s near universally respected because of it.  He’s one of my personal favorites, as well.  That being said, The Dreamer/The Believer is not Com’s best work, not by a long shot.  It is, however, quite possibly his best release since his 2005 classic, “Be.”

Those of you out there who know Common, know that him and producer, No I.D. have worked  together multiple times in the past, most notably on 1994′s, “Resurrection” (another one of Com’s classics).  So, these two Chicago veterans have chemistry; they understand each other, and this shows throughout the album.  The production has a very 90′s-esque feel to it, which I can only assume was the idea, since both Com and I.D. are in the twilight of their careers at this point and neither have found the success that they had together in the mid 90′s since.

Of note is the lack of guest features on the album, aside from the obligatory spot from “Pops” on the final track, all there is is Nas (who Common is releasing a collab with next year), soul artist, John Legend and poet, Maya Angelou.  The guests may be few, but they are all very well done.  Maya Angelou is a legend, and she brought out an original poem for the first track, “The Dreamer”.  Nas delivers a poignant verse on the album’s first single “Ghetto Dreams” and John Legend handles the chorus in spectacular fashion on “The Believer.”

Every part of The Dreamer/The Believer screams “positive hip-hop.”  Common has always been known for having a positive message to his music, but TD/TB takes it to a whole ‘nother level.  From the title of the album, to the music videos, to the production, to the lyrics, Common all but slaps you in the face with his positive message.  Quite frankly, it’s too much.  I’m all for positive hip-hop, but at least try to be subtle about it.  I don’t know whether the whole White House controversy got to him, or what, but Common leaves little to the imagination on this album.  He often comes across as more preachy and pretentious than positive.  The one outlyer in all this is “Sweet,” which takes an inexplicably harder tone, features Common doing braggadocio and for some reason takes shots at singer/rappers. *cough* Drake *cough*  While “Sweet” doesn't exactly fit in with the tone of the album, it does a fantastic job breaking up what could have potentially been an album that all just ran together into one unmemorable blob.

All and all, The Dreamer/The Believer isn't Common’s best, but it is still a good effort from a great MC and great producer.  It’s obvious that Common had a message that he wanted to get across with this album, but it’s unfortunate that he sacrificed wordplay to do so.  If nothing else, he at least makes FOX News look stupid for calling him a gangster rapper.

Best Tracks: The Dreamer, Ghetto Dreams, Blue Sky, Sweet, Celebrate, The Believer

Overall: 83/100