“Inhale” – Review Of Common’s Universal Mind Control
ALBUM REVIEWS By TC on December 8, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Forever the journeyman through all the convolutions that accompany a Hip-Hop career, Rashid “Common” Lynn was never one to shy away from letting the music represent his current mood. In attempts to fatten his catalog with more accessible material to counterpoise the analytical content in the bulk of his discography, the concept of Invincible Summer was born. However, scheduling conflicts forced the album’s delay, ultimately spawning Universal Mind Control which is a zesty blend of electro-funk, retrospect, and occasional laziness.
Not as eccentrically irritating as 2000’s Electric Circus, nor as confined to uniformity as last year’s Finding Forever, UMC determines it’s own path by remaining bubbly in its entirety courtesy of The Neptunes and Mr. DJ — of Outkast fame. Which in turn, help build momentum and compensate for Common’s lacking in the vocal charisma department. This is best evidenced on the album’s first two singles “Universal Mind Control” and “Announcement.” The title track which borrows flavor from Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock,” rides a futuristic wave of looping instrumentation that looks to be the B-Boy anthem of the next millennium while the latter, finds Common and Pharrell bigging up the Notorious one over a funky yet subtle backdrop.
In actuality, consider UMC’s mission accomplished for the entertainment value it brings. Kanye West’s lone contribution comes in form of the catchy hook on “Punch Drunk Love” where Common throws playful jabs in attempts to get in the girl’s panties whereas the Cee-Lo assisted “Make My Day” takes a page from the Book of Gnarls, to administer groovy results. And although “What A World” features Common spitting like he’s possessed with the ghost of the Sugarhill Gang, the fly melody is sure to burn up dancefloors abroad.
As fate would have it, though, Common spends so much of his time catering to the Pop public that the lyrical content falls to the wayside, creating an imbalance in the force. The lazily performed “Sex 4 Suga” and “Changes” which masks its insubstantiality behind butter-soft verses and a heavenly chorus, weigh things down a bit. Even the lone battle track “Gladiator” suffers from rusty swordsmanship like “You frail on the mic like you won’t break a nail/I might smoke a joint but I won’t take an “L”…/you easy to take out cuz you hot gawbage…”
The fact that Common opted for the Pop route doesn’t imply that he doesn’t love “H.E.R.” nor is Universal Mind Control a total bust. But by equating carefree music with half-assed lyricism, it marks a slight disappointment that Comm couldn’t solidify classic status with a paltry ten tracks to work with.
BONUS REMIXES
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, GENERAL, MUSIC — Tags: Common, Kanye West, Mr. DJ, The Neptunes, Universal Mind Control
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62 Comments
But by equating carefree music with half-assed lyricism, it marks a slight disappointment that Comm couldn’t solidify classic status with a paltry ten tracks to work with.
=========================
In a nutshell.
Accurate as always.
Not as bad as some would have you believe, but nowhere near what Com is capable of. Dude done went & got Hollywood for a minute lol. The gossip blogs say he just kicked Serena to the curb, so things are looking up for “The Believer”.
Can’t wait for Teefus to weigh in, as we all know how “UMC” is his favorite album of the minute lol.
Different sound from Common. A lot different from his last two albums. I felt like this album was rushed. Nonetheless, I do like it.
Get those dollars Rashid!
creating an imbalance in the force
=====================
Imbalance? Dude done up & went to the Dark Side & Skateboard P is Emperor Palpatine lol.
*Ok, I’m a closet geek, I admit it. lol*
^ There is always a master… and an apprentice. No more, no less.
LOL!
MAAAAAAAN! Y’all padawon learners are speaking my nerd-alert language! Adventure? Excitement? Jedi knight craves not these things. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to dweebing to attend to…
No pop, no pop, no pop, no pop…
for the time being, I ain’t got shit else to say about UMC.
The only UMC i listen to is Blue Cheese.
I’m gone off that Irish Cream…shit will sneak up on you
I’m ’bout to do a De La Hoya and just call it a day
but 3 cigs is about right…Parliaments, not Newports…I’da said a stanky ashtray, but I don’t feel like arguin’ or debating
LMAO @ LC’s “Yodaspeak”
The Force is strong in this one…
fuck it…
I’d rather listen to Us3’s “Cantaloop” for an hour straight than UMC
“padawon”… “nerd-alert”? LC i hardly knew ye…
Comm’s moonlighting as an emcee now. The more roles he gets the more emceeing will become a hobby (think: mos def, will smith, darryl chill mitchell, latifah, etc.).
can’t blame him when he probably makes as much per movie role as he sees off an album once you account for re-ups/budget reconciliation, etc.
i think once he fulfills his current label contract, you’ll see him go the ice cube route and build up a little indie collective so he can just drop projects as he see’s fit–maybe an album a year or so…
that hollywood cash/madison ave connects is too lucrative to ignore, y’all.
in other words, the output will get weirder, better and less frequent. but he’ll be happier.
who knows, we might even see a classic by 2011.
Parliaments, not Newports
=====================
Hehehe, I hate Parliments with an effin’ passion, especially when I’m at the bar, fresh outta ‘ports & have to bum one from a stranger. Beggars can’t be choosey but damn, I’d rather smoke a Camel.
Hell, I’d rather smoke a Pall-Mall.
Nah, I’m lyin lol. But Parliments suck!
or 2013, one year after the Mayan calendar ends and the great god Common decides that he will start rapping again.
maybe Common should do chicken commercials for Harold’s like that bootleg Avant on that Mickey D’s joint a few posts back
Has enough time passed by to consider “Be” a classic?
’sides, there’s homeless dudes that poplock better than Common
he looked a hot mess on that one YouTube clip where he was trying to get down to Planet Rock
Be was Illmatic compared to UMC
I wanna sentence Common to one year in studio jail, and he has no choice but to rap over beats by The Molemen and battle Juice daily
Common should not be allowed to wear anything but Carhartt and Dickies for a year too
and Ben Davis
Be is a classic–especially compared to everything that’s come out since…
UMC won’t be as hated. EC will always be somewhat of a punchline–deserved or not.
but i really think dude’s gonna relax and drop some good stuff–maybe more EPs over the years before he just stops all together spittin’ in favor of acting.
and no, Com can’t dance, but he always seems like he’s having fun on stage and lettin’ himself go–you’re hard-pressed to name another emcee that’ll get up and embarrass himself (sober) out of love of the moment.
what emcees top-rock and show off footwork of any kind these days.
“I Used To Love H.E.R.”
Common used to hit it right, now she’s sprung offa Wayne
Has enough time passed by to consider “Be” a classic?
============================================
Nope, never. Not enough bite. Couple more “Chi-City’s” would have done the trick.
Common’s windmills >>> UMC
Common’s windmills >>> UMC
=======================
LOL
I think Common’s studio ritual from this point going forward should include a pulled pork sammich & a 40 before hitting the booth
7/10 Tracks doable point made and accepted as such with the above mentioned three tracks, “lyrical content falling to the wayside, creating an imbalance in the force.” I can digg it but I still say ……………………
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To the cigs that is, love Common’s sexy ass and UMC
:-)
yep….see how Jay Electronica’s stuff was dope BEFORE he fucked with Erykah….
Andre Benjamin has the equivalent of Magic Johnson’s AIDS virus…
whatever Andre 3K is on, he needs to share with Common ASAP
“Andre Benjamin has the equivalent of Magic Johnson’s AIDS virus”
^ antidote, whatever, u know what uhm sayin
“Be” is THE most listenable album in Lonnie’s catalog, front to back. It doesn’t have his best lyrical performances but it definitely boasts the best production & is one of his most cohesive, right next to “Like Water for Chocolate”.
“One Day It’ll All Make Sense”
&
“Like Water For Chocolate”
the first 4 or 5 songs on BOTH of those albums = STRAIGHT HEAT
for my money, the way both of those albums start off with 4-5 bangers in a row is unrivaled
Can I Borrow A Dollar?
it damn sure won’t be to buy this shit
hopefully, One Day It’ll All Make Sense, but until then, I hope Common will see
The Light
find some
Soul By The Pound
cause the way he’s Dooinit makes me wanna GO! Be in an Electric Circus, die quickly by electrocution and Geto Heaven
for my money, the way both of those albums start off with 4-5 bangers in a row is unrivaled
==========================
True, but I think it gets sketchy in the middle sections of both of those albums. And Com isn’t as heavy handed with the outright social commentery on “Be”, but he didn’t neccessarily dumb it down either. It’s only 11 tracks & there’s no filler, each song fits neatly into the greater whole.
They Say It’s Your World, Com, but I gotta Testify.
(Preach!!)
You used to speak to the Real People , from The Corner in NY, to the block in Chi-City. I’m Faithful that you know where your Love Is… & you’ll try & Go! back to how you used to Be on “The Believer”.
This drops tomorrow so I’ll cop it and judge for myself, since I’m a Common fan. At only 10 cuts I presume that this only a little EP before Com’ drops the big album? Still, it must have at least a few bangaz.
ps: TC, how’s that Kanye review coming along? You know, that deep and insightful review you’ve been working on? Spent time in deep thought analyzing? Carefully constructing your arguments? Orchestrating a verbal masterpiece? Accurately piecing your feelings together? Keeping us in anticipation about? Ready to spur acrimonious debate over? You know, the BIG review of ALL reviews? Yes, know what I’m talking about.
Ghostface Killah – Ghostdeini The Great
01. Kilo (Remix) (Feat. Malice And Raekwon) 6:03
02. The Champ (Remix) 5:31
03. Toney Sigel a.k.a. Barrel Bros. (Feat. Styles P And Benie 3:31
Sigel)
04. Slept On Tony 2:31
05. Run (Remix) (Feat. Jadakiss, Lil’ Wayne, Raekwon And 5:54
Freeway)
06. Be Easy (Remix) (Feat. Ice Cube) 4:25
07. Mighty Healthy 3:14
08. It’s Over 3:30
09. Apollo Kids (Feat. Raekwon) 3:52
10. 9 Milli Bros. (Feat. Wu-Tang Clan) 4:14
11. Walk Around 3:28
12. Street Opera 3:31
13. All That I Got Is You (Feat. Mary J. Blige) 5:19
14. Back Like That (Remix) (Feat. Kanye West And Ne-Yo) 4:02
15. Cherchez LaGhost 3:05
16. Ghostface X-Mas 3:02
http://rapidshare.com/files/17159694…t-2008-H3X.tar
OR
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YY2HSIJC
Say Word?!?
Nice!!
Good lookin’, Bigga.
^^^^
Is going to see Common Thursday night in NYC
I wanna take the masters & all known copies of UMC to the ice planet of Hoth & stomp them to bits & pieces with a battalion of AT-AT Walkers, then blow up Hoth with the Death Star
Is going to see Common Thursday night in NYC
==============================
To see him perform this album?
Mmm…nah.
Has enough time passed by to consider “Be” a classic?
=====================================
4.9 cigs. IMO…. would’ve been a classic with a studio version of “The Food”.
^Common is a great performer F’ what ya heard!
I know this is dumb late but can anyone up CDQ versions of UMC and 808’s & Heartbreak. All i have is the webrips and I know my quality is wack…. btw did TSS do a review of 808’s yet? I’m interested in reading
Great review. Props given.
http://www.yourfavoritewhiteboy.com/2008/12/streets-say-unversal-mind-control.html
Be is a Classic no rap
UMC hope be in Heavy rotation but if it comes up on random on the ipod that’s cool
I love TSS and the actual articles, but honestly, Teef and Amp’s foolishness in the comments section is why I really come to this blog everyday. lol!
““Changes” which masks its insubstantiality behind butter-soft verses and a heavenly chorus, weigh things down a bit.”
Valid point, you make a good argument here. I agree that he tailors is flow more to a pop audience at times, but I enjoy the album as a whole which is what I’d expect from Comm Sense.. I’m satisfied, ya digg, and that’s the goal.
Stay up!
good review T sizzle…i can’t even listen to this shit…teef’s right common needs some soul food, a forty and a blunt
Maybe he should have gotten the real UMC to do production lol
Be cannot be a classic. I have only been able to listen to it like 5 times, it is one of his most boring albums. LWFC, Ressurection, ODIAMS, then Be. All 3 of those albums are Com in his prime, then after EC, his quality stopped. I blame everyone wanting to be Jigga and B.I.G. and not write there verses, he and kanye started talking about that right before Be came out, it seems Com’s whole style fell off after that.that is just my opnion, was really bored with everything from EC & after. i will buy all the albums, because Com has 3 or 4 songs on all of them that are quality, but LWFC, except for “a film called pimp” where great.
pop + fluffy = poofy
UMC is poofy.
TC, you get a box of squares at the duty-free?
3 cigs was rather generous.
emphasis on “poo”.
I’m in shock at this getting more cigs than a Madlib album. Especially since EVERYTHING gets a 3.5 rating. I was sure this would get anywhere between -2 to 2.5 cigs. I’m surprised cuz I personally thought this CD was a drink coaster/back scratcher.
*Shrugs shoulders*
One.
common and pharrell just aren’t a good combo.
“Imbalance? Dude done up & went to the Dark Side & Skateboard P is Emperor Palpatine lol.”
I spit out my drink while reading this!
LMAO!!!
reup that gfk son!!!
This is an EPmatic, Com’ stays Fresh Cuz “The Beliver” (LP) Will Be A Classic !
The Believer
Wasn’t this a topic some months ago. Someone defended the Com/Pherelle sound? As I remember dude who said they were dope together got merked.
They gave OJ 15 and his co-d’s got suspended sentences. WTF
STOP BLA BLA BLAH….THAT’S HHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!
But by equating carefree music with half-assed lyricism, it marks a slight disappointment that Comm couldn’t solidify classic status with a paltry ten tracks to work with.
======================================================
exactly.
and yes…BE is now a classic IMO…Common’s comeback…in a major way.
Yeah it might have sounded rushed but just remember that this was suppose to just be an EP… album was good nonetheless… could have worked great as an EP with 6-7 songs… just straight bangers.. and it should have been Invincible Summer being released in June/July…