common_1

Dear Common,

Once upon a time you were our success story. The Chosen One.

We as Hip-Hop fans crowned you the under-appreciated king who was too real for the mainstream. We loved you. And it was good.

It seems like forever ago that Jay mentioned you on The Black Album, shining light on someone who some of the listeners had never even heard of. At the time, most thought of this as a short-term boost in a career that would be critically acclaimed but widely under-appreciated.

Then we watched you hop on the unstoppable Yeezy train and take your career from the South Side Of Chi-town to the national stage. The best part about it was the fact that you stayed true to your music. You’ve been the poster child for “real” Hip-Hop that could survive & thrive it in a commercial world.

Then the movies came. Gap® commercials. Microsoft. Serena Williams’ ass. And it was great.

It was all good a week ago…

Now you’re promoting Diesel, which makes a few of us scratch our heads. You’re also stinking it up on the big screen in Terminator. Which, let’s not get it twisted, shows — once the novelty of seeing Mr. Sense in a movie wears off — you’ve got the acting chops more fit for a “State Property” sequel than a big motion picture.

But meh. These are just minor gripes in comparison to the main goal, which is the music of Common Sense the rapper. And that never fails right?

If the purpose of Universal Mind Control was to make a soundtrack to C3PO’s back-alley abortion, then the album was a resounding success. But we all knew that. This new thing, though, is a quite disturbing development.

I’ve watched video as you have been making the rounds, doing shows at random spots over the past few months. I saw a video of your show in Spain. As usual, you kicked a freestyle during the set… and I heard it again:

“I ain’t Lil’ Wayne but I got a Lollipop, I ain’t Lil’ Wayne but I fucked a lady cop…”

This is the third time I’ve heard you spit this line in a “freestyle,” Com. Retire the line. What’s the world coming to when the beloved Common Sense can’t even kick a legit freestyle without recycling a wack line?

First the Fat Boys break up, indeed.

Still, I have faith. Just hurry and drop this next album so I can pretend I never doubted you.

– David D.