Be (Common album)

Last updated
Be
Common - Be.png
Studio album by
Common
ReleasedMay 24, 2005 (2005-05-24)
Studio
Genre
Length42:33
Label
Producer
Common chronology
Electric Circus
(2002)		Be
(2005)		 Finding Forever
(2007)
Singles from Be
  1. "The Food"
    Released: October 8, 2004
  2. "The Corner"
    Released: March 1, 2005
  3. "Go!"
    Released: June 14, 2005
  4. "Testify"
    Released: September 27, 2005
  5. "Faithful"
    Released: October 8, 2005

Be is the sixth studio album by American rapper Common. It was released on May 24, 2005, by Geffen Records and GOOD Music. The album is Common's first album under Geffen, following the mediocre performance of 2002's Electric Circus and July 2003 merger of preceding label MCA Records, which like, Geffen and its sister label Interscope Records, was a division of Universal Music Group. [5]

Contents

The album was primarily and executively produced by rapper and GOOD Music founder Kanye West, with additional production from frequent collaborator J Dilla. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 185,000 copies in the United States. [6] The album is Common's second album to sell over 500,000 copies (over 800,000 copies sold), becoming a certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Be was also a critical success, receiving acclaim and accolades from several critics and music publications. The album received a perfect "XXL" rating from hip hop publication XXL [7] and was deemed Common's magnum opus by HipHopGoldenAge. [8]

Conception

Background

Be was touted as Common's comeback album after the commercially disastrous Electric Circus (2002); the predecessor lacked promotion following MCA Records' absorption into Geffen, which was completed in July 2003. [5] His new alliance with Kanye West helped to spark public interest in the project, as the album was produced by West and released by his own label GOOD Music. "I met Kanye in '96…" he said. "He was still in high school. He used to come around No I.D.'s house, a guy that used to produce for me. The thing I noticed about Kanye was that he could really rap! He had some kind of hunger that I hadn't really seen before." [9]

"He's today's Marvin Gaye of rap," West enthused on a DVD accompanying a deluxe edition of Be. "Buy the album. If you in a situation where you can barely buy groceries, burn the album."

The results show that Common was clearly aware, and perhaps agreeing, with the negative criticisms about Electric Circus. In comparison to that album, Be is lean, immediate, and commanding, yet also restrained in its musical ambitions. Of the reaction to the album, the rapper said: "I don't think [Electric Circus] was as focused. Though I'd done some progressive hip-hop, people know me as the b-boy. When I showed them something different, a different style of b-boy, there were like, "Hold up. You can be Afrocentric, but what's this rock shit that you're doing?" [10] Many of the beats created by West, and which Common rejected for the project, later appeared on West's studio album Late Registration .

Title

In an interview with AllHipHop, Common denied that the album title stood for "Before Erykah." [11] Common explained the concept and the album title in a 2005 interview for SixShot.com:

I named it Be to be who you are, man, and be able to be in the moment and not try too hard. Be is another way of saying just do without trying hard, like I said, natural and be true to the core of who you are; and this album, I wanted to just be and not just go and exist as just an artist, not worried about the past. [12]

Singles

"The Corner"

Common gave his reasons for featuring controversial spoken word recording artists, the Last Poets, on the album's first official single, "The Corner": "They gifted at writing. They voices is incredible. They took my song to a higher level. And that's what hip-hop was about to me. It would have a message. It would take you to the next place. It was fresh as people say -- something new. They brought newness to what "The Corner" was and they also brought some nostalgia, too. Just them being from the '70s and being used in hip-hop and their spirit brought something pure to it. They gave me a better understanding of the corner after that. I knew those who had been listening to hip-hop would know who the Last Poets were and if they didn't they would feel it in their souls sooner or later. And I also felt good about introducing some of the youth to the Last Poets." [10]

"Go!"

"Go" was the album's second, and highest charting single. The song featured Kanye West and John Mayer, however all the verses are performed by Common with West and Mayer ad-libbing in the chorus. The video for the song included shots of Common surrounded by numerous models.

"Testify"

The album's third single, "Testify" received a type of promotional video known as a "mini-movie"; a term coined by Michael Jackson to describe a music video with a complex plot and a suitably long running time, often with intermissions between the song's parts. The video featured acting parts from Taraji P. Henson, Bill Duke, Steve Harris and Wood Harris, and received notable spins on specialist channels such as MTV2. The song samples "Innocent Til Proven Guilty" by Honey Cone. [13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 83/100 [14]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Entertainment Weekly A− [17]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
NME 8/10 [19]
Pitchfork 8.6/10 [20]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [21]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [22]
Spin A− [23]
Vibe 4.5/5 [24]

Be received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 83, based on 26 reviews. [14] Andy Kellman of AllMusic said, "Be isn't likely to be referred to by anyone as groundbreaking, but it's one of Common's best, and it's also one of the most tightly constructed albums of any form within recent memory." [15] Andy Greenwald of Blender said, "Be picks up where West's The College Dropout left off." [16] Raymond Fiore of Entertainment Weekly said, "Be's leanness signals awesome growth even without pushing sonic boundaries." [17] Dorian Lynskey of The Guardian said, "Though not quite 2005's best hip-hop album - Kanye West retains that honour for himself - Be is a lean and vibrant masterclass in hip-hop fundamentals." [18] NME said, "Gives hope to a hip-hop stuck in a mire of mediocrity." [19]

Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork said, "The lack of instant-gratification couplets may disappoint at first, but each verse's rewarding intricacies become more evident with multiple listens." [20] Q said, "Common's best album so far, one that proves hip hop can be both smart and mainstream." [21] Nathan Brackett of Rolling Stone said, "West is the producer Common has been waiting for all of his career: He makes Common both catchier and edgier at the same time." [22] Will Hermes of Spin said, "Even when the music flags, Common's remarkably hungry raps push it along." [23] XXL gave the album its highest rating of XXL, writing, "While label support and the times heavily influence whether great music can be crowned a classic, if nothing else Common has created a flawless album. By giving us himself completely and speaking to and for us as complete people, he's birthed the total package. Common has raised the bar. Hopefully, a year from now we'll look back and see that MCs have been rhyming like Common since. [25]

Andrew Simon of Vibe wrote that the album "gets to the root of human experience—all the while staying beautifully soulful and funky." [24] The New York Times' Kelefa Sanneh felt that Be was "certainly a triumph, but if it isn't quite the all-time classic Common was hoping for, that's because it sounds a bit too straightforward." [26] Assigning the album a three-star honorable mention rating, Robert Christgau of The Village Voice wrote that "few of the best moments belong to the main attraction, who's not as wise as they tell him he is." [27]

Common's lyrics on Be earned him the Lyricist of the Year award at the 2006 BET Hip Hop Awards. In 2012 Complex called the album one of the classics of the last decade. [28] The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . [2]

Accolades

PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRank
Aftenposten NorwayAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200518
AllMusic USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]2005*
Amazon.com USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200537
Associated Press USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]20057
B92 SerbiaAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]20057
Billboard USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]20055
Dagbladet NorwayAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200513
Dagsavisen NorwayAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200518
E! OnlineUSAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200517
Expressen SwedenAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200517
Go-MagSpainAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200517
H MagazineSpainAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]2005*
Harp USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200533
Hip Hop Connection UKThe 100 Greatest Rap Albums 1995–2005[ citation needed ]200569
Hip Hop Golden AgeUSATop 150 Hip Hop Albums of The Decade[ citation needed ]20202
IguanaSpainAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]20053
LautGermanyAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200542
MonitorCroatiaAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200534
Musik-Express/SoundsGermanyAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200536
MusikbyrånSwedenAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200512
Natt & DaggNorwayAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200514
The Observer UKAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200525
OORNetherlandsAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200512
People USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]2005*
Piccadilly Records UKAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]20054
PopMatters USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200512
Prefix MagazineUSAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200519
Pure PopMexicoAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]20055
Q USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200542
Rock de LuxSpainAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]20059
Rolling Stone USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200521
Spex GermanyAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200512
Spin USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200517
URB USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]2005*
The Village Voice USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200515
Vibe USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]2005*
WOXY.com USAAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200558
ZundfunkGermanyAlbums of the Year[ citation needed ]200522

Grammy nominations

Be was nominated in four categories at the 48th Grammy Awards: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "The Corner" featuring the Last Poets, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "They Say" featuring Kanye West and John Legend, and Best Rap Solo Performance for "Testify". [29]

Track listing

All tracks produced by Kanye West, except where noted. [13]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Be (Intro)"
 2:24
2."The Corner" (featuring Umar Bin Hassan of the Last Poets)
 3:45
3."Go!"
 3:44
4."Faithful"
 3:33
5."Testify"
 2:36
6."Love Is…"
 J Dilla 4:10
7."Chi-City"
 3:27
8."The Food" (live)
 3:36
9."Real People"
  • Lynn
  • West
  • Caesar Frazier
 2:48
10."They Say" (featuring Kanye West and John Legend)
 3:57
11."It's Your World (Part 1 & 2)" (featuring "the Kids")
8:33
Total length:42:33

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits for Be adapted from AllMusic. [30]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [39] Silver60,000^
United States (RIAA) [40] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>The Blueprint</i> 2001 studio album by Jay-Z

The Blueprint is the sixth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z, released on September 11, 2001, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. Its release was set a week earlier than initially planned in order to combat bootlegging. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2001 at Manhattan Center Studios and Baseline Studios in New York City. Contrasting the radio-friendly sound of Jay-Z's previous work, The Blueprint features soul-based sampling and production handled primarily by Kanye West, Just Blaze, and Bink, as well as Timbaland, Trackmasters, and Eminem, who also contributes the album's sole guest feature.

<i>The College Dropout</i> 2004 studio album by Kanye West

The College Dropout is the debut studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on February 10, 2004, by Def Jam Recordings and Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records. In the years leading up to release, West had received praise for his production work for rappers such as Jay-Z and Talib Kweli, but faced difficulty being accepted as an artist in his own right by figures in the music industry. Intent on pursuing a solo career, he signed a record deal with Roc-A-Fella and recorded the album over a period of four years, beginning in 1999.

<i>Late Registration</i> 2005 studio album by Kanye West

Late Registration is the second studio album by the American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on August 30, 2005, through Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. West recorded the album over the course of a year during sessions held at studios in Hollywood and New York City, in collaboration with Jon Brion. The album features guest appearances from Adam Levine, Jamie Foxx, Common, Brandy, Jay-Z, and Nas, among others.

<i>Graduation</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Kanye West

Graduation is the third studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West, released on September 11, 2007, through Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. Recording sessions took place between 2005 and 2007 at several studios in New York and Los Angeles. It was primarily produced by West himself, with contributions from various other producers, including DJ Toomp. The album also features guest appearances from recording artists such as Dwele, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Mos Def, DJ Premier, and Chris Martin. The cover art and its interior artwork were designed by Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gold Digger (Kanye West song)</span> 2005 single by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx

"Gold Digger" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, featuring singer Jamie Foxx, from West's second studio album, Late Registration (2005). The song includes additional vocals from Plain Pat and Don C. West created the beat in Atlanta. He and Jon Brion produced the song. It was originally set to be recorded for Shawnna's debut studio album, Worth Tha Weight (2004), but the song was later passed on to West. On July 5, 2005, it was released to American rhythmic contemporary radio stations by Roc-A-Fella and Def Jam as the second single from West's album. The song set a record for the most digital downloads in a week, selling over 80,000.

<i>Doctors Advocate</i> 2006 studio album by The Game

Doctor's Advocate is the second studio album by American hip hop recording artist the Game, released on November 14, 2006, through Geffen Records. The album is his second major-label release, following 2005's The Documentary, which was released under Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records and Interscope Records. Due to his disputes with G-Unit leader and founder 50 Cent, Game left Aftermath and G-Unit; he was later transferred from Interscope to its division, Geffen Records, another label under Universal Music Group's Interscope Geffen A&M faction to terminate his contractual obligations with G-Unit, in the summer of 2006.

<i>Finding Forever</i> 2007 studio album by Common

Finding Forever is the seventh studio album by Common, released on July 31, 2007, on GOOD Music and Geffen Records. Like Common's previous album, Be (2005), Finding Forever is primarily produced by Kanye West. The album debuted at the number one on the Billboard 200, selling 155,000 units in the first week, becoming Common's first chart-topper. Selling over 500,000 units in the US, it has been certified Gold. Finding Forever was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, losing to Kanye West's Graduation at the 50th Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niggas in Paris</span> 2011 single by Jay-Z and Kanye West

"Niggas in Paris" is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West from their collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song is built around a synth bell loop from the Dirty South Bangaz music library, and contains vocal samples from "Baptizing Scene" by Reverend W.A. Donaldson, an interpolation of "Victory" by Puff Daddy featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes, and dialogue excerpts from the 2007 film Blades of Glory. On the week of the album's release, "Niggas in Paris" debuted at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at number five. Outside of the United States, "Niggas in Paris" peaked within the top ten of the charts in the United Kingdom. As of 2018, it has sold 6.7 million archetype digital units in the United States. The song won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercy (Kanye West song)</span> 2012 single by Kanye West

"Mercy" is a song by American rapper Kanye West featuring fellow American rappers Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz. The song, released April 3, 2012 through GOOD Music and Def Jam, serves as the lead single from the compilation album Cruel Summer (2012). The song's production was handled by Lifted, with additional production from West, Mike Dean, and Mike Will Made It, and additional instrumentation from Hudson Mohawke. The song heavily samples the dancehall song "Dust a Sound Boy" by Super Beagle. The song received mostly positive reviews from music critics who praised the bombastic production, the varying quality of the verses, and the wordplay of the individual rappers. The song was featured on the soundtrack for NBA 2K13.

<i>Cruel Summer</i> (GOOD Music album) 2012 compilation album by GOOD Music

Kanye West Presents: GOOD Music – Cruel Summer, commonly referred to simply as Cruel Summer, is a compilation album by recording artists of American record label GOOD Music, released on September 14, 2012, by the label and Def Jam Recordings. American rapper Kanye West, head of the label, first revealed plans for a label collaborative album in October 2011. The album produced four singles—"Mercy", "Cold", "New God Flow", and "Clique"—that charted on the US Billboard Hot 100. The album features West himself, alongside the label's then-signees Pusha T, Big Sean, Teyana Taylor, Cyhi the Prynce, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Common, D'banj and Malik Yusef, as well as affiliates Jay-Z, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, and Cyhi the Prynce, among others. Production on the album was primarily handled by members of GOOD Music's production wing, Very GOOD Beats, which included West, Hit-Boy, Hudson Mohawke, Travis Scott and Lifted, among others.

<i>Jesus Piece</i> (album) 2012 studio album by the Game

Jesus Piece is the fifth studio album by American West Coast hip hop recording artist the Game, released on December 11, 2012, by DGC Records and Interscope Records, his last release on both labels as he parted ways a year following. The album is also the final DGC Records album to be released as the label became inactive in 2013, before being permanently merged into Interscope's division and Game's previous label, Geffen Records in September 2021.

<i>Hall of Fame</i> (Big Sean album) 2013 studio album by Big Sean

Hall of Fame is the second studio album by American rapper Big Sean. It was released on August 27, 2013, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Nas, Jhené Aiko, Nicki Minaj, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, Jeezy, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz and Juicy J, while the production on the album was primarily handled by Key Wane, Hey DJ, No I.D., Da Internz, Mano and Young Chop, among others. It was supported by five singles: "Guap", "Switch Up", "Beware", "Fire" and "Ashley".

<i>My Name Is My Name</i> 2013 studio album by Pusha T

My Name Is My Name is the debut studio album by American rapper Pusha T. It was released on October 7, 2013, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. While leading up to the album's announcement, Pusha T released the mixtape Fear of God and the EP Fear of God II: Let Us Pray during 2011, along with collaborating on the GOOD Music's compilation album Cruel Summer. In 2013, he also released another mixtape Wrath of Caine. The album's production was handled primarily by Kanye West, along with several producers, including Pharrell Williams, The-Dream, Hudson Mohawke, Sebastian Sartor, Don Cannon, Swizz Beatz, Rico Beats, Mano and Nottz. It also features guest appearances from Rick Ross, Jeezy, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Future, Pharrell Williams, Chris Brown and Kendrick Lamar, among others.

<i>Born Sinner</i> 2013 studio album by J. Cole

Born Sinner is the second studio album by American rapper and record producer J. Cole. It was released on June 18, 2013, by ByStorm Entertainment, Columbia Records, Dreamville Records and Roc Nation. The album serves as the follow-up to his debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story (2011). The album features guest appearances from Miguel, Amber Coffman, Jhené Aiko, James Fauntleroy, Bas, TLC, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent. The album was also primarily produced by Cole himself, along with others such as Jake One, Syience, and Elite.

"Bound 2" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, featured as the final track from his sixth studio album, Yeezus (2013). It was produced by West and Che Pope, with additional production being handled by Eric Danchick, Noah Goldstein, No ID and Mike Dean. The song features vocals from American soul singer Charlie Wilson and serves as the album's second single. "Bound 2" incorporates samples from "Bound" by Ponderosa Twins Plus One and the lines "Uh-huh, honey" and "Alright" from Brenda Lee's "Sweet Nothin's". The song also interpolates Wee's "Aeroplane (Reprise)" for the bridge, sung by Charlie Wilson.

"Blood on the Leaves" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West from his sixth studio album Yeezus (2013). In the song, West presents his thoughts on how fame can cause the destruction of relationships, while making comparisons of contemporary times to the lynching of African Americans in the United States during the pre-civil rights era. West delivers his vocals through an Auto-Tune processor, like on his 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak. It contains samples of both singer Nina Simone's 1965 rendition of Billie Holiday's song "Strange Fruit", and "R U Ready" by the duo TNGHT, who co-produced the track.

<i>Nobodys Smiling</i> 2014 studio album by Common

Nobody's Smiling is the tenth studio album by American hip hop recording artist Common. It was released on July 22, 2014, by Def Jam Recordings and No I.D.'s label ARTium Records. Following the release of his 2011's album The Dreamer/The Believer, Common took a hiatus from musical endeavors. In 2013, he returned to the studio and began working his tenth album and later revealed that the production, much like his previous effort, would be handled entirely by his longtime collaborator and record producer No I.D. In 2014, Common signed a recording contract with No I.D.'s ARTium Records, through Def Jam Recordings, for the distribution of the album.

<i>Dark Sky Paradise</i> 2015 studio album by Big Sean

Dark Sky Paradise is the third studio album by American rapper Big Sean. It was released on February 24, 2015, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Drake, Kanye West, E-40, Chris Brown, Ty Dolla Sign, Jhené Aiko, Lil Wayne, and Ariana Grande, while the production was handled by a variety of collaborators, including Kanye West, DJ Mustard, DJ Dahi and Key Wane, who also serves as the album's executive producer alongside Big Sean himself. The album was supported by five singles: "I Don't Fuck with You", "Paradise", "Blessings", "One Man Can Change the World" and "Play No Games".

<i>Mastermind</i> (Rick Ross album) 2014 studio album by Rick Ross

Mastermind is the sixth studio album by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on March 3, 2014, by Maybach Music Group and Slip-n-Slide Records, and distributed by Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Jay-Z, Jeezy, The Weeknd, Kanye West, Big Sean, Meek Mill, Lil Wayne, French Montana, Diddy, Sizzla, Mavado, Z-Ro and Scarface. The album was supported with the official singles "The Devil Is a Lie", "War Ready" and "Thug Cry", in addition to the promotional singles "Box Chevy", "No Games" and "Nobody".

"Father Stretch My Hands" are songs by American rapper Kanye West from his seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo (2016). They are split into two parts on the album: "Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1" and "Pt. 2". "Pt. 1" contains vocals by American rapper Kid Cudi and American R&B singer Kelly Price, while "Pt. 2" includes vocals from American rapper Desiigner and American musician Caroline Shaw. Prior to release, the latter was played by West for Desiigner when the two met.

References

  1. ↑ Draper, Jason (May 24, 2021). "'Be': When Common Returned To His Roots". uDiscover. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (2014). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN   978-0-7893-2074-2.
  3. ↑ Darling, Cary (July 24, 2005). "Stylish hip-hop thrives". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  4. ↑ Ducker, Jesse (May 22, 2020). "Common's 'Be' Turns 15". Albumism. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "MCA, GEFFEN TO MERGE". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  6. ↑ "Common Scores First No. 1 On Billboard 200 | Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 24, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  7. ↑ XXL (December 2007). "Retrospective: XXL Albums". XXL.
  8. ↑ "Top 150 Hip Hop Albums Of The 2000s". Hip Hop Golden Age. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  9. ↑ "MOBO Awards tenth anniversary brochure, 2006".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. 1 2 "Resurrection: Common Walks". PopMatters. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  11. ↑ Hamilton, Tiffany. "AllHipHop Feature – Common: Invocation". Archived from the original on April 5, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  12. ↑ "Common Interview at SixShot.com". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Digital Booklet – Be (Media notes). Common. Geffen Records. 2005. Retrieved December 10, 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. 1 2 "Reviews for Be by Common". Metacritic . Archived from the original on October 13, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  15. 1 2 Kellman, Andy. "Be – Common". AllMusic . Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  16. 1 2 Greenwald, Andy (June 2005). "Common: Be". Blender (37): 113. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  17. 1 2 Fiore, Raymond (May 23, 2005). "Be". Entertainment Weekly . p. 136. Archived from the original on May 27, 2005. Retrieved January 19, 2013.
  18. 1 2 Lynskey, Dorian (December 9, 2005). "Common, Be". The Guardian . Archived from the original on September 20, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  19. 1 2 "Common: Be". NME : 64. June 18, 2005.
  20. 1 2 Dombal, Ryan (May 31, 2005). "Common: Be". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on November 28, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  21. 1 2 "Common: Be". Q (228): 114. July 2005.
  22. 1 2 Brackett, Nathan (June 2, 2005). "Be". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on January 7, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  23. 1 2 Hermes, Will (June 2005). "Common: Be". Spin . 21 (6): 102–03. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  24. 1 2 Simon, Andrew (June 2005). "Common: Be". Vibe . 13 (7): 155–56. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Common: Be". XXL . June 2005. Archived from the original on February 28, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  26. ↑ Sanneh, Kelefa (May 25, 2005). "Just What Do Fans Want? A Rapper Ponders His Answer". The New York Times . Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  27. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Common: Be". RobertChristgau.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Common, Be (2005) — 25 Rap Albums From the Past Decade That Deserve Classic Status". Complex. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Rock On The Net: 48th Annual Grammy Awards – 2006". www.rockonthenet.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  30. ↑ Be (Media notes). AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05.
  31. ↑ "Common Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  32. ↑ "Common | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Common Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Common Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Common Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2005". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  38. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2005". Billboard. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  39. ↑ "British album certifications – Common – Be". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  40. ↑ "American album certifications – Common – Be". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved May 8, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.