Common Gets Cold Shoulder from Chicago Critics

J-Banks · 12-07-2008, 08:13 PM

Common Gets Cold Shoulder from Chicago Critics
December 7th, 2008

After years of quiet supremacy on the mic, Common broke through to the mainstream riding the wave of an active career and several endorsements. After a career resurgence courtesy of Kanye West, Common was on pace to be an emcee that garnered both critical and commercial acclaim for his musical efforts.

So why are critics panning his eighth effort, Universal Mind Control?

Surprisingly, Common received no love from one of his hometown papers, the Chicago Tribune. Critic Greg Kot juxtaposed much of the review for Control with the campaign of Barack Obama, calling the Common album “more of the same” that “brims with the most trivial and disposable music of [Common’s] career.”

Chicago’s other major paper, the Chicago Sun-Times also hammered the effort, and some of its superstar producers as well.

“As superstar producers the Neptunes deliver some of their weakest, most cliched and most phoned-in tracks ever -- heavy on the generic techno thumps, synth burbles and played-out vocoder backing vocals -- one of hip-hop's most accomplished freestylers drops one leaden rap after another. Most are about sex, although there also are a couple of uncharacteristic "ain't I great" boast-fests via ‘Gladiator’ and ‘What a World,’” critic Jim DeRogatis wrote.

Universal Mind Control hits store shelves Tuesday.

Source: hiphopdx

Re Up · 12-07-2008, 08:34 PM

The album was kinda wack with about only 3 good tracks
Album didnt suit commons style...hes not a club music makin rapper like he tried to be
I know he wanted to make his album feel like that but it dont fit him

crack83 · 12-07-2008, 09:37 PM

still above avarage!!!!!!!

Mr Wavez · 12-07-2008, 09:46 PM

album was actually pretty goood

xPaperPlanes78x · 12-07-2008, 09:52 PM

word not the best album my common but still alot better.....it wasnt that bad..

Smithilberry · 12-07-2008, 11:43 PM

word, i gotta agree that it was probably his worst album so far, but it wasnt like it was completely terrible... there were some jams on there...

TeGo · 12-07-2008, 11:57 PM

i hate how they try to make him look like the victim here

album wasn't complete garbage but no where near his last 2 :/

Vjay88 · 12-08-2008, 08:41 AM

How is it that when common puts a album out with "2 good jams" it's allright. But when 50 Cent, The Game etc. put an album out with 4-6 good tracks it's "straight garbage".
I like Common though, he keeps it 100 most of the time.

A.T.I. · 12-08-2008, 12:26 PM

^because they have one good album a piece, not several classics and a slew of other great albums to fall back on

12-07-2008, 08:13 PM	#1
J-Banks Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 21,015 Repped: 5,294 Repped 53,425 Times in 7,839 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Neg Reps: 53 Neg Repped at 93 Times in 86 Posts	Common Gets Cold Shoulder from Chicago Critics Common Gets Cold Shoulder from Chicago Critics Common Gets Cold Shoulder from Chicago Critics December 7th, 2008 After years of quiet supremacy on the mic, Common broke through to the mainstream riding the wave of an active career and several endorsements. After a career resurgence courtesy of Kanye West, Common was on pace to be an emcee that garnered both critical and commercial acclaim for his musical efforts. So why are critics panning his eighth effort, Universal Mind Control? Surprisingly, Common received no love from one of his hometown papers, the Chicago Tribune. Critic Greg Kot juxtaposed much of the review for Control with the campaign of Barack Obama, calling the Common album “more of the same” that “brims with the most trivial and disposable music of [Common’s] career.” Chicago’s other major paper, the Chicago Sun-Times also hammered the effort, and some of its superstar producers as well. “As superstar producers the Neptunes deliver some of their weakest, most cliched and most phoned-in tracks ever -- heavy on the generic techno thumps, synth burbles and played-out vocoder backing vocals -- one of hip-hop's most accomplished freestylers drops one leaden rap after another. Most are about sex, although there also are a couple of uncharacteristic "ain't I great" boast-fests via ‘Gladiator’ and ‘What a World,’” critic Jim DeRogatis wrote. Universal Mind Control hits store shelves Tuesday. Source: hiphopdx __________________ JBanksblog.com - check it out __________________

12-07-2008, 09:46 PM	#4
Mr Wavez .:lA to hOU.: Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 4,933 Repped: 1,077 Repped 1,180 Times in 597 Posts Neg Reps: 424 Neg Repped at 418 Times in 288 Posts	album was actually pretty goood __________________ "Victory Consistantly, Train All Year To Be The Enemy's Misery" - Weezy

12-07-2008, 09:52 PM	#5
xPaperPlanes78x Swagga on a hundred thous Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Atlanta Posts: 485 Repped: 30 Repped 84 Times in 54 Posts Neg Reps: 5 Neg Repped at 31 Times in 24 Posts	word not the best album my common but still alot better.....it wasnt that bad.. __________________ If you rep me ill do the same...

12-07-2008, 11:43 PM	#6
Smithilberry A.K.A. ZANY BLUNTS! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Qu€€n$ N€w ¥ø®k B!TcH€$! (718) Posts: 14,043 Repped: 2,094 Repped 1,230 Times in 672 Posts Neg Reps: 102 Neg Repped at 175 Times in 131 Posts	word, i gotta agree that it was probably his worst album so far, but it wasnt like it was completely terrible... there were some jams on there... __________________ A.K.A. Master Sensei Zany

12-07-2008, 11:57 PM	#7
TeGo Veteran Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: In Ya Bedroom Wit Da Nina, Where The Lube At? :ninja: Posts: 8,273 Repped: 1,076 Repped 1,599 Times in 723 Posts Neg Reps: 23 Neg Repped at 121 Times in 91 Posts	i hate how they try to make him look like the victim here album wasn't complete garbage but no where near his last 2 :/ __________________

12-07-2008, 08:34 PM	#2
Re Up SERiAL KiLLER hhBoard OG Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: ☆New York☆ Posts: 1,376 Repped: 224 Repped 48 Times in 24 Posts Neg Reps: 7 Neg Repped at 14 Times in 3 Posts	The album was kinda wack with about only 3 good tracks Album didnt suit commons style...hes not a club music makin rapper like he tried to be I know he wanted to make his album feel like that but it dont fit him

12-07-2008, 09:37 PM	#3
crack83 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 148 Repped: 10 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	still above avarage!!!!!!!

12-08-2008, 08:41 AM	#8
Vjay88 VJay - TakeOver Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NL/UK Posts: 2,396 Repped: 210 Repped 306 Times in 46 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	How is it that when common puts a album out with "2 good jams" it's allright. But when 50 Cent, The Game etc. put an album out with 4-6 good tracks it's "straight garbage". I like Common though, he keeps it 100 most of the time.

12-08-2008, 12:26 PM	#9
A.T.I. Agitating the Ignorant Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Toronto, ON Posts: 7,600 Repped: 1,376 Repped 2,042 Times in 719 Posts Neg Reps: 155 Neg Repped at 162 Times in 129 Posts	^because they have one good album a piece, not several classics and a slew of other great albums to fall back on __________________ “At a snail's pace, I won this race that y'all trail"

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