Common - Black America Again Zip

Common|Black America Again

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Thematically and structurally, "Blackness America Again" distills the essence of its parent release similar few other pre-album singles. Filled with love, grief, and rage, Common traces institutionalized racism back to Christopher Columbus and covers many of the after furnishings, from slavery to police shootings, from housing projects to gentrification. Karriem Riggins, the veteran multi-instrumentalist and producer who contributed to Common'south 1997-2007 run, potently layers alive instrumentation -- Robert Glasper's leading piano, Esperanza Spalding's melodic bass, J-Rocc's percussive scratches -- with an array of samples that includes a propelling breakbeat and an empowering James Brown monologue. Real-life Stevie Wonder arrives toward the end with a proud affidavit of his own. The product of a fully unified super session, this album was produced entirely by Riggins, assisted past Glasper on 2 other cuts. Common operates at total power. He rarely sounds as if he's merely filling space with his words, rhyming with purpose almost spiritual and physical sustenance, reflecting upon his upbringing, lamenting recent tragedies, and fantasizing about a peaceful future in which the world is run by women. He often targets mass incarceration, delivering one of his most moving narratives in "A Bigger Picture Called Gratis." It'due south easy to overlook the rapper's remarkable rhythmic aptitude in understated lines like "My pops -- y'all built and destroyed him with prescriptions of poverty, dope, and unemployment." Some love songs, highlighted by the sweetly bobbing "Beloved Star," wouldn't lose much with Mutual removed from them, only they -- along with spiritualized opener "Joy and Peace" -- finer pause from all the grim matter. The basic rails list provides no indication that this is the most collaborative Mutual album since Electric Circus. Almost of the vocalists formally linked to the rails titles -- Bilal, Tasha Cobbs, Syd, BJ the Chicago Child, and PJ amongst them -- are utilized more like an ensemble throughout. Glasper and J-Rocc are amongst the frequently heard instrumentalists, while keyboardist James Poyser, bassist Robert Hurst, and trumpeters Theo Croker and Roy Hargrove make appearances. Then there'due south Riggins on drums, bass, and the application of a Dilla-similar sample scope -- obscure library recordings, Gentle Giant, Ol' Dingy Bastard, the works. All that's here, dark or bright, is vital.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo

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Joy And Peace

Bilal

00:02:40

Marsha Ambrosius, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Ray Shulman, ComposerLyricist - Derek Shulman, ComposerLyricist - Kerry Minnear, ComposerLyricist - Karriem Riggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Galland, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Common, MainArtist - Bilal, FeaturedArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - BJ The Chicago Kid, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - J-Rocc, Unknown, Other - Tasha Cobbs, Background Singer, AssociatedPerformer - Syd, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Paris Jones, Groundwork Singer, AssociatedPerformer - Robin Florent, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Jackson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Law Thomas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2016 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)

Karriem Riggins, Producer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - WILLIE MITCHELL, ComposerLyricist - James Poyser, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Galland, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Common, MainArtist - Bilal, FeaturedArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - J-Rocc, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robin Florent, Banana Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Jackson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Law Thomas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2016 Def Jam Recordings, a segmentation of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)

Word From Moe Luv Interlude

Karriem Riggins

00:00:40

Karriem Riggins, Mixer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - David Grant, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Glasper, Pianoforte, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist

℗ 2016 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)

Black America Once again

Stevie Wonder

00:06:05

Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Rita Greene, ComposerLyricist - Karriem Riggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - JAMES Brownish, ComposerLyricist - Patrick Warren, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Eric T. Sadler, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Stevie Wonder, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - George Clinton, ComposerLyricist - Kenny Clarke, ComposerLyricist - Hank Shocklee, ComposerLyricist - Robert Glasper, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Alfred Ellis, ComposerLyricist - Esperanza Spalding, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - J-Rocc, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jake Riley, ComposerLyricist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Constabulary Thomas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2016 Def Jam Recordings, a sectionalization of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)

Love Star

Marsha Ambrosius

00:05:09

PJ, FeaturedArtist - Marsha Ambrosius, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Sylvia Robinson, ComposerLyricist - Karriem Riggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Glasper, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - James Mtume, ComposerLyricist - Chris Galland, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Harry Ray, ComposerLyricist - Albert Goodman, ComposerLyricist - P Jones, ComposerLyricist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robin Florent, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Jackson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Law Thomas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2016 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)

On A Whim Interlude

Mutual

00:00:41

Karriem Riggins, Producer, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Common, MainArtist - Emmanuel Riggins, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Def Jam Recordings, a sectionalization of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)

Joel Derouin, Unknown, Other - Karriem Riggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Patrick Warren, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Elena, FeaturedArtist - Vladimir Cosma, ComposerLyricist - Robert Glasper, Keyboards, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Galland, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Common, MainArtist - Jess Sutcliffe, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Edgar Cosma, ComposerLyricist - Syd, FeaturedArtist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robin Florent, Banana Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Jackson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Law Thomas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sydney Bennet, ComposerLyricist - Samora Pinderhughes, ComposerLyricist

℗ 2016 Def Jam Recordings, a partition of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)

Pyramids

Karriem Riggins

00:03:30

Karriem Riggins, Producer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Glasper, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Galland, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Common, MainArtist - Jess Sutcliffe, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bilal, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Derrick Harris, ComposerLyricist - Russell T. "Old Dirty Bastard" Jones, ComposerLyricist - J-Rocc, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robin Florent, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Jackson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Law Thomas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2016 Def Jam Recordings, a sectionalisation of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)

A Moment In The Sun Interlude

Elena

00:00:51

Karriem Riggins, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Beatriz Artola, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Elena, Flute, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Glasper, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Common, MainArtist - Lynetria "Fresh" Johnson, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2016 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)

PJ, FeaturedArtist - Karriem Riggins, Producer, ComposerLyricist - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Cameron, ComposerLyricist - Chris Galland, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Common, MainArtist - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - P Jones, ComposerLyricist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robin Florent, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jeff Jackson, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Law Thomas, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2016 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)

A Bigger Picture Called Gratuitous

Syd