Back in May, Common made an appearance on Sway In The Morning, where he announced a new album was on the way and previewed two powerful verses from the forthcoming LP. While those bars were politically-charged and addressed race relations in America, his latest release taps into another area in which he has excelled with his pen: Love.

15 Years Later, Common’s “The Light” Remains a Shining Example of Hip-Hop Love

Whether writing about his complicated love for Hip-Hop or love for another, Common has released some classics over the years. His 1994 breakout single “I Used To Love H.E.R.” was about a girl who served as a metaphor for how he felt about Hip-Hop at the time. On 2000’s Like Water For Chocolate, he celebrated his love for Erykah Badu on “The Light,” followed up by 2002’s “Come Close.”

Now, Common collaborates with Marsha Ambrosius for “Lovestar” on a chopped sample of Mtume’s “You, Me & He.” Similar to his past love songs, Common sounds like he’s speaking directly to the subject of his desire, and his take is optimistic, yet realistic.