common Archives

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of October 2013 (Playlist)

Here's a look back at some of the Hip-Hop highlights from October. You'll hear new music from Eminem & Kendrick Lamar, Scarface, Jadakiss, Meek Mill, J. Cole, Dead Prez, Tha Dogg Pound, Common, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Large Professor, Childish Gambino, Rapsody, Crooked I, Jean Grae, Game and many, many more.... Read more

November 5, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

Common Shines on Another Incredible J. Dilla Beat with Yancey Boys’ Quicksand (Video)

J. Dilla blessed a lot of great artists with his beats over his too short career, but there were some with whom he had a special connection. A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and, naturally, Slum Village instantly come to mind. He and Common, however, had a mind meld... Read more

October 29, 2013 Video

Common and Marsha Ambrosious Join Robert Glasper Experiment on the Mesmerizing Song Trust (Audio)

Here's yet another amazing song from Robert Glasper Experiment. This one pairs Marsha Ambrosious and Common. Press play and vibe out to Trust. Related: Robert Glasper Experiment - Calls ft Jill Scott (Video)... Read more

October 26, 2013 Audio

Common Discusses the New Era of Chicago MC’s Like Chance the Rapper, Chief Keef and More (Video)

Seeing that he's one of most respected veterans in the game, it's always dope to hear what Common has to say on different topics when it comes to Hip-Hop. He recently sat down during a Rock The Bells show and discussed topics ranging from his never ending love for music,... Read more

October 9, 2013 Video

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of September 2013 (Audio Playlist)

Summer brought the official start of Fall but the heat kept coming, musically. Here's a playlist of the best Hip-Hop to drop in September, including Pusha T, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Jay Z, The Lox, Cam'ron, AZ, Rapsody, Juvenile, Freddie Gibbs, Common and Organized Konfusion. And even though it's not Hip-Hop,... Read more

October 2, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage

Robert Glasper Experiment – I Stand Alone ft Common & Patrick Stump (of Fall Out Boy)

Robert Glasper puts together Common and Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy on his latest release. The combination may sound unlikely on paper but it makes for beautiful music. Here's I Stand Alone. Related: Terrace Martin – No Wrong, No Right ft Robert Glasper & James Fauntleroy (Video)... Read more

September 23, 2013 Audio

Yancey Boys – Quicksand ft Common & Dezi Paige

The J Dilla catalog is never-ending. One of Hip-Hop's most talented musicians recorded at a Tupac-like pace throughout his extensive and dynamic career. Recently, Dilla's younger brother Illa J (now of Slum Village/Dirty Slums) and Frank Nitt (of Frank-N-Dank) took some unreleased, largely unheard Dilla compositions, and got to work... Read more

August 27, 2013 Throwback

Drake Says He Won His Battle With Common

Drake and Common’s beef (if we can call it that?) might seem like a pillow fight compared to the atom bomb Kendrick dropped on Hip Hop this week, but in an interview for next month’s XXL, Drizzy claims he came out the victor. In the new issue (which hits stores... Read more

August 14, 2013 Food for Thought

Common – Open Letter Pt. II

I wanna rhyme like Common Sense...Common adds a verse in support of Jay-Z over the Open Letter track. Check out Open Letter Pt.II. Related: Common – Congratulations ft Cocaine 80′s Click here to download.... Read more

April 15, 2013 Audio

Common – Congratulations ft Cocaine 80’s

Here's a new song from Common with longtime collaborator, No I.D. Same result--dopeness. Check out Congratulations featuring Cocaine 80's. Related: Common freestyles over Clique (Video)... Read more

April 13, 2013 Audio

Big Sean- Switch It Up ft Common

With Hall Of Fame set to release this year, Big Sean teams up with Common for "Switch It Up." Related: Big Sean – 24K of Gold (Remix) ft J. Cole & Raekwon... Read more

April 6, 2013 Audio, Fresh

AFH: The Sweet 16 Playlist (Audio)

As you gear up for the NCAA Sweet 16, here's another type of sweet 16. Check out 16 of the best hip-hop songs from 16 years ago--1997 to be exact. You'll hear music from Biggie, Jay-Z, 2Pac, Scarface, Mos Def, Busta Rhymes, Tha Dogg Pound, KRS-One, Camp Lo, The Firm,... Read more

March 28, 2013 Audio, Playlists, Throwback

Common Freestyles over Clique (Video)

Common kicks a freestyle off the top over the "Clique" instrumental. Check out the video. Related: Common on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (Video)... Read more

February 27, 2013 Video

Common Freestyles on the Sway in the Morning Show (Video)

Common returned to the Sway in the Morning show and dropped another verse off the top of the dome. Check out the video. MCs act like they don't know... Related: Common – The Next Chapter (Still Love H.E.R.)... Read more

February 19, 2013 Throwback

AFH: The Presidential Playlist (Audio)

Here's a Presidential Playlist through the lens of hip-hop. You'll hear music about dead presidents (Biggie, Rakim, Nas, Joey Bada$$), presidential impact (NWA, dead prez, Crooklyn Dodgers), presidential dreams (2Pac, Jay-Z, Gang Starr, Kurtis Blow, Run-D.M.C.) and more. You can listen to the entire playlist here and a shortened version... Read more

February 18, 2013 Audio, Playlists

Common – The Next Chapter (Still Love H.E.R.)

It's hard to believe, but after more than 20 years in the game, Common is about to release his first ever mixtape. To set it off properly, his first track from the project is a sequel to his classic "I Used to Love H.E.R.," produced by J. Period. Check out... Read more

February 1, 2013 Throwback

Celebrating MLK and Inauguration Day (Playlist)

Today is a day of reflection and hope. We look back on the monumental impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and look forward with optimism to the next four year's under 44's leadership. Here's a playlist celebrating the legacy of Dr. King and the inauguration of President Obama for... Read more

January 21, 2013 Playlists

Game – Jesus Piece ft Common & Kanye West

Here's the full version of Game's Jesus Piece featuring Common and Kanye West. TOUGH. Check it out below. Related: Game – Rollin’ ft Kanye West, Trae The Truth, Paul Wall, Slim Thug & Z-Ro (Audio)... Read more

December 5, 2012 Audio

Bling47 breaks down J. Dilla’s Dooinit beat (Video)

Whoa! Heads may know J. Dilla's classic beat for Common's Dooinit, but did you know the track was built off a popular Rick James record that was chopped and screwed? Here's a video giving the behind the beat breakdown that showcases Dilla's genius. Hot! Check it out. Related: J Dilla... Read more

November 1, 2012 Audio, Food for Thought, Video

DJ Drama – My Way ft Common, Kendrick Lamar & Lloyd

A snippet from DJ Drama's My Way featuring Common, Kendrick Lamar and Lloyd dropped a couple of weeks ago. Here's the full song. Check it out below (with tags). Related: Kendrick Lamar freestyles on the Funkmaster Flex Show (Video)... Read more

September 26, 2012 Audio

Common, Slaughterhouse, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and more comment on This Generation (Video)

Here's a dope promo for Murs & Fashawn's This Generation album which is in stores on 9/25. During a stop at Rock the Bells, the duo had a number of MCs comment on what they thought This Generation represents. Check out the video which features thoughts from Common, DJ Quik,... Read more

September 24, 2012 Audio

G.O.O.D. Music (Common, Pusha T, Big Sean & Cyhi The Prynce) freestyle on the Funkmaster Flex Show (Video)

Part of the G.O.O.D. Music crew (Common, Pusha T, Big Sean & Cyhi The Prynce) hit the Funkmaster Flex show yesterday and laid down 9 minutes of hot verses. Everybody rhymed except Pusha T. Check it out. Related: Big Sean, Jay-Z & Kanye West – Clique (Audio)... Read more

September 18, 2012 Video

DJ Drama – My Way ft Common, Kendrick Lamar & Lloyd (Snippet) (Audio)

DJ Drama's Quality Street Music is in stores next week. Here's a snippet of a song from the album called My Way which features Common, Kendrick Lamar & Lloyd. You'll hear all of Common's verse, the hook and just a taste of Kendrick's verse. Check it out. Related: DJ Drama... Read more

September 16, 2012 Audio

Common – LUV film trailer (Video)

Common stars in a new film that opens in theaters on Nov. 9. The film also features Charles Dutton, Meagan Good, Michael Kenneth Williams (Omar from The Wire) and more and premiered to critical acclaim at Sundance. Check out the trailer for LUV below. Related: Common - No Sell Out... Read more

September 10, 2012 Video

Common – No Sell Out

Here's a previously unreleased song from Common that was produced by No I.D. Check out No Sell Out. Related: Playlists celebrating the 20+ year career of Common (Audio & Video)... Read more

August 25, 2012 Audio

Here are playlists celebrating the 20+ year career of Common (Audio & Video)

If Common had stopped rhyming in the NINETIES he'd still be a Living Legend. But, he didn't stop...Now, after more than 20 years in the game, he is a hip-hop titan and continues to release some of the best music of his career. Whether solo or collabo he has some... Read more

August 23, 2012 Audio, Playlists, Throwback

Here are some more highlights from this weekend’s Rock The Bells festival. You can watch the full sets from Nas, J. Cole, DMX, Curren$y, Murs & Fashawn and Wu Block, as well as a freestyle from Common (Video)

Related: The Official Rock the Bells 2012 Mixtape Nas J. Cole DMX Curren$y Murs & Fashawn Wu Block Common... Read more

August 20, 2012 Video

Common freestyles on the Sway in the Morning show (Part 2) (Video)

Common was really feeling the flow when he hit the Sway in the Morning show last week. Here is yet another dope true freestyle he kicked. Check out the video. Related: Common discusses working with Kanye West (Video)... Read more

August 13, 2012 Video

Common talks Cruel Summer and working with Kanye on the Sway inthe Morning Show (Video)

Common discusses working with Kanye West with Sway. Check out the video. Related: Common freestyles on the Sway in the Morning show (Video)... Read more

August 11, 2012 Food for Thought, Video

Common freestyles on the Sway in the Morning Show (Video)

Uh oh. You thought Common's freestyle game in concert was crack? Check out what he did on the Sway in the Morning Show. Sway threw out words (not ish like "box" but things like "left ventricle") and Common rhymed them off the top never to be stopped. Super ill. Related:... Read more

August 9, 2012 Video

Common freestyles in Chicago over Otis (Video)

The mighty Common kicked a true off the top freestyle over the Otis beat (chopped up nicely) in his hometown Chicago. Check out the video below. Related: Common - Celebrate (Video)... Read more

July 29, 2012 Video

Common freestyles at Summercamp 2012 (Video)

Here's a true freestyle from Common at Summercamp 2012. In case you forgot what off the dome rhyming sounds like, here you go. Check out the video. Related: Mac Miller - DJ Semtex Freestyle (Video)... Read more

June 5, 2012 Video

Reflections on Trayvon Martin (Playlist) and a petition to prosecute his killer.

I've been searching for a song to capture my feelings around the senseless killing of Trayvon Martin and lack of prosecution of his killer but I haven't found one. It's probably because I have a multitude of emotions ranging from rage to sorrow to reflection. Here are some songs that... Read more

March 24, 2012 Audio, Food for Thought, Playlists

The latest installment of our Producer Series features classic cuts produced by Large Professor. Click below to listen to the playlist.

Seeing vintage footage of Large Professor at Nas' SXSW show reminded us that we had not done an installment in our Producer Series in a while and, more importantly, we had not done one featuring the music of Large Professor, one of the all-time greats. Below is a playlist of... Read more

March 19, 2012 Audio, Playlists, Throwback

Scienze – Happiness Is ft Blu & Sene

The jazzy piano loop that King I Divine samples on his collabo with ScienZe is reminiscent of tracks you used to hear on the regular in the mid-90s (in a great way). Blu dropping a verse on the track is just icing. Check out Happiness Is, featuring Blu and Sene.... Read more

March 6, 2012 Audio, The Bridge

Stalley – Blue Sky (Video)

Stalley kicks a couple of verses on the Blue Sky beat No ID did for Common. Check out the video.... Read more

March 2, 2012 Video

Here’s a Valentine’s Day Playlist for Lover’s of Hip-Hop (Audio)

Like most relationships, the one between Hip-Hop & Love is complicated. Here's a playlist showing its many sides. You'll find music from Common, Mos Def, Dead Prez, The Roots, OutKast, Snoop Dogg, Murs, A Tribe Called Quest, Pharoahe Monch, Slum Village, Heavy D, Method Man, Biggie and many more. Some... Read more

February 14, 2012 Audio, Playlists

The first month of 2012 is almost in the books. Here’s a playlist of some of the better music to drop in January 2012. You’ll hear music from Schoolboy Q, Rapper Big Pooh, Curren$y, Jay-Z (and Blue Ivy Carter), Common & Drake, Scolla, Logic, Rick Ross, Stalley, Saigon and more. You can listen below.

January 28, 2012 Playlists, Video

Here’s an MLK day playlist featuring music from Common, Talib Kweli, Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T., Nas and more (Playlist)

Happy MLK day. MUCH has changed since the 60's when Dr. King led a peaceful revolution for justice and equality, but the beautiful struggle continues. We are in complex times. The nation has a black president, a reality that likely would not have materialized had it not been for the... Read more

January 16, 2012 Audio, Food for Thought, Playlists

You knew this was coming…Common takes shots at Drake on Sweet, Drake fires back on Stay Schemin’ with Rick Ross and now Common retaliates on his own personal remix to Stay Schemin’. Who got who? Does this “beef” even make sense? 2 artists, 2 new albums…Here’s Common’s “Remix” to Stay Schemin’ by Rick Ross ft Drake.

Click here to see the video to the original Stay Schemin' from Rick Ross, Drake and French Montana.... Read more

January 9, 2012 Audio

Common – Raw (How You Like It) (Video)

Here's the latest video from Common. Check out Raw (How You Like It). Also, click here to read why Common's The Dreamer, The Believer album made our list of the best albums/mixtapes of 2011. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CVcH10EpyM&feature=player_embedded... Read more

January 6, 2012 Video

Check out our 175+ song playlist of the best hip-hop 2011 had to offer (in chronological order). You’ll hear music from Kendrick Lamar, DJ Quik, Pete Rock and Smiff N Wessun, XV, Action Bronson, Common, Curren$y, The Roots, Saigon, Bumpy Knuckles, Big K.R.I.T., Bun B, Asher Roth, Phonte, Reks, Raekwon, Stalley, Pusha T, Wale, Zion I, Smoke DZA, Busta Rhymes, J. Cole, Jean Grae, Statik Selektah, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Yelawolf, Pharoahe Monch and far too many other great artists to name.

The music speaks for itself. Press play and let it ride or click here to see the playlist and pick your own order. Either way, enjoy the good notes of 2011.... Read more

December 31, 2011 Audio, Food for Thought, Playlists, Video

Ambrosia For Heads’ 2011 Best Hip-Hop Albums/Mixtapes of the Year: Here’s a look at our picks for the best of the best in 2011. You’ll find words on each as well as samples of the music. Tell us your picks for 2011.

It's that time of year again, when you're hit with a ton of year end, best of lists. We're going to keep it simple. We have 2 lists: best hip-hop albums/mixtapes of the year and songs of the year. First up, here are our picks for the best hip-hop albums/mixtapes... Read more

December 28, 2011 Audio, Food for Thought, Mixes, Video

Common – Celebrate (Video)

Here's the latest video from Common. Check out Celebrate. This is feel good music. Common's album The Dreamer, The Believer is in stores tomorrow. Click here to stream the whole album. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJmaQgh-cGk&feature=player_embedded... Read more

December 19, 2011 Video

Ready to hear Common’s The Dreamer, The Believer album in its entirety? Say no more. Here’s a sneak preview full stream of the album from the man (and his label) himself. Check it out below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gQLyVfgR-dk... Read more

December 14, 2011 Audio

Check out Raw (How You Like It) another new song from Common’s The Dreamer, The Believer, as well as a video where he freestyles over multiple beats.

Here's yet another hot new joint from Common's upcoming album, The Dreamer, The Believer. Check out Raw (How You Like It). The album drops on 12/21. Click here to download Raw (How You Like It). Also, here's a 5-minute true freestyle (strictly off the dome) that Common dropped over multiple... Read more

December 13, 2011 Audio

Common – Hartford’s Hot 93.7 Freestyle (Video)

Remember when the word "freestyle" actually meant rhyming off the top? Common does. Check out his true freestyle from a couple of days ago in Hartford. If you're home chilling, you can also check out the movie Freestyle here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epg-cnodvbk&feature=player_embedded... Read more

December 10, 2011 Video

Common – The Believer ft John Legend

Here's the latest track from Common's upcoming The Dreamer/The Believer album (in stores on 12/20). Check out The Believer featuring John Legend.... Read more

December 5, 2011 Audio

Common – Freedom Project Documentary (Video)

Last week, Common dropped his video for Sweet which was shot in Haiti. He solicited donations to benefit the country, in order to view the video. Here's a documentary showing Common's visit to Haiti which is still greatly suffering the effects of the earthquake that devastated the country nearly 2... Read more

November 28, 2011 Video

Here’s a look at the 20 most important hip-hop record labels of all time, starting with #20: Rawkus Records.

Before record labels were considered "the enemy" their brands actually meant something. Artists dreamed of being on the same label as the MCs they grew up idolizing and some labels had such credibility fans would buy the record just because it was on that label. Over the next several days... Read more

November 22, 2011 Food for Thought, Playlists, Throwback, Video