Common? Hardly.

Common
House of Blues, Chicago
Tuesday, February 28, 2006

By now it’s no secret Common defies rap and hip-hop stereotypes. All one had to do was catch the latest stretch of his Be tour to realize the mic master doesn’t just have a leg up on the competition, but he’s entirely in a league of his own. Even though the four-time Grammy nominee didn’t take home any trophies at this year’s ceremonies, he’s still appreciated enough by fans to warrant four concerts in a mere three days. And just ask anyone from Chi-town who has watched Common rise from the underground and they’ll be quick to note he laid down innovative expressions and beats long before Kanye West ever came around.

Many of his most obvious standalone points for the one-time local lie in his demeanor, which forsakes bling silliness in favor of a much more down-to-earth, clean-cut, and intelligent outlook. Sure he swears every once in awhile, but it’s always to prove a point and never to be tossed around continuously just for the shake of shock. Despite a few f-bombs here and there, he was quick to give thanks to God and sprinkled moments of spirituality throughout the set without turning preachy. From wearing a black newsboy cap, yellow checkerboard sweater, and blue jeans to a shout out to his mama in the balcony to several pleas for peace, Common demonstrated a steady stream of class.

What’s even more important was his ability to support such actions with musicality, which, besides being backed by a DJ, included a drummer and a keyboardist (an instrument Common occasionally sat behind as well). Though much of the concert was culled from Be, the record is a solid follow-up to 2002’s groundbreaking Electric Circus that merges a full band approach with slick rhyme slaying. The title cut opened the evening, which pumped directly into “Go!” a rousing romp to get everyone jumpin’ and bumpin’ like there was no tomorrow. “Faithful” kicked in taking on a more romantic slow-jam tint, but was basted in soul penetrating scratches and hearty harmonies. Sensuality further permeated into a moment of audience participation when Common called up an attractive gal from Valparaiso, Indiana to sway along with the Isley Brothers’ “For the Love Of You.” Though the grind was somewhat naughty for this artist’s standards, it was relatively PG.

A streak of attitude permeated the air during “Testify,” an account of a boyfriend taking the hit for a crime for which his girlfriend was guilty. The track is one of the most hook-heavy on his latest offering and resonated with extreme approval in these close-knit contexts. Additional squeals came during a DJ segment when Common busted some serious break-dance moves, complete with classic head spins to bring back old school memories. He spoke to the audience about all the elements of hip-hop, including breakdancing, the need for MCs, the art of graffiti, and the DJ serving as the genre’s foundation. He also gave props to street culture and those coming up on the scene, best reflected during the credible “The Corner.” The initial portion of the show wrapped up with the Be finale (“It’s Your World (Part 1 & 2)”), which was an excellent display of Common’s dynamics. It started with a grooved-up build and then exploded with fast lyrical pacing and instrumental intensity to once again blow off the roof with a bling-less bang.

— Andy Argyrakis

Category: Live Reviews, Weekly