Common — Finding Forever

Finding Forever is Common's seventh release, and while his quintessential message lyrics and thoughtful beats made his last album, Be, an instant classic, that praise will likely be tempered this time around. Kanye West, who produced eight of the 12 tracks, joins Common on "Southside," a shout-out to their hometown of Chi-town that comes off as contrived. The J Dilla-produced "So Far To Go" (featuring D'Angelo) and "Break My Heart," with its soul-rap vibe and overly smoothed out beats, are weak attempts at a change of pace. It's not all bad, though. "The People" and "Drivin' Me Wild" (featuring Lily Allen) might be lyrical lightweights, but the excellent beats more than make up for the missteps. Finding Forever isn't Common's best work, but it's a worthy addition to any fan's collection.

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