Be (Bonus Dvd) (Spec) (Dlx) (Spkg) [Special Edition]

Common | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 24, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Special Edition
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B0009FGWIK
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (218 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #177,978 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Be (Intro)

2. The Corner

3. Go!

4. Faithful

5. Testify

6. Love Is...

7. Chi-City

8. The Food

9. Real People

10. They Say

11. It's Your World

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Faithful" To The Vintage Common Sense... (4.5 Stars), July 11, 2005

By 

Andrew Jacob (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Be (Bonus Dvd) (Spec) (Dlx) (Spkg) (Audio CD)

Confusion would be the understated way of describing how many felt while listening to 2002's "Electric Circus." Many tried to justify it by stamping it as "eccentric" or "innovatively different" but ultimately, it was a peculiar release that left many fans perplexed. In comes Kanye West, whose 2004 banner year brought along furthermore awareness of "Chi-town" and whose album featured a collaboration that was to some extent a preview of what was to come; Common's 6th studio album "Be" is perhaps the early contender to claim 2005's Hip Hop album of the year. Although only clocking in around 43 minutes, it is a compact and intriguing album whose vintage soulful approach depicts itself to be old school but brings about a refreshingly modern sound. Without overstating, "Be" literally has exceptional song after exceptional song. Courtesy of the aforementioned Kanye West, the flawless production ranges from the jazzy "Be (Intro)," and "Real People"; the soulful "Testify," and "Faithful"; the R&B-esque "Love Is..." and "They Say"; and the gritty throwback sound of "The Corner" and "Chi-City." Lyrically, there is the introspection present from the early days of "Like Water For Chocolate" or "One Day It'll All Make Sense." Although If I were to be nitpicking, I'd say "The Food (Live)" falters when compared to the other tracks. However, considering all of its positive aspects, a notch below excellence is still very good. With quality production and lyrics, "Be" is easily superior to many modern generic albums and it furthermore cements Common's existence as one of Hip Hop's best lyricists.

35 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!, May 27, 2005

By 

Michael Brent Faulkner, Jr. "Brent Faulkner" (Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Be (Bonus Dvd) (Spec) (Dlx) (Spkg) (Audio CD)

I usually do not buy a rap album unless I know that it is destined to be excellent. Common has done this with BE. He is not only a great and DIFFERENT MC, but he has put together a very intellectual album while also being commercial, an incredible feat with a rapper who isn't a gangsta rapper.

The production on BE is mostly handled by Kanye West, which is the best decision that Common could make. Kanye, as always, has done an excellent production job on BE and even makes a few guest appearances.

Top tracks from BE include "The Corner" which has a very unique beat (excellent drum programming) along with a very unique choice with THE LAST POETS guest starring. "Go" is an exciting surprise with John Mayer and Kanye West guest starring making an unlikely combination work brilliantly because "Go" is definitely one of the best tracks on the entire album. In "Faithful", a gospel sounding sample is sampled evoking the effect of church and is pulled of very effectively. I could run through the rest of the track list, but I don't think there is any need. You won't find a truly dull listen.

For the album, 4 stars and for being different than the other rappers and giving a different sort of album, I give 1 extra star. Keep on doing what you are doing Common.

57 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Album of the Year so far..., May 25, 2005

By 

A. D. Schutz "adskdr" (Springfield, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Be (Bonus Dvd) (Spec) (Dlx) (Spkg) (Audio CD)

Be - Okay, when the synthesizer kicks in I had a panic attack that this was Electric Circus II. By the time the piano hits I calm down. Like this groove, but the aforementioned synth feels extra. "We got arms, but won't reach for the sky."

The Corner - If you aren't nodding your head by the time the chorus hits, you have negative soul. The Kanye part has not aggravated me yet. "Now I roll in an Olds with windows that don't roll."

Go! - Intro is too long - 37 seconds before you even hear Common. Almost feels like a Kanye West song feat. Common. Way too much chorus, too little rapping. What exactly did Mayer do here? "Dirty words encourage me."

Faithful - Vintage Com - this vibe kind of reminds me of One Day It Will All Make Sense in a good way. Thoughtful and enjoyable. While I like the sample, the sped up vocals during the verses are distracting and unnecessary. Whoa, John Legend and Bilal come out of freaking nowhere. "I'm bad, not as bad as Eric Benet."

Testify - Once again the vocals in the sample are competing with Common rather than compliment him. Not really feeling the story. "The Queenpin."

Love Is - The difference between Dilla and Kanye is so noticeable (boy I hope he produced this). Com rides this beat, as opposed to sharing space with it. Dunno about singing the chorus. "Heartbreak Hotel then you're home again."

Chi City - Production sounds like Premier minus the signature drums. This song would fit in Resurrection. And there are no vocal samples! At this point of the album - this is the standout track for me. "I rap with the passion of Christ, _____ cross me."

The Food - The energy of this damn song is its selling point. I like how they went back and amped up the beat, but cannot help but miss the third verse. I dig the outro. "You love to hear the story, again and again - about these young brothers from the city of wind."

Real People - I really like the jazzy beat on this. Sounds like a cheesy 80's TV theme song in a good way. "The way they treat blacks, I wanna snap like paparazzi."

They Say - I like John Legend, and this sounds like one of his good grooves. Autobiographical and interesting - an explanation/defense of Electric Circus to my ears. Not a fan of Kanye's verse - very little rhyming, annoying high pitch. Would have been interested in hearing Consequence's verse. "I'm the black pill in the Matrix."

It's Your World - I am feeling this one. This could have been on Like Water for Chocolate. Feels good to have Pops back. "My momma gave birth, but she never really had me."

Final thoughts: I bought this with the mindset that I would be satisfied if this was Common's third best album, and I think it is. However, the distance between it and One Day is not as big as I would have liked. Rereading my reviews, I think it is obvious that I find some of the album to be overproduced (Go, Faithful, Testify). Common's strength has always been his superior lyricism, and it feels like it is put on the back burner here on some of the songs. I guess everyone is somewhat possessive of their favorite artists. I would be thrilled if Common and Kanye ended up doing a Blackstar duo-type album, but for a solo Common LP the Kanye stamp feels to heavy here. While I believe this will be his most commercially successful album to date, I wonder how well this will age. Favorite songs: Chi City, The Corners, The Food. Least favorite songs: Go, Testify.