Customer Reviews

Can I Borrow A Dollar?

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many won't remember Common's first LP mainly because it wasn't heavily promoted. I bought the album after seeing the video for "Take It EZ" on The Box back in 1992 (that song and video are super tight). With production handled by Immenslope and Twilite Tone (The Beatnuts produce one track), a young Common (known as Common Sense at the time) rips track after track with a unique style and a charisma that wasn't really present in the hardcore climate of rap music at the time. Can I Borrow A Dollar wasn't exactly a landmark debut, but it was good enough to turn some heads. He wouldn't fully hit his stride until his second LP Ressurection (now THAT was a landmark LP). This album mostly revolves around hittin' skins, guzzling 40 oz's, and kicking flavor.

If I had to find a flaw in the album, it would have to be a lack of subject matter. "Heidi Hoe", "Puppy Chow", and "Tricks Up My Sleeve" (along with a few others) are all about hittin' skins and "Two Scoops Of Raisins" is skippable, but those songs have dope beats that will make you listen anyway (well, I know I did). Another problem I had was the fact that some of the singles released were remixes that were very hard to come by. The remixes for "Soul By The Pound" and "Breaker 1/9" are definitely tighter than the originals contained on the LP, but my complaints about the album are pretty minor.

This album shows a young, confident, and talented Common Sense kicking flavor. There's no filler, no fluff, and no b.s. There's just an ill MC getting busy over tight beats. Rap music from today could really use a return to the music of this era because raw skills have been replaced by marketability and it's truly saddening. If you want a taste of what cats like me were listening to when we were young (I was 15 at the time), then cop this disc; you won't be dissapointed. Highly reccomended.

Standout Tracks: Puppy Chow, Charms Alarm, No Defense, Soul By The Pound, Take It EZ (My Favorite), Breaker 1/9, Blows To The Temple, Pitchin' Pennies, and A Penny For My Thoughts

From Usigned Hype winner to underground superstar, Common has changed quite a bit since this debut album. This album shows a more vocally animated Common using any and every clever metaphor to put a new slant on the ever popular style of battle rhyming. As you listen to his vocal and lyrical trickery, you can't help but see how much fun Common seems to be having while rhyming. While most of the album deals with destroying weak emcees's, the overall vibe is upbeat and happy. The downside is that Common's lyrics never surpass battling wack emcee's and dogging out women (on numerous mysognistic tracks like "Heidi Hoe" and "Puppy Chow") for the whole album. While the laid back, dusty jazz beats hold him musically, if the production is weak on a track, Common's freshman subject matter becomes more evident. On the upside, while his subjects are redundant, his lyrics are always unique. Some may be turned off by some of the over-sampled beats that Common's producers have included, such as Isley Brother's "Between The Sheets" and "For The Love Of You". Still, this is a good debut for Common, and it definatley shows a great deal of growth on his part from then til now. Don't expect any deep songs like "Retrospect For Life" or "G.O.D.", and you won't be disappointed.

Common's first album Can I Borrow A Dollar? may surprise those who are looking for some of Common's mature/insightful lyrics. Instead, Common offers up some humorous lines and songs that are just meant not to be taken seriously. Tracks such as "Breaker 1/9" show Common's humorous side while "Take It EZ" and "Penny For My Thoughts" have Common displaying his amazing lyrical skills. The production is mostly solid (especially the Beatnuts' beat for "Heidi Hoe"), but it still can't compare to the jazzy and diverse beats used on Resurrection. Some may also find it disappointing that "Soul By The Pound" isn't in its famous remix form, although the original is still very good. If you are looking for something just to sit back and nod your head to, Can I Borrow A Dollar? might be what you are looking for.

I remember the first time I heard this album. It's was 1992 and I was 15 years old. Being a hip-hop fan, I remember being impressed with Common's flow and delivery. The production was also very tight. Although new school hip-hop fans might not agree - being fed the "hip-POP" that radio play now a days. Anyway, this album is in my "top 10 hip-hop albums of the 90's" list. Common's second release "Resurrection" is in there as well. If you don't own this, pick up a copy. I highly Recommend it!!

If you compare this to ressurection or any other common album's than your selling it short. He comes basically with pure humor and funky beats, like you've already seen from other reviews he doesn't get real deep on this album but it's still mad tight. This is an album that just makes you feel good when you listen to it. I like ressurection better, but ressurection is one of my top five albums of all time. If you love common, and you don't mind that he just made a fun album then get it.

to me this album is exactly what hip-hop should be! You can just tell that when common made this he was having fun and didnt care about what anyone else thought which is how it should be. as a rapper bring what you bring to rap not what rap brings to you as so many rappers do today. absolutely genuine album one of my all time favorites

From Usigned Hype winner to underground superstar, Common has changed quite a bit since this debut album. This album shows a more vocally animated Common using any and every clever metaphor to put a new slant on the ever popular style of battle rhyming. As you listen to his vocal and lyrical trickery, you can't help but see how much fun Common seems to be having while rhyming. While most of the album deals with destroying weak emcees's, the overall vibe is upbeat and happy. The downside is that Common's lyrics never surpass battling wack emcee's and dogging out women (on numerous mysognistic tracks like "Heidi Hoe" and "Puppy Chow") for the whole album. While the laid back, dusty jazz beats hold him musically, if the production is weak on a track, Common's freshman subject matter becomes more evident. On the upside, while his subjects are redundant, his lyrics are always unique. Some may be turned off by some of the over-sampled beats that Common's producers have included, such as Isley Brother's "Between The Sheets" and "For The Love Of You". Still, this is a good debut for Common, and it definatley shows a great deal of growth on his part from then til now. Don't expect any deep songs like "Retrospect For Life" or "G.O.D.", and you won't be disappointed.

This is Common (Sense)'s first LP "Can I Borrow A Dollar". I really didn't pick this up until about a month ago. I think Common had a very good starting point back in 1992 with his singles "Soul By The Pound" and "Breaker 1/9" (if you can, find the remix 12" with a song called "Can I Bust" with Y-Not). Common had his sped up tounge twisting flow which is way different than what you hear from him fifteen years later. A favorite of mine would be "Take It EZ" along with the ode to cerial "Two Scoops Of Raisins" featurning Immenslpoe (aka No I.D.). Like everyone said, mostly on this album is about Common chasing females with songs like "Puppy Chow" and "Heidi Hoe".

Common sounds different here. One thing I noticed is his voice, as it squeeks when he rhymes. It may get annoying to some people. Can I Borrow A Dollar is a different side of Common that people are not used to hearing. Fans of Resurrection will enjoy this more than those who are fans of Like Water For Chocolate. The overall album is high quality and very enjoyable. I recommend this to fans of early 90's rap. Peace.

Lyrics: A-
Production: A-
Guest Appearances: A-
Musical Vibes: A

Top 5 Tracks:
1. Take It EZ
2. Two Scoops Of Raisins (featuring No I.D.)
3. Soul By The Pound
4. Breaker 1/9
5. Tricks Up My Sleeve (featuring Miss Jonsey)

Honorable Mention Tracks:
1. Heidi Hoe
2. Puppy Chow

Favorite Common LP's from best to worst (none are lower than a 8 out of 10)(changed since the last time I did this)
1. Ressurection
2. Like Water For Chocolate
3. Can I Borrow A Dollar?
4. Finding Forever
5. Be
6. Electric Circus
7. One Day It'll All Make Sense

Common started his career off with a sense of humor. He was very young but still focused. There use to be a time when rap music was fun and not so materialistic and gangsta. This project has hot beats and lyrics that you can appreciate. This is pre-resurrection Common who hadn't loved her enough just yet but he was cathing feelings....you like that right...lol...lol

I really, really, really liked Common Sense in 1992. "Take It Easy" was like my theme song during my senior year of high school, and being from Chicago I was really glad to see a Chicago MC doing his thing. If you didn't get into Common until later, "Can I Borrow A Dollar," might come as a bit of a suprise to you. In the beginning, even with the first single "Take It Easy," Common seemed much more light hearted and comedic along the lines of The Pharcyde or Busta Rhymes. Musically, it was a good album and the second single "Breaker 1-9" got heavy rotation on The Box like the first single. If you are just getting into Common check this album out.