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Editorial Reviews
Explicit Version. Grammy Award winning artist Common returns with his unique brand of cutting edge Hip Hop on his 8th album Universal Mind Control. The 2008 album on the G.O.O.D. Music /Geffen label is executive produced by multi-platinum producers The Neptunes & Kanye West and features the Neptunes on the bulk of the production. The lead single, 'Universal Mind Control' is a club hit and a radio add for Urban & Rhythmic Crossover. Common has been an actor on the big screen for the last two years in critically acclaimned films, Wanted, American Gangster & Smoking Aces, plus a co-starring role in the 2009 blockbuster Terminator 4.
Customer Reviews
“ I do like some of the songs; but I'm just not feeling it; but I give him props for trying and that is what fans should do, give the artists props for trying. ”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By Bum Phillips
Format:Audio CD
This album is wack. Common is a poet, a great lyrists. One of my favorite MCs of all time and last I'd expect to sell out. This album goes against everything he is good at. He tries to make club hits on this album. His single entitled "Universal Mind Control" feat Pharell is annoying..he says he "stays fresh like hes wrapped in plastic" and continues by saying how hes "fresh and gettin paid". only song I can enjoy is "Make My Day" feat Cee-Lo. This song is 1 of 3 not produced by the Neptunes. On the "Annoucement" feat Pharell he calls hip hop his bitch. What ever happened to "I Used to Love H.E.R"? Sorry Common, but after this album I kinda wish you just stuck to acting. For true hip-hop heads go cop "The Pre-face" by Elzhi or "Tronic" by Black Milk.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Those are definitely words I thought I would never say about Common Sense who is one of the greatest to ever do it. But man oh man, I guess when you've been around this long that you'll have one or two of these misses. This is not the first time he's done the short track list deal but "BE" was not like this. Universal Mind Control has some heavy songs on here and a couple of my favs being "Punch Drunk Love" and "Make My Day". Now here's where the problems come in and I'm sure plenty of others have said this. Half this album is as weak as the Detroit Lions season this year and the other half is on a much much higher level.
The production with the corny tracks start you off in a bad mood and you don't even want to listen to the song after that. "Changes" doesn't even really sound like a Common track, honestly a few of em don't. Then of course you got the hot "Universal Mind Control" which was a nice first release and "What A World" is pretty good also. Lyrically the album is not one of his strongest. Common almost seems to be loosing himself a bit over the past year or two.
Really I got this album for "Universal Mind Control" and "Punch Drunk Love", there were more mediocre and bad tracks on here than I've ever heard from the man that was thought to have more sense than any rapper in the game. So get it if you want the few songs but my advice is find a way to get it without paying full price.
The production with the corny tracks start you off in a bad mood and you don't even want to listen to the song after that. "Changes" doesn't even really sound like a Common track, honestly a few of em don't. Then of course you got the hot "Universal Mind Control" which was a nice first release and "What A World" is pretty good also. Lyrically the album is not one of his strongest. Common almost seems to be loosing himself a bit over the past year or two.
Really I got this album for "Universal Mind Control" and "Punch Drunk Love", there were more mediocre and bad tracks on here than I've ever heard from the man that was thought to have more sense than any rapper in the game. So get it if you want the few songs but my advice is find a way to get it without paying full price.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Jason V.
Format:Audio CD
I never thought I'd say that an album from one of the best emcees in the history of Hip-Hop is only worth buying for the production. That's something you say about the latest rapper of the week, backed by big budget producers, pushed on image by label execs, not expected to matter after one or two albums. I listened to this album on repeat just to be sure, even though it basically smacked me in the face on the first listen. The only reason to buy this is for the inspired Neptunes production. Shades of Bambaataa, techno/electro overtures, some interesting synth sounding work, that's what is interesting here.
What is completely boring, trite, hackneyed, uninspired, and a thousand other similar descriptors, is Common's performance. It's not entirely surprising, Finding Forever struck me as uninspired as well, it was "safe" Common, paint by numbers style. Throw in some cliched black pride, boasting of emcee skills, some sex, pop references, big budget beats, mix and serve. Here it's much of the same, just throw in more sex, talked about without the vulgarity of much pop-rap out there, but with the same unoriginal and shallow attitude. There are shades of the old Common here, on songs like "Changes", but even then it's more of the paint by number throwback style of Finding Forever, than the inspired work of "G.O.D.", "The 6th Sense", etc.
Too be clear, as I can already foresee the claims about naysayers of this album trying to keep Common trapped in a box, it is not the change I have a problem with. I was a fan of Electric Circus, and if anyone finds this interesting, but hasn't heard that album, pick it up immediately. This is not Electric Circus, there's no creative force and inspiration behind what Common is doing, no interesting writing or styles of delivery. As evidence by the reaction to Electric Circus, some people are allergic to change, they will just not give it a chance. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are people who will throw "change" around like it is an excuse for whatever crap an artist wants to put out. "Change" isn't a positive or negative term, the material which is the product of change must be judged on it's own right, and by my judgment, Common's direction on this album is an abysmal failure, with only the work of the Neptunes (and the other producers) even keeping it afloat.
What is completely boring, trite, hackneyed, uninspired, and a thousand other similar descriptors, is Common's performance. It's not entirely surprising, Finding Forever struck me as uninspired as well, it was "safe" Common, paint by numbers style. Throw in some cliched black pride, boasting of emcee skills, some sex, pop references, big budget beats, mix and serve. Here it's much of the same, just throw in more sex, talked about without the vulgarity of much pop-rap out there, but with the same unoriginal and shallow attitude. There are shades of the old Common here, on songs like "Changes", but even then it's more of the paint by number throwback style of Finding Forever, than the inspired work of "G.O.D.", "The 6th Sense", etc.
Too be clear, as I can already foresee the claims about naysayers of this album trying to keep Common trapped in a box, it is not the change I have a problem with. I was a fan of Electric Circus, and if anyone finds this interesting, but hasn't heard that album, pick it up immediately. This is not Electric Circus, there's no creative force and inspiration behind what Common is doing, no interesting writing or styles of delivery. As evidence by the reaction to Electric Circus, some people are allergic to change, they will just not give it a chance. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are people who will throw "change" around like it is an excuse for whatever crap an artist wants to put out. "Change" isn't a positive or negative term, the material which is the product of change must be judged on it's own right, and by my judgment, Common's direction on this album is an abysmal failure, with only the work of the Neptunes (and the other producers) even keeping it afloat.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Common, why!?
Don't get me wrong, I love Common. Few albums have moved me the way Resurrection and One Day It'll All Make Sense has, but UMC is dreadful. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Hip-Hop Fiend
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Most Underrate Common Album But One of My Favorites
I'm a person who likes all types of music; from rap to rock to hip hop to jazz, I like everything. Common is one of my favorite hip hop artists so I have tons of appreciation for... Read more
Published 5 months ago by ladydrell83
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not a Prime Example of Common, but Still Worth a Listen
I've loved Common since high school. One morning while I was getting ready to go catch my bus, the video for "The Sixth Sense" came on TV and I fell in love with it. Read more
Published 15 months ago by MDT
1.0 out of 5 stars
One too many...
I will put as much effort into this review as Common put into this album. As stated by other reviewers, he has sold out. Read more
Published on October 2, 2010 by TrEE
5.0 out of 5 stars
Common outdone himself!
UMC is probably the best album common has made so far.. in my opinion this was probably one of the best albums I have heard .. Read more
Published on May 14, 2010 by SJ
3.0 out of 5 stars
Common goes to the clubs
In 2008, Common released "Universal Mind Control" which, by all accounts, is a dance record. The album features production done mostly by The Neptunes, who are no strangers to... Read more
Published on March 30, 2010 by Perverted Alchemist
2.0 out of 5 stars
2-1/2 stars -- I understand what he was trying to do, but...
Common is my favorite rapper, so I was excited a year or so ago when I heard he was going to make his latest appearance on Leno. Read more
Published on January 8, 2010 by Anthony Rupert
5.0 out of 5 stars
Universal Mind Cnotrol
Common has gone for a much more commercial sound to his new album, and it works. It has fantastic beats thanks to the man Pharrell, and lyrically, Common is no Lupe Fiasco but he... Read more
Published on September 27, 2009 by A. Campbell
3.0 out of 5 stars
3 Stars! Easily Common's worst - but not that bad!
Okay, so I bought this when it dropped for a low low price since this was the promotion they were running and for the price I paid it was worth the money. Read more
Published on September 16, 2009 by SRP
1.0 out of 5 stars
1 of his worst albums!
1 of his his worst albums since that Circus crap he put out, all the hype that was surrounding this release, wow what a disappointment, I'm still a real fan of his, but this is... Read more
Published on July 5, 2009 by B. Hines
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