Nobody's Smiling is one of Common's most personal records in quite some time, reflecting on the ups and downs of his relationship with producer No I.D. and meditating on the loss of J Dilla. He also addresses his own conflicted decision to leave the city and people that so greatly shaped some of his best music.<br/><br/>Common exists in sainted territory in hip-hop: the rare rapper who's appeared on "Oprah", he's earned a default level of respect and can reliably release major label albums every few years, no matter what the industry climate. For many, Common's latest album, Nobody's Smiling, will hold a polarized position in the midst of Chicago's senseless violence, a symbol of all that is right in a genre too often derided for moral depravity and/or artistic bankruptcy. Others will cynically dismiss this latest effort, as Common hasn't lived in Chicago in years but is releasing a record capitalizing on the city's newly gritty national reputation. But Common's not interested in moralizing, nor trendchasing. Although he writes a familiar snapshot of Chicago, its troubles seem a catalyst for his own creativity. The album's most convincing when tackling the push-and-pull conflict between the individual and his hometown, as Common's good intentions are buoyed by memory, generosity, and attentiveness to his craft.
A1 | The Neighborhood | 3:58 |
A2 | No Fear | 3:12 |
A3 | Diamonds | 3:53 |
A4 | Blak Majik | 3:19 |
B1 | Speak My Piece | 3:51 |
B2 | Hustle Harder | 3:58 |
B3 | Nobody’s Smiling | 4:16 |
C1 | Real | 3:22 |
C2 | Kingdom | 6:22 |
C3 | Rewind That | 5:21 |
D1 | Out On Bond | 3:25 |
D2 | 7 Deadly Sins | 3:08 |
D3 | Young Hearts Run Free | 4:33 |