C to the O double M O N

Went to the Common show tonight at SOB's.  Doors opened at 7P, show was suppose to begin at 9P.  I showed up around 9P and was stuck between standing in the back or else have my view partially obstructed by a giant pillar and a few giants that must have been at least 6'5".  I thought I might be able to angle my way in as the show began and chose to move toward the front despite the giants and the pillar.  Common hit the stage a little after 9P with a congo/drum player and keyboardist.  The crowd gave him a really warm welcome and people were amped. 

On my way over I was listening to "Chi-Chi City" off the new album and I thought he'd probably perform that song but change the Chi City to New York City.  I was right and he began the show with that song.  From there Common ripped through songs off all his albums and he referred to the venue as "the basement" as he wanted to create a real good party vibe.  About 3 songs in I felt a tap on my shoulder and was asked to go outside.  Turns out you can't shoot photos at this venue, they made me hand them a battery til the end of the show and also erase my pictures.  Damn.  I got too greedy with taking pics.  Oh well.  Highlights detailed on the next page...

Highlights of the show included:

• Common introducing "Testify" saying that some guys are messed up, but girls can do effed up things to.  He said this one girl did his friend "bogus".  "Real bogus."  That was pretty cool.
• He talked about being in the game for 13 years and rattled off all his album
• He talked about how people started talkin shit when Electric Circus dropped and he said people were saying how she (Erykah) done changed his world
• He took a call from Kweli and then broke into Blackstar's "Respiration".  I was expecting Kweli and Mos to come out, but that didn't happen.  (see the end of the review for the  Kweli spotting)
   
• "Get Em High" off Kanye's album was also performed but no Kanye did not appear.,
• At one point Common asked for a real fine sister to get up on stage.  He got a girl from NJ named Dee and then he proceeded to dance with her as DJ Dummy dropped songs like "Bump n Grind".  The girls were yelling and going nuts and he then began performing"Come Close" off 'Electric Circus to the audience member.
• The crowd also received a short Ying Yang Twins impersonation.  Chi-town's finest also performed a little "Electric Relaxation" by Tribe but then broke into an impressive five minute freestyle. He also went off on a 90s hip hop run performing "Used to Love H.E.R.", Pharcyde's "Passin Me By" and rhyming over "T.R.O.Y."
• DJ Dummy also got about 5 minutes and gave the crowd a lesson in turntablism.  It was a trip seeing Dummy up there, back when I was a wanna be turntablist/dj he was one of my favorite djs to watch on the DMC vides.  He would always spin the hot NY shit that people knew the words too, which was different than what most of the psychotic OCD turntablists would do.
• Common closed the night by asking SOBs to turn on the light. They would finagle with the lights and then frustrated Common said Dummy turn on the light.  Then DJ Dummy dropped "The Light" and most of the women were very happy.

Overall it was a great show, except the lack of a surprise guest (Kanye?  Kweli?  Mos?  John Legend?) and lack of an encore was a bit disappointing.  At the same time, I figure the guest would appear on tommorrow's show which would make more sense since the album drops then.  Also, after the show while talking outside the venue with Joe and Langston from Trickology, Kweli with his 4 man posse appeared a bit too late.  I hope he wasn't suppose to perform although you figure he was.  Tommorrow I guess.

Common also has a show at SOB's tommorrow and an in-store at Tower Records at 6P.  I'd like to check the in-store, but I'm suppose to check a Dipset thing and hopefully I'm set for the Single Frame show. Thanks to Room Service (Wes, Ian, Kim) for the hook up!  Also, Room Service is also hooking up the FREE Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest featuring Brand Nubian, Little Brother, Rhymefest and Leela James.

Common's Home Page

New interview with Common coming to Prefix on Wednesday!

Interview with Common at Prefix (Electric Circus Era)

Last Blog post on Common (includes Media links)