Common Explains Musical And Artistic Growth

02/28/2000 6:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(2/28/00, 6 p.m. ET) - Common incorporates deeply personal experiences within his politically fueled raps to better reflect his real life. The critically acclaimed artist -- who has released three albums and also recorded with the Roots, among others -- told LAUNCH how his personal growth parallels his musical output.

" Resurrection and One Day It'll All Make Sense was like my step into manhood in a way," he says. "Like, damn, I've got to be responsible -- I'm a young man now. I'm 23, 24. I'm, like, 'Damn, I've got to, I've got to pay lights. I've got to pay the, the house note,' or whatever, you know what I'm saying? And I'm about to have a child, so it was like that step into becoming a man. But this album, Like Water For Chocolate, was a big step, too, because that move to New York, switch, switching the labels and working with new producers, was also a big step."

The cover art for Common's forthcoming Like Water For Chocolate album is a recreation of a famous Gordon Parks photo from the separatists era that features "colored only" and "white only" water fountains. The album was named after the critically acclaimed, award-winning foreign novel and film of the same name. D'Angelo, Mos Def, and Slum Village are among the guests appearing on the album, which features production by the Roots, DJ Premier, Jay Dee, and others. In 1999, the former Common Sense appeared on Rawkus Records's Soundbombing II compilation and the Wild Wild West soundtrack. He has toured with and appeared on the last two studio albums from the Roots. The 27-year-old artist's new collection, his fourth, is scheduled for a March 28 release.

-- Soren Baker, Los Angeles

Got news tips, comments, or questions? Send them to newstips@launch.com.