Finally, a solid rap album that depicts a point of view where everybody aint getting' killed every few bars or verses. How 'bout an LP from the kind of Mc whose lyrics reflect a reality a little closer to your own, but still rocks shit. With previous records (released under the name Common Sense), Common demonstrated that he was one of the few Midwestern MC's to have a unique vision.

The Southsider doesn't hesitate to let you know that he has considerable technique, and in fact he sometimes displays too much of it for his own good (Electric Circus). The term classic is thrown around a lot by critics and fans who don't know what the hell the word means. However, Common's sixth album BE is the album few fans thought Common could ever make again, especially after listening to Electric Circus better known as A Hot Mess.

Through realizing his mistakes and swallowing his pride, Common has delivered one of the best performances of his career, but what keeps the album from being perfect? While there are no glaring missteps, one can find a few faults. One such error is the inclusion of the live version of 'The Food'as performed on The Dave Chapelle's Show. Kanye's hideous verse on 'They Say' will have you pressing the skip button after Common's opening verse. The rest of the album brings us from this past. While most rappers would turn this into a profanity-laced misogynistic diatribe, Common words it as more of a tribute to the unnamed lover, keeping things classy, even when discussing a threesome... as you can imagine, it 'Testify' showcases Common's storytelling skills, a courtroom drama that I won't reveal the twisted ending to, while Kanye's sample of Honey Comb's 'Innocent Til Proven Guilty of being the most addictive beat on the album. Every track contains a revelation.

A master story teller with an exacting eye for detail, Common drafts characters in these 11 songs that won't simply be. They grow , make choices and learn. With all their flaws and glory, they from the city and the Black community that he loves and wants to celebrate before the world. Common was desperately in need of a big comeback, and this Chi-town pairing with West has produced just that: a near classic.