Finding Forever

by 
AlbumJul 31 / 200712 songs, 49m 56s
Conscious Hip Hop
Popular

When Common and Kanye West link up, they bring out each other’s soulful sides. The eight tracks Kanye produces on *Finding Forever* are full of vintage samples, crooning gospel choirs, and fresh R&B hooks, all of which beautifully underpin Common’s thoughtful rhymes. Consider “Drivin’ Me Wild,” on which a couple’s love affair is scored by splashy hi-hats and tinkling piano chords. Just as sweet is “So Far to Go,” a lush, laidback collaboration with D’Angelo produced by the late J Dilla.

5.6 / 10

Common and Kanye West continue the sound of 2005's solid comeback Be with a follow-up that attempts to inject it with a bit of Dilla-fied Soulquarians style.

B

With 2002's Electric Circus, Common rocketed deliriously into the outer limits of sonic experimentation, at least as far as major-label hip-hop is concerned. On 2005's Be, he returned triumphantly to Earth with a sound as intimate and soothing as a warm bath after a hard day's work. Now comes Finding Forever, another…

Check out our album review of Artist's Finding Forever on Rolling Stone.com.

In "The People," Common rhymes "My daughter found Nemo/I found the new Primo," yet it is the late J Dilla -- not DJ Premier -- who is emulated by Kanye West throughout Finding Forever.

<p>Instead of reinventing himself once again, hip hop's Hogarth has built on the success of his last album. <strong>Steve Yates</strong> is overjoyed.</p>

Finding Forever is something to be admired, even if it is uneven.

8 / 10

2.5 / 5

Common - Finding Forever review: An imitative, soulful mess. Fans will probably forget this is a Common album by the third or fourth track and it’s probably for the better.

CD choice: Hip-Hop