Common Makes A Summer Jam With Pharrell? Whuh?
ARTIST: Common SONG TITLE: “Universal Mind Control (feat. Pharrell)” WEB DEBUT: May 22, 2008
ONE-LISTEN VERDICT How did Pharrell keep this beat away from Madonna? It’s his best in a while–electro-dance that makes me want to put some cardboard out on the sidewalk and practice my moves. (Anybody want to school me on the source?) Common’s staid, cheesy flow even fits the retro “yes, yes, y’all” vibe. This is easily the most immediately likable track I’ve ever heard from Common, possibly because it’s the first one where the beat grabbed my attention before the lyric, without being Kanye bombast.
WHERE TO HEAR IT: Hip-Hop DX has a stream, Rap-Up has a download, and the track’s starting to pop up on YouTube.
