Here's the rewrite with the lyrics unchanged:
Common and Pete Rock have long since established their legendary status in Hip Hop. Common has been diversifying his portfolio, starring in the John Wick series and Oscar-nominated films like Selma, even clinching an Academy Award for Best Song, a rare feat among rappers. Alongside his acting, he's kept his musical roots alive with soul and R&B-infused albums like Let Love and the A Beautiful Revolution series. These projects, while satisfying for his core fans, didn't particularly stir the wider Hip Hop scene. Pete Rock, on the other hand, continued to produce for artists like Westside Gunn and Busta Rhymes while maintaining his Petestrumentals series. However, his last collaborative LP with a rapper was Retropolitan with Skyzoo back in 2019. The announcement of The Auditorium collaboration piqued interest among hardcore fans, but what could these seasoned veterans bring to the rap game in 2024?
Review
The Auditorium Vol. 1 (with Vol. 2 slated for 2025) delivers a masterclass in precision and nostalgia, uniquely achievable by two boom bap luminaries. This album, distinct from Common's less adventurous recent works in its psychedelic soul and lyrical depth, doesn't aim to redefine the artists or the current Hip Hop scene. Instead, it presents a refined vision of the era that made them icons. They kick off with "Dreamin", a track that's all about reminiscing, set against Pete Rock's trumpet samples and Aretha Franklin's voice.
The line between a clever punchline and a cheesy one is often subjective, as seen with Common's notorious "Remote .... Control" on Kanye West's "Get Em High". Here, Common revisits this playful lyricism on "Chi-Town Do It", where he courts a girl with numerous punchlines that navigate this delicate balance. Common's approach is to pack his verses with as much wordplay as possible, an approach that feels somewhat refreshing in the current landscape. His commanding delivery and conversational yet bold flow make potentially awkward lines sound smooth and engaging.
Pete Rock's production on this album dives deep into soul, echoing the classic black music of their formative years, with samples from icons like Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, Loleatta Hathaway, and speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. He refreshes these samples with his signature hard-hitting drums and basslines, reminiscent of his work from the '90s and '00s. Collaborators like Jennifer Hudson, PJ, and Bilal add contemporary vocals, bridging the gap between past and present.
On "Wise Up", sampling MC Shan, Pete crafts a quintessential boom bap beat for Common to deliver some seasoned wisdom. The intensity peaks on "Stellar", with Common and Pete bending the sounds of Main Source to new heights, culminating in a memorable performance with Pete's scratches on the outro. Whether it's tracks for the mature listener about love or boasting of their vast experience, The Auditorium celebrates Hip Hop's roots and spirit.
Pete Rock even steps to the mic on "All Kinds of Ideas", and De La Soul's Posdnous graces "When the Sun Shines Again", but Common remains the lyrical focal point, with Pete sculpting the sonic landscape. The album's final full track, "Now and Then", transitions from nostalgia to the present, sampling both Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech and De La Soul's "I Am I Be". Here, Common reflects on his journey and rap's evolution, making The Auditorium a testament to Hip Hop's history, reimagined for today by two of its master craftsmen.
Key Lyrics
It's pentatonic the way that I be bendin' phonicsIt was written like I'm livin' in a sonnetThey marvel at me like I'm in a comicIron sharpens iron, man, it's ironic - "Stellar"
On the streets, I cross young boy saviorsWhat destroyed the player—the bullet or the favor?I'm the Spike Lee MajorsGot six million ways to get our forty acresAs the Lord remake us, the ownersThe onus is on us - "Now and Then"
What would hip-hop be? I'm countin' my presence ("Hey")Resilience in my resonance, the brilliance in my eleganceDeveloped with the elements and compounds to shape who we are nowOrder steps, the ladder ain't as far nowWe the sun, moon and star now, on the precipice - "We're on Our Way"
