I remember anxiously awaiting this album after hearing the Primo-produced "6th Sense". I thought it would be more along the lines of his last CD. I was way off...but that's a good thing.

Common has grown up on "Like Water For Chocolate" and made a CD that is the complete opposite of DMX, Jay-Z, and similar MCs. Instead of using hitmakers to produce the CD he used the capable hands of ?uestlove of The Roots (who exec. produced it), D'Angelo, Jay-Dee of The Ummah (one of the most underrated producers) and DJ Premier (technically a hitmaker but not really). Instead of tired and played out cliches he discusses the story of Assata Shakur (Song for Assata), pretends to be a socially-conscious pimp (A film called pimp), goes a little meta-physical (Time Travellin), expresses frustration with current hip hop (6th Sense), and even does a song tributing incense (Nag Champa).

As always his lyrics are excellent. The beats are innovative. Like The Roots, live instruments are used with horns, pianos, and bass in full supply. The CD has many influences from soul to Jazz (Time Travellin is a tribute to Fela Kuti). Despite all this, it still has roots firmly in hip hop as tracks like Doonit remind you.

All in all, this is Common's best CD in a long time. Some people will write it off as soon as they hear it. If you as a listener do, just listen to it again because this is a CD that gets better and better with every listen.

Before I purchased "Like Water For Chocolate" the only song I had heard from Common was 1-9-9-9. What drew me to buy this CD was that Common delivered a message in his songs that separated him from other artists currently out.

"Like Water For Chocolate" is truly a hip-hop classic. Common includes Jazz, Rap, and a meaningful message in his CD to help him tell his story. In this album Common shows the transition from the African drums, to Jazz, and then to Hip-Hop in the cut "Time Travelin'". This album kind of flows like a play with it's insightful stories. "The 6th Sense" is one of the best beats that D.J. Premier has ever created, while over this beat Common raps about life and music.

I recommend this CD to anyone who likes Black Star, Mos Def, The Roots, and A Tribe Called Quest. In fact one of my favorite songs on this album features Mos Def, its title is "The Questions". This is a good song to listen to when you just want to mellow out, and listen to what Mos Def and Common are saying. Originally I was going to give this album a 4 star, however after writing this review and remembering the songs I gave it a 5 star.

If you buy this album you will not be disappointed.

While anti-west coast and anti-east coast songs have thankfully dwindled with the recent insurgence of "country grammar" (southern rap music), coastal bias still permeates like poison throughout the rap world. Many rap music fans prejudge and "coastally categorize" rap artists before they even hear their albums. It's a crying shame! I mean, whatever happed to the days when you could buy an N.W.A. album and a Tribe Called Quest album on the same day? I mean, good music is good music, right? RIGHT?...RIGHT?

Well, those who disagree and prematurely dismiss Common as "another rapper with that east coast flow" are-in the words of E40-record haters. First of all, Common is not from the east coast. He is from the mid-west, and in his own words, "by Rakim and (Too) Short I've been inspired."

Common's "Like Water For Chocolate" is soul music at it's best. A classic album in the tradition of A Tribe Called Quest's "The Low End Theory" and De La Soul's "De La Soul is Dead," "Like Water for Chocolate is a musical journey though time. Appropriately, the first track is entitled "Time Travelin'." The song's jazz instrumentation along with the soulful voice of Vinjia Monica, methodically drags you into Common's world before Common blesses the microphone: "I was a piano player in my last lifetime/Now I write rhymes, sip white wine, and let my light shine..."

Incredibly, from here, the album only travels uphill. On "Cold-Blooded," one of the album's more rugged tracks that features Rahzel the Godfather of Noise (The Roots), pays homage to battle rhyme veteran Big Daddy Kane. Here, Common imitates Kane's multiple rhyming word style: "...tryin' to make our move through silence, and violence with vibrance." Two songs later, "Dooinit," makes you break your neck with it's "B-bump...B-bump to make your speakers pop." If this song doesn't get your blood flowing, the only explanation is a serious medical problem, which you need to address immediately (smile). After "Dooint," the album momentarily takes on more of a party vibe, but not in the traditional put-on-your-gold-fronts-and-ice sense. Rather, in "The Light," an instant radio hit, Common writes a letter to a love interest (Erykah Badu?), telling her that "love has no limit/ Let's spend a slow forever." Another party joint, "Funky for You," featuring the sultry singing of Bilal and Jill Scott, is sure to have even the hardest cats poppin' their collars in the hole in the wall clubs.

On socially conscious tracks like "The 6th Sense," "Ghetto Heaven II (featuring D'Angelo)," and "Nag Champa (Afrodisiac For The World)," Common skillfully intertwines hope, purpose, and street knowledge. Curiously, many criticize Common for being "too preachy," but do not accuse Mos Def, De La, or ATCQ for the same reason. Hmmmm. This is sad, because we are quick to criticize a rapper for being positive, but we don't criticize the Dr. Dre's and Juvenile's (I have both of their albums-good albums!-, so kill the noise) for being "too thugged out." Seriously, don't you think we need a LITTLE brake from gun popin' and SEXSEXSEX once in a while? You know, balance?

Anyway, in "Payback is a Grandmother," Common humorously takes on the role of detective (See a similar concept in the song "Stolen Moments" from his last CD, "One Day It'll All Make Sense") as he tries to figure out who robbed his grandmother on a riverboat. In another joint, "A Film Called Pimp" featuring MC Lyte (Remember, "You can Cha Cha Cha/ to this Mardi Gras/I'm the dopest MC that you've heard thus far..." Okay, I'm old school...) Common introduces us to his "righteous pimp" mentality-but I'll leave you the self satisfaction of uncovering the hidden concept in this one.

While all of the songs are solid and unique, my favorite songs are "A Song For Assata"-a jazzy # with a funky bass line in which Common gives a historical account of Black Panther Assata Shakur's stuggle against a corrupt US legal system-and the freestyle-esque "Thelonius" featuring Slum Village. Oh, And don't forget "Pop's Rap" on which Common let's his dad get loose with that old school rap!

If your ready to time travel back to a time when every song on your album had to be off the hinges, "Like Water For Chocolate" is the album for you.

On Common's fourth record, 'Like Water For Chocolate' he shines thoroughly through the fabric of Soul, Jazz, and Funk-inspired Hip-Hop. The native Chicago lyricist shares his deep experiences and opinions, but at the same time personifies the meaning of Mic Skills on tracks like 'Heat' and 'Thelonious'.

The first two singles, 'The Sixth Sense' (a college radio single) and 'The Light' (the Grammy-nominated love song-turned radio hit) landed Common in the top rankings of spiritually inclined, mic skilled, Jazzy styled-and somewhat conscious league of Hip-Hop MCs. While the album gives an inspiring tribute to the late African musician and revolutionary Fela Kuti ('Time Travelin'), redefined the definition of laid-back smooth Hip-Hop ('Nag Champa') and attacks the utter mindlessness of current mainstream Hip-Hop ('Dooinit'), it still has its flaws.

Common's super-spiritual content often contradicts his every now-and-then sprinklings of homophobic, sexually charged, and occasionally politically INcorrect content on 'race' in America in the words of his lyrics. His 'One Day' found maturity hardly leaves room for a balance between mature, progressive music and fun-loving, laid-back sounds within the same song. Not to mention the presence of Soul singer Bilal on way too many songs. Another fact is the Grammy nominee's stance on respect for women is sometimes overshadowed by male chauvinism and questionable themes. 'A Film Called (Pimp)' is a satirical ode to the hustle of "pimps N hoes." A duet with MC Lyte that may leave a bad taste in one's mouth after the first listen.

However, in essence, The Artist Formerly Known As Sense is merely channeling his different moods and attitudes towards life through various different tunes, showing he's as much human as anyone else (hence the name "Common"). Perhaps his less mature songs are merely meant to both stay connected with fans not on his level of spirituality and poeticism, and to serve purpose that there is a loose-skinned side of him which is not meant to be taken seriously (or at least not as much as his other material).

For all it's worth, Like Water For Chocolate is an excellent album. A witty, musical, and thoughtful record full of compassion and unity with guest spots from everyone from contemporary Jazz trumpeter Roy Horgrove, to Jill Scott, Slum Village (who's lead member Jay Dee produced the majority of the album), DJ Premier, The Roots and Hip-Hop's beatboxing and soundeffect extradonaire Rahzel. 'The Questions,' 'Funky For You,' 'Payback Is A Grandmother,' and a couple others are rather lackluster, but after hearing all the Interludes and soulful vibes of songs such as 'Geto Heaven Part Two' (the original version), and 'A Song For Assata' (a tribute to black panther Assata Shakur who is in political asylum in Cuba) it's all worth it.

In some ways, 'Like Water For Chocolate' could be the musical equivalent to a typical day. Funky joyfilled moments ('Coldblooded') to times of receiving and benefiting from knowledge from elders ('Pops Rap III'), to a moment of response and reaction to situations ('Payback Is A Grandmother') which is truly a factor for determining what is or isn't true art--an imitation of life.

I first came across this album a few years go from a friend of mine who had a copy. I remember I had recently been impressed by Talib Kweli & Hitek's Train Of thought so I thought I'd try listening to Common.

The 1st thing you notice about Common's style is his preference of Jazzy and funky beats. The 1st 3 tracks "Time Travellin', Heat, and Cold Blooded" are probably the low point of this album. The pace really picks up on "dooinit" where Common mesmerises us with his superb lyrical array.

Next is the 2nd Single of this album, "The Light". It's a beautifully crafted piece of music where Common is paying tribute to a woman. The next track is "Funky for you" with Jill Scott and Bilal on vocals. I'm really feeling this one, and Common's unusual stuttering and repetition of the "uh" sound is rather amusing.

Mos Def drops in on the next track "The questions", where him and Common are exchanging witty questions. It could've been better, but production let's it down. The 1st real gem on this album is next, "The sixth Sense", also the album's 1st single , is a great DJ Premier-produced track. Great scratches and loops by Premier lays a great platform for Common to lay down his lyrics. He doesn't dissapoint us, plus Bilal is great on the hook too.

A rather forgetable collaboration with MC Lyte is next. Basically "Film Called (Pimp)" is a conversation between a pimp (Common) and a hooker (MC Lyte). My favourite track is next though. "Nag Champa (Afrodisiac for the World)" finds Common deep in personal introspection over a smooth beat. He then does a collaboration with Slum Village called "Thelonius" which is a pretty decent track.

Common then drops the albums's 2 other gems after a track called "Payback is a grandmother". The 1st of these is a great track with D'Angelo over a soulful, melancholy, and almost reminscent beat. "Geto Heaven" is beautifully delivered, with Common showing his religeous side. The 2nd of these gems is an ode to the exiled, Assata Shakur. It's aptly named "A Song For Assata" and it features Cee-lo on vocals. Common's storytelling will leave you breathless........

The first 3 tracks of this album don't do justice to an otherwise exceptional album, but it's still worth 4.5 stars though!!!