After Common came out, people had to really pay attention to Chicago and give them dudes their props. Few emcees, from any region, can go bar-for-bar with Common and this has been the case for well over twenty years. Even Jay-Z admitted that he wanted to rap in a fashion similar to Common.
Delivering something that was refreshing in the middle of the gangsta rap era, Common showed he was unafraid to go at anyone. His “I Used To Love H.E.R.” track was perceived as a diss to Ice Cube and he ended up beefing with him. This was something that ended up becoming a longstanding, classic, beef.
Common is doing his media rounds in promotion of Nobody Smiling, his new album, and DJ Whoo Kid also talked to him. Going to see him at Shade 45, Common talked about the new Chicago hip hop movement and the new album. He also spoke on the twentieth anniversary of “I Used To Love H.E.R.,” No I.D., and much more.
