:''For the album by Pain of Salvation, see Be (Pain of Salvation album)''

{{Infobox Album |
| Name = Be
| Type = Album
| Artist = Common
| Cover = Bealbum.jpg
| Released = May 24, 2005 (U.S.)
| Recorded = 2004-2005: Sony Music Studios, New York, NY; Encore Studios, Burbank, CA; Pay Jay, Clinton TWP, MI
| Genre = Hip hop
| Length = 42:43
| Label = G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen Records
| Producer = Kanye West
J Dilla
| Reviews =
  • ''AllHipHop.com'' link

  • All Music Guide link

  • ''Blender'' link

  • IGN link

  • Okayplayer link

  • Pitchfork Media (8.6/10) link

  • RapReviews.com link

  • Rolling Stone link

  • Soul Dungeon link

  • ThaHipHop.Com link

  • The Source link

  • XXL Magazine XXL


    • | Last album = ''Electric Circus''
    (2002)
    | This album = ''Be''
    (2005)
    | Next album = ''Finding Forever''
    (2007)
    }}

    ''Be'' is a 2005 album by rapper Common, produced by Kanye West and J Dilla. The album reached a peak of #2 on the Billboard 200 pop albums chart, and became Common's second album to sell over 500,000 copies. Currently it has sold 800,000.http://www.freshhiphopnews.com/common-kanye-new-album-finding-forever/ Nevertheless, ''Entertainment Weekly'''s Tim Stack describes it as "a critical success without blockbuster sales." Common released ''Be'' under West's record label, GOOD Music, and West produced 9 of the 11 songs off the album ("Love Is..." and "It's Your World" are both produced by J Dilla). Containing 11 tracks and spanning about 42 minutes, ''Be'' is Common's shortest album. Common considers it and ''Like Water for Chocolate'' to be his favorite albums.

    Overview
    Title significance
    As Common said in a 2005 interview with SixShot.com: "I named it ''Be'' to be who you are man and be able to be in the moment and not try too hard. ''Be'' is another way of saying just do without trying hard, like I said natural and be true to the core of who you are and this album I wanted to just be and not just go and exist as just an artist not worried about the past." In an interview with AllHipHop.com, Common reiterated the same point and denied that the album title stood for "Before Erykah."

    Background
    ''Be'' was touted as Common's comeback album after the commercially disastrous ''Electric Circus''. His new alliance with Kanye West helped to spark public interest in the project. Nas's debut album ''Illmatic'' was the biggest influence on ''Be''. The results show that Common was clearly aware, and perhaps agreeing, with the negative criticisms about ''Electric Circus''. In comparison to that album, ''Be'' is lean, immediate, and commanding, yet also restrained in its musical ambitions. Many believe it to be his safest album. Of the reaction to the album, the rapper said: "I don't think Electric Circus was as focused. Though I'd done some progressive hip-hop, people know me as the b-boy. When I showed them something different, a different style of b-boy, there were like, "Hold up. You can be Afrocentric, but what's this rock shit that you're doing?"http://www.popmatters.com/music/interviews/common-050921.shtml

    Singles
    ==="The Corner"===

    Common gave his reasons for featuring controversial spoken word recording artists, The Last Poets, on the album's first official single, "The Corner": "They gifted at writing. They voices is incredible. They took my song to a higher level. And that's what hip-hop was about to me. It would have a message. It would take you to the next place. It was fresh as people say -- something new. They brought newness to what "The Corner" was and they also brought some nostalgia, too. Just them being from the '70s and being used in hip-hop and their spirit brought something pure to it. They gave me a better understanding of the corner after that. I knew those who had been listening to hip-hop would know who the Last Poets were and if they didn't they would feel it in their souls sooner or later. And I also felt good about introducing some of the youth to the Last Poets."http://www.popmatters.com/music/interviews/common-050921.shtml

    ==="Go!"===
    "Go" was the album's second, and highest charting single. The song featured Kanye West and John Mayer, however all the verses are performed by Common. The song continued Common's now apparent "ladies' man" persona, which began with 2000's "The Light", and 2002's "Come Close". The video for the song included shots of Common surrounded by numerous models.

    ==="Testify"===

    The album's third single, "Testify" received a type of promotional video known as a "mini-movie"; a term coined by Michael Jackson to describe a music video with a complex plot and a suitably long running time, often with intermissions between the song's parts. The video featured acting parts from Taraji P. Henson, Bill Duke, Steve Harris, and Wood Harris, and received notable spins on specialist channels such as MTV2. The song samples "Innocent Until Proven Guilty" by Honey Cone.

    Reception
    Critical
    ''Q'' considers ''Be'' to be Common's best album.http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/common/be Common's lyrics on ''Be'' earned him the Lyricist of the Year award at the 2006 BET Hip Hop Awards.

    Grammy Nominations

    ''Be'' was nominated for four 2006 Grammy Awards:

  • Best Rap Album, for ''Be''


  • Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, for "The Corner" (featuring The Last Poets) (from ''Be'')


  • Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, for "They Say" (featuring Kanye West and John Legend) (from ''Be'')


  • Best Rap Song, for writing "Testify" (from ''Be'')


    • Accolades
    Information is taken from AcclaimedMusic.net.


    |-
    !Publication
    !Country
    !Accolade
    !Year
    !align="center"|Rank
    |-
    |''Aftenposten''
    |Norway
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#18
    |-
    |All Music Guide
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|

    • |-
    |Amazon.com
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#37
    |-
    |''Associated Press''
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#7
    |-
    |B92
    |Serbia
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#7
    |-
    |''Billboard''
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#5
    |-
    |''Dagbladet''
    |Norway
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#13
    |-
    |''Dagsavisen''
    |Norway
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#18
    |-
    |E!Online
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#17
    |-
    |''Expressen''
    |Sweden
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#17
    |-
    |''Go-Mag''
    |Spain
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#17
    |-
    |''H Magazine''
    |Spain
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|

    • |-
    |''HARP''
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#33
    |-
    |''Hip Hop Connection''
    |UK
    |''The 100 Greatest Rap Albums 1995-2005''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#69
    |-
    |''Iguana''
    |Spain
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#3
    |-
    |''Laut''
    |Germany
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#42
    |-
    |''Monitor''
    |Croatia
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#34
    |-
    |''Musik-Express/Sounds''
    |Germany
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#36
    |-
    |''Musikbyrån''
    |Sweden
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#12
    |-
    |''Natt & Dagg''
    |Norway
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#14
    |-
    |''OOR''
    |Netherlands
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#12
    |-
    |People.com
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|

    • |-
    |Piccadilly Records
    |UK
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#4
    |-
    |PopMatters
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#12
    |-
    |Prefix Magazine
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#19
    |-
    |''Pure Pop''
    |Mexico
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#5
    |-
    |''Q''
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#42
    |-
    |''Rock de Lux''
    |Spain
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#9
    |-
    |''Rolling Stone''
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#21
    |-
    |''Spex''
    |Germany
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#12
    |-
    |''Spin''
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#17
    |-
    |''The Observer''
    |UK
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#25
    |-
    |''The Village Voice''
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#15
    |-
    |''URB''
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|

    • |-
    |''VIBE''
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|

    • |-
    |''WOXY''
    |USA
    |''Albums of the Year''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#58
    |-
    |''Zundfunk''
    |Germany
    |''Albums of the Year ''
    |2005
    |align="center"|#22


    Track listing


    |-
    !align="center"|#
    !align="center" width="150"|Title
    !align="center" width="50"|Length
    !align="center" width="150"|Songwriters
    !align="center" width="150"|Producer(s)
    !align="center" width="200"|Performer (s)
    !align="center" width="200"|Sample
    |-
    |1
    |"Be (Intro)"
    |2:24
    |Lonnie Lynn
    Kanye West
    Caesar Frazier
    |Kanye West
    |Common
    James Poyser (keyboards)
    Derick Hodge (acoustic bass)
    |
  • Contains samples from "Sweet Children" by Caesar Frazier

  • Contains samples from "Mother Nature" by Albert Jones

    • |-
    |2
    |"The Corner"
    |3:45
    |Lonnie Lynn
    Kanye West
    Abiodun Oyewole
    Umar Bin Hassan
    Leon Moore
    |Kanye West
    |Common
    Kanye West
    The Last Poets
    |
  • Contains samples from "You Make the Sun Shine" by The Temprees

    • |-
    |3
    |"Go!"
    |3:44
    |Lonnie Lynn
    Kanye West
    John Mayer
    Linda Lewis
    |Kanye West
    |Common
    John Mayer
    Kanye West
    DJ A-Trak (scratches)
    Num Amuntehu (percussion)
    |
  • Contains samples from "Old Smokey" by Linda Lewis

    • |-
    |4
    |"Faithful"
    |3:33
    |Lonnie Lynn
    Kanye West
    Dewayne Julius Rogers
    |Kanye West
    |Common
    Bilal
    John Legend
    James Poyser (keyboards)
    Ken Lewis (sample recreation)
    |
  • Contains samples from "Faithful to the End" by DJ Rogers

    • |-
    |5
    |"Testify"
    |2:36
    |Lonnie Lynn
    Kanye West
    Angelo Bond
    General Johnson
    Gregory Perry
    |Kanye West
    |Common
    |
  • Contains samples from "Innocent Til Proven Guilty" by Honey Cone

    • |-
    |6
    |"Love Is..."
    |4:10
    |Lonnie Lynn
    James Yancey
    Anne Gaye
    Marvin Gaye
    James Nyx
    Elgie Stover
    |J Dilla
    |Common
    Luna E
    James Poyser (all instruments)
    |
  • Contains samples from "God Is Love" by Marvin Gaye

    • |-
    |7
    |"Chi-City"
    |3:27
    |Lonnie Lynn
    Kanye West
    Eddie Cornelius
    |Kanye West
    |Common
    Kanye West
    DJ A-Trak (scratches)
    DJ Dummy (scratches)
    |
  • Contains samples from "Since I Found My Baby" by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose

    • |-
    |8
    |"The Food (Live)"
    |3:36
    |Lonnie Lynn
    Kanye West
    Sam Cooke
    Stanley McKenney
    Eugene Record
    |Kanye West
    |Common
    Dave Chappelle
    Kanye West
    DJ Dummy (scratches)
    |
  • Contains samples from "I Never Had It So Good" by The Chi-Lites

  • Contains samples from "Nothing Can Change This Love" by Sam Cooke

    • |-
    |9
    |"Real People"
    |2:48
    |Lonnie Lynn
    Kanye West
    Ceasar J. Frazier
    |Kanye West
    |Common
    |
  • Contains samples from "Sweet Children" by Ceasar Frazier

    • |-
    |10
    |"They Say"
    |3:57
    |Lonnie Lynn
    Kanye West
    John Legend
    Thomas Bell
    Linda Epstein
    |Kanye West
    |Common
    John Legend
    Kanye West
    |
  • Contains samples from "Ghetto Child" by Ahmad Jamal

    • |-
    |11
    |"It's Your World (Part 1 & 2)"
    |14:01
    |Lonnie Lynn
    James Yancey
    James Poyser
    Karriem Riggins
    Lonnie "Pops" Lynn
    Robert Curington
    Willie Lestor
    |J Dilla
    James Poyser (co-producer)
    Karriem Riggins (co-producer)
    |Common
    Bilal
    Lonnie Pops Lynn
    "The Kids"
    Kanye West (keyboards)
    James Poyser (keyboards and strings)
    Karriem Riggins (percussion)
    |
  • Contains samples from "Share What You Got" by The Modulation



    • Album singles

    ! Single information
    |-
    |align="left"|"The Food"
  • Released: October 8, 2004

  • B-side:

    • |-
    |align="left"|"The Corner"
  • Released: March 1, 2005

  • B-side:

    • |-
    |align="left"|"GO!"
  • Released: June 14, 2005

  • B-side: "Chi-City"

    • |-
    |align="left"|"Testify"
  • Released: September 27, 2005

  • B-side:

    • |-
    |align="left"|"Faithful"
  • Released: September 27, 2005

  • B-side: "Chi City"



    • Although not officially released as a single, "Be" received a video treatment from Paul Hunter.http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=41768

    Chart positions
    Album

    |rowspan="2"| Year
    |rowspan="2"| Album
    |colspan="3"| Chart positions
    |-

    | Billboard 200
    | Top Canadian Albums
    | Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
    |-
    | 2005
    | ''Be''
    | #2
    | #10
    | #1
    |-
    | 2006
    | ''Be''
    |
    |
    | #1


    Singles

    !align="left" valign="top"|Year
    !align="left" valign="top"|Single
    !align="left" valign="top"|Chart
    !align="left" valign="top"|Position
    |-
    |align="left" valign="top"|2005
    |align="left" valign="top"|"Go!"
    |align="left" valign="top"|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks
    |align="left" valign="top"|31
    |-
    |align="left" valign="top"|2005
    |align="left" valign="top"|"Go!"
    |align="left" valign="top"|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks
    |align="left" valign="top"|46
    |-
    |align="left" valign="top"|2005
    |align="left" valign="top"|"Go!"
    |align="left" valign="top"|Hot Rap Tracks
    |align="left" valign="top"|21
    |-
    |align="left" valign="top"|2005
    |align="left" valign="top"|"Go!"
    |align="left" valign="top"|The Billboard Hot 100
    |align="left" valign="top"|79
    |-
    |align="left" valign="top"|2005
    |align="left" valign="top"|"Go!"
    |align="left" valign="top"|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks
    |align="left" valign="top"|68
    |-
    |align="left" valign="top"|2005
    |align="left" valign="top"|"Testify"
    |align="left" valign="top"|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks
    |align="left" valign="top"|44
    |-
    |align="left" valign="top"|2005
    |align="left" valign="top"|"The Corner"
    |align="left" valign="top"|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks
    |align="left" valign="top"|42
    |-
    |align="left" valign="top"|2005
    |align="left" valign="top"|"The Corner"
    |align="left" valign="top"|Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks
    |align="left" valign="top"|64
    |-


    Unused Tracks
  • My Way Home (produced by Kanye West) (appears as a Common solo track on Kanye West's album Late Registration)


    • Trivia
  • Many of the beats by Kanye that Common rejected for this project appeared on the Kanye West album Late Registration


    • References




    External links
  • XXL Calls 'Be' a Classic

  • Common Hoping To Get Kanye To Work On His New Album Tentatively Titled Finding Forever

    • Category:2005 albums
    Category:Common albums
    Category:Geffen Records albums

    da:Be
    pl:Be (album)