Common – Resurrection

Common – Resurrection is a cornerstone of 1990s Chicago hip hop and the album that transformed Common, then recording as Common Sense, into one of the era's most distinctive lyricists. Originally released in 1994, the record pairs thoughtful, sharply observed writing with the warm, jazz-inflected production of No I.D., creating a sound that was both deeply rooted in hip-hop tradition and strikingly individual.

At the centre of the album is I Used to Love H.E.R., Common's celebrated extended metaphor about hip hop itself. Widely regarded as one of the genre's great narrative songs, it demonstrated his ability to turn cultural commentary into vivid storytelling without losing rhythmic precision or personality. The title track Resurrection is equally important, combining an immediately memorable groove with Common's relaxed but technically assured delivery.

Across the record, Common balances introspection, humour, social observation and competitive MC energy. Tracks such as Watermelon, Book Of Life, In My Own World (Check The Method), Communism and Chapter 13 (Rich Man Vs. Poor Man) helped establish the album as a key document of alternative and conscious rap during a period dominated by very different regional sounds. No I.D.'s production gives the record cohesion throughout, using jazz, soul and funk textures without softening the beats.

This black-vinyl reissue presents the 15-track album in a straightforward LP edition and offers an ideal opportunity to revisit a record whose influence has only grown with time. For listeners exploring Common's catalogue, Chicago hip hop, jazz rap or the broader story of 1990s independent-minded rap, Resurrection remains one of the essential starting points.