Common in NYC. 09/25/2009
 
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Common Rockin' The Crowd
Danielle & I had planned a trip to New York City and found out that Common was going to be having a show while we were there. Common is one of Danielle’s FAVORITE artists and I have never seen him perform live before so we snatched up a couple tickets!

(I think Danielle and I went on our NYC trip at a good time because it was during the VH1 Hip Hop Honors awards and by coincidence we ended up partying alongside Busta Rhymes + Spliff, Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Grand Puba, DJ Red Alert, Keri Hilson and T.I.)

The show was at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square and it was perhaps the best Venue to host Common (well, besides Madison Square Garden). The energy coming off from the audience is one you couldn’t compare – it seems like the concert goers in the USA are a lot more hype than us Vancouver-folk...
 
 

With Common coming down to Deer Lake Park in Burnaby for Rock The Bells on Aug 1st, I’m reminded of last year’s concert with N.E.R.D. at Stanley Park – one of the most live outdoor hiphop shows I’ve ever been to in large part because it was in our very own hometown. Vancouver hasn’t had a huge share of concerts like this and the fact that we didn’t have to go through a Customs interrogation or half a days travel costing a full days wage, made it extra dope to have him there in our backyard. A set complete with a marquis, bar & bartender, cocktails, and some ‘exterior-night-club’ voice-overs, he never fails to deliver a whole experience and on behalf of my fellow Vancity fans…thanks Common, for the experience!

As a side note for the ladies, I want to share his video for “Come Close” off the less commercially appreciated Electric Circus LP, featuring Mary J. Blige, produced by the Neptunes (need I say more?). It’s just a plain old sweet slow jam that I also find reminiscent of the old rap ballads a la LL Cool J & Heavy D. The video is cinematic and tells a complete story in a clever way that also tugs at your heartstrings.

Peep the clip here.

- Lei Tolosa