Universal Mind Control (Explicit Version) CD

MUSIC

RAP / HIP-HOP

Song Listing

Disc 1

Song Title

1. Universal Mind Control (UMC) ~ Common

2. Punch Drunk Love - (featuring Kanye West) ~ Common

3. Make My Day ~ Common

4. Sex 4 Suga ~ Common

5. Announcement - (featuring Pharrell Williams) ~ Common

6. Gladiator ~ Common

7. Changes ~ Common

8. Inhale ~ Common

9. What A World ~ Common

10. Everywhere - (featuring Martina Topley-Bird) ~ Common

Album Notes and Credits

Notes & Personnel Info
	Common has done this sort of thing before--namely, coming up with a record so different in tone and musical style it confounds fans and critics alike. The unchecked experimentation on ELECTRIC CIRCUS had his public polarized and left some wondering if Common's future work would be anything like hip-hop. This time around, on his eighth LP, the Chi-town lyricist once again bucks expectations, with 10 tracks of Bambaataa-esque electro courtesy of the Neptunes and Mr. DJ. This is original hip-hop--as Pharrell's "Planet Rock"-inspired hook on the opening title cut should proclaim loud and clear for those old enough to remember. On the lyrical front, Common is as captivating as ever. In between the lusty club-bangers and throw-your-hands-up anthems, he comes correct with a lofty, extended-metaphor take on the Obama era ("Changes") and an inspired homage to Biggie ("Announcement (Sped Up)"), where he and Pharrell rework some of the notorious one's most memorable lines.
Musical Guests
	Kanye West
	Cee-Lo Green
	Pharrell Williams
	Muhsinah
	Martina Topley-Bird

Entertainment Reviews

	Common - Universal Mind Control - CD Review By: Jordan Richardson Blogcritics.org Reviews Published on: 1/13/2009 6:54 AM
Common’s Universal Mind Control is the consequence of one of hip-hop’s truly intellectual minds listening to one too many Will Smith records. Designed for the summer but released in December 2008, Common’s eighth record is an odd compilation of Neptunes-produced cuts....read the full review

Compilation Appearances

	Stakes Is High
	Brown Sugar
	College Dropout (Explicit Version)
	College Dropout (Clean)
	Beautiful Struggle (Explicit Version)
	Late Registration (Explicit Version)
	Flo' Ology
	Rising Tied (Explicit Version)
	Freedom Writers (Explicit Version)
	Introducing Joss Stone
	Definitive Collection
	Rising Down(Explicit Version)
	LAX
	LAX
	Essence Music Festival Volume 1
	Theater Of The Mind(Explicit Version)
	Lines Vines And Trying Times
	Man On The Moon:End Of Day (Explicit Version)
	Go:best Of Common(Explicit Version)
	Go:best Of Common
	Good Music Cruel Summer(Explicit Version)
	2k6 Tracks
	Rising Tied (Explicit Version)
	Home Grown Guide To Understanding V1(Explicit Version)
	LAX (Clean)
	Jesus Piece
	Jesus Piece(Explicit Version)
	Jesus Piece(Explicit Version)
	King (Explicit Version)

Associated Artists and Works

	T.I.
	King [PA] [Limited] ~ T.I.

Technical Info

	Release Date : 12/09/2008
	Original Release Date : 2008
	Catalog ID : B-001198602
	Label : Geffen
	Number of Discs : 1
	Studio/Live : Studio
	Mono/Stereo : Stereo
	SPAR Code : n/a
	UPC : 00602517836914

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (p.94)
- 3 stars out of 5 -- "[R]ap's deep thinker wanted to make club bangers. So he got the Neptunes to shape this sexed-up set."

Spin (p.102)
- 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Common dazzles with the back-to-the-future motif 'What a World'....UNIVERSAL MIND is primarily a a rhythmic celebration, paying tribute to Afrika Bambaataa and Jonzun Crew jams."

Billboard (p.45)
- "'Announcement' benefits from a slinky beat that lets the MC breathe....'Gladiator' is a great old-school brag rhyme..."

XXL (Magazine)
(p.105)
- "Promptly starting the party, Common spaces out to futuristic synths on the lively title track, a frantic, genre-blurring adrenaline rush..."

Mojo (Publisher)
(p.106)
- 3 stars out of 5 -- "Cee-Lo collaboration 'Make My Day' is winningly dreamy, and both mixes of Kanye-duet 'Punch Drunk Love' 'make for fine, treacly bedroom music."

BloomReach Content

Universal Mind Control (Explicit Version) (2008)

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