Music Review: @Common – Nobody’s Smiling

Chicago has been in the news quite often nowadays. Yet, it is rarely for anything positive. With school closings, consistent gun violence over the weekends, and harsh poverty, things have not been looking good. Either exaggerated or not, there are some things that a Chicago emcee has to capture about the present condition. Common takes the time to do this on Nobody’s Smiling with impressive results.

Topically, Common keeps it close to the theme of the album: hard times in the inner city (of Chicago). “The Neighborhood” relishes over the existence of the hood through Common and the exemplary delivery of Lil Herb. “Out on Bond” relegates a story from the perspective of a man out on bond and what he sees. Even the soulful chant on “Kingdom” makes one focus on Blackness and the music made to heal the soul. Thus, Common did not waste any effort or focus on this album.

With an effective use of samples, live singing, and original concoctions, No ID made some great music on this album. Whether it is the sparse production of “Speak My Piece” to the anthem like inclusion of “Kingdom”, he makes sure that the track fits the ideal of the lyrics. The drum pattern and sampling/instrumentals on “Young Hearts Run Free” makes it all work when Common rhymes and James Fauntleroy sings.

Ironically, Common drops one of the sleeper albums of 2014. As dope as it is, it will more than likely be ignored by the majority of the mainstream. Still, this album is an exemplary example of what is happening in the hood of Chicago and Everywhere-else, USA. Hopefully, people will realize why, in the urban landscape of America, nobody’s smiling.