Common Remixes Solange’s "Cranes in the Sky"

Since it’s release last month, Solange Knowles‘ number one album A Seat At The Table has been giving new life to the female empowerment movement that her older sister Beyoncé powered with Lemonade (and, frankly, every other release prior to that). One of the standout tracks on the project is the airy, soulful “Cranes In The Sky”, which (presumably) sees Solange being open about negative feelings brought on by being a Black woman in America during today’s troubling times. How amazing that the track was birthed almost a decade prior to A Seat At The Table‘s release, as she revealed via social media:

It was 8 years ago [when co-producer Raphael Saadiq] handed me a cd with a few instrumentals. One was just drums, strings, and bass. I went home and wrote “Cranes” that night in my hotel room.

When I finished writing and creating #aseatatthetable in a little house in New Iberia, Louisiana…I revisited “Cranes” once again. …I am so happy 8 years later Cranes is finally out in the world.

In addition to an equally-beautiful visual, “Cranes” has since spurred notable remixes from others: one being from Canadian producer KAYTRANADA, who premiered his much-funkier edit on his Soundcloud account (you can enjoy that here). Even more recently, Chicago rap veteran Common has decided to add some bars to the track as well, blessing the opening part of “Cranes” with one of his most powerful and personal verses to date:

I used to wear my heart open like Ethereal Rose
Now I’m carrying loads of baggage I don’t claim
If she start tripping I’m hopping on the plane
Cranes in the sky, I know how the metal sound
I never settled in life so it’s hard to settle down…

Check out Common’s (unofficial) take on Solange’s “Cranes In The Sky” below. In related news, he’ll be releasing his new album Black America Again November 4th.

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Jon Powell

Currently working as Senior Editor of RESPECT. Magazine, I (Jon Powell) have 10 years experience in digital and print media -- this includes writing, photography and video editing production. I have worked extensively in Washington, D.C. and London, England and specialise in urban music and culture.