Snoh Aalegra, a Sweden native is an refreshing introspective artist/songwriter who recently teamed up with legendary producer, No I.D. for her six track EP, There Will Be Sunshine.
The first visual for the album, “Bad Things” features Common over a soulful No I.D. production.

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Dion “No I.D.” Wilson has been making waves in the music industry. In a press release today, Def Jam Recordings announced that No I.D. has been promoted to executive vice president in charge of all A&R activities, reporting directly to Def Jam CEO Steve Bartels and continuing to manage his own label, ARTium Records.  This is a step up the totem pole for No I.D. who previously held the co-head position at A&R.

Throughout his career as a producer, No I.D. has worked with the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Nas, Drake, and Method Man. This year alone, No I.D. has been responsible for some of the biggest projects, like Logic’s Under Pressure and Common’s Nobody Smiling. 

In an interview with Billboard, Bartels said, “”In a year where Def Jam has established such new artists as Iggy Azalea, Jhene Aiko, YG, and August Alsina, no one is better suited to creatively represent and expertly guide our label moving forward than No I.D.” Confident that the executive/producer is the best man for the job he continued, He is not only a proven hitmaker and creative thinker, but he is a bold leader who is well respected by both the artists and executives alike. Together, we are posed for even greater levels of success.”

No I.D. agreed with him: “The Def Jam brand has never been more culturally relevant,” he said. “And our vision remains the same as it was when Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons launched the label 30 years ago; and that is simply to be the best. Steve Bartels and I are fully committed to carry that vision and standard for excellence into the future.”

The promotion was not the only news bomb Def Jam dropped. It was also announced that Kyambo “Hip Hop” Joshua, No I.D.’s former co-head at A&R, has created a unnamed boutique imprint within Def Jam—signees to which will be placed with Def Jam or Caroline. Hip Hop told Billboard, “”I look forward to getting back to what I do best, and that is having the time and resources to seek out and discover the greatest, and most unique musical talent the world has to offer. Launching my own boutique label and having the power and support of Def Jam is the ideal situation for me and my artists.”

Best of luck to No. I.D. with the new position!

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Blake is currently signed to No I.D.‘s ARTium imprint, and No I.D. himself actually executive produced the EP. Blake spoke of No I.D.’s involvement in a  recent interview on RapUp: “You can expect No I.D. at his finest. He’s pushing it. I think everybody’s heard him do stuff for Common and Kanye, like the edgy hip-hop stuff, but this time they’ll really get a glimpse of No I.D. doing some cool, progressive R&B, soulful production.”

Cool and soulful are the perfect modifiers to describe this EP. The tracks are smooth and deep, booming beats intermixed with jungle drums and longing cries from Blake. J. Cole lended his talents on “Vendetta,” the only collaborative track on the release. Cole’s calm, confident verses fit in perfect with Blake’s wistful and powerful falsetto. There’s something undeniably sexy about Blake, sort of like if Chris Brown and The Weeknd made a sound baby. But what’s most interesting is that no two songs on this release sound the same. Cut to “Imagination,” which has a real country feel to it.

You can stream the full EP here, and also check out Blake’s lusty video for “Strange Fruit.”

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Common recruits Vince Staples and Jay Electronica for the “Kingdom” remix from his album, Nobody’s Smiling. The Chi-town rapper first released the song this past Sunday at Chicago’s AAAH! Festival. The powerful remix, produced by No I.D, features superb verses from all three rappers but it’s Jay Electronica’s verse that sticks out the most. Listen to the song below and let us know what you think.

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Jhene Aiko‘s long awaited debut album, Souled Out, is now available for stream just a week before its due date. Jhene has been heavily promoting the album with the release of an EP, Sail Out and playing this year’s hottest festivals and tours. The album primarily is produced by No I.D. and features Cocaine 80’s, Common and her daughter, Namiko. Stream Souled Out via iTunes. Tell us what you think and if you will be purchasing the album once it drops!

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Common visited Power 105.1 and chatted with the Breakfast Club this morning. He touched on the never-ending violence in Chicago, the city’s latest rap talent, his new album,  No I.D. and more. Watch it below and stream Nobody’s Smiling, as well, via Spotify. The album is available now.

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Socially conscious rap is scarce. That is, until an introspective lyricist shows up to remind us that it still exists. When they do, they come with hopes of schooling listeners on the world’s forgotten problems that have been placed on the back burner in favor of redundant lyrics and label gimmicks. As a reminder, though, Common is back. He has always served as a lyricist that can elevate and enlighten the culture and whatever producer he teams up with at the time, seeks to bring superior production to accompany him. When Common releases content, expect to be made consciously aware of an array of topics in the almost forgotten realm of socially conscious rap.

On July 22, Common will release his 10^th studio album Nobody’s Smiling. After a two year hiatus, he is once again teaming up with longtime producer No I.D, who produced the album to its entirety. The news of the album came along with his new deal with Def Jam and No I.D.’s label, Atrium Recordings. Three official singles were released within months of the knowing the title and already Common has noted that he has more to say and more perspective to give, especially when it comes to the extreme violence plaguing his hometown Chicago.

In 1992, Common released his debut album, Can I Borrow A Dollar? His day one fans know that his artistry he has evolved since then. Com’s lyrical content went from being negative to positive,the kid moved by the art of peer pressure to being a better role model, his flow from squeaky scatting to fluid spoken word and the production, handled by No I.D. for five out of his 10 albums, has grown with the times. Switching from making songs like “ Heidi Hoe, “ from Can I Borrow A Dollar? to “I Used to Love H.E.R.” from his 2^nd album, Resurrection, Common has sited that personal growth sparked the change. His lyrical content has ranged from poverty, abortion, religion and spirituality. Releasing albums at a rate of a bout 2 years apart and the fact that he’s teaming up with No I.D. once again has fans wondering what Nobody’s Smiling will entail. What will Common say next and how will the production sound? Before we get into that, though, brush up on Common’s previous work:

Underground fans note 1994’s Resurrection as his best album, but fans that may not have heard of Common until after the name change (from Common Sense to simply Common) and the release of 2000’s Like Water for Chocolate or the Kanye West assisted, Be as his best. Having teamed up with other great producers such as The Roots, J.Dilla and Kanye West, some might argue that those specific producers placed Common on another level when it came to public interest.

Since No I.D. has assisted with half of Common’s records, the last being his 2011 Dreamer/Believer, the official tracks released from Nobody’s Smiling seem stellar in lyricism and production. “Kingdom” was accompanied by a 7-minute Hype William’s produced video that takes us through the perspective of someone trying to survive in the crime ridden Chicago community. “Speak My Piece” uses a classic Biggie sample and Common shows off his lyrical ability on “Diamonds” with  Big Sean. Recently revealing the tracklist for Nobody’s Smiling, artists such as Lil Herb, Cocaine 80’s and Jhene Aiko all make appearances. Get a taste of the album’s singles below:

Anticipation Over Appreciation: The 2014 Hip Hop Fan:

Common may be back to fill our minds and ears with introspective information, but there may be some unfamiliar with Com’s previous works. As our attention spans decrease, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of anticipating rather than appreciating the artist’s work. So, just to help catch the 2014 rap fan up, we’ve provided a Top 5 list of Common’s best albums and a Top 10 list of Common’s best songs and lyrics.

 Top 5 Common Albums 

1. Be (2005)
2. Like Water for Chocolate (2000)
3. One Day It’ll All Make Sense (1997)
4. The Dreamer/The Believer (2011)
5. Finding Forever (2007)

Top 10 Best Common Songs

1. I Used to Love H.E.R. (Resurrection)

On the regular, not a church girl she was secular/ Not about the money, those studs was mic checkin’ her

2. “Retrospect for Life” Featuring Lauryn Hill (One Day It’ll All Make Sense)

To think my homies who did it I used to joke about, from now on/ I’ma use self control instead of birth control/ Cause 315 dollars ain’t worth your soul

3. “G.O.D. (Gaining One’s Definition)” Featuring Cee-Lo ( One Day It’ll All Make Sense)

I fight, with myself in the ring of doubt and fear/ The rain ain’t gone, but I can still see clear

Understanding and wisdom became the rhythm that I played to/ And became a slave to master self/ A rich man is one with knowledge, happiness and his health

4.” Stolen Moments” (Pts 1-3) (One Day It’ll All Make Sense) Part 4 “Payback Is A Grandmother” (Like Water for Chocolate)

But what could get me half way calm was this Donny Hathaway song/The tape that it was on I had wanted while I was gone/ But forgot to pack it, in fact it was in that jacket/This demo, it’s time to track it and lay it down/ Either it’s somebody I know or somebody I stay around

5. “The 6th Sense” (Like Water for Chocolate)

The perseverance of a rebel I drop heavier levels/It’s unseen or heard, a king with words/Can’t knock the hustle, but I’ve seen street dreams deferred/Dark spots in my mind where the scene occured/Some say I’m too deep, I’m in too deep to sleep/Through me, Muhammad will forever speak

6. “The Corner” Featuring The Last Poets and Kanye West (Be)

They shoot the wrong way, cause they ain’t knowin’ they goals/The streets ain’t safe cause they ain’t knowing the code/ By the foes I was told, either focus or fold/ Got cousins with flows, hope they open some doors

7. “Testify” (Be)

The court awaited as the foreman got the verdict from the bailiff/Emotional outbursts tears and smeared makeup/He stated, he was guilty on all charges/She’s shaking looking like she took it the hardest
A spin artist, she brought her face up laughing/That’s when the prosecutor realized what happened/All that speaking her mind, testifying and crying/When this bitch did the crime, the queenpin

8. “The Dreamer” Featuring Maya Angelou (The Dreamer/The Believer)

Going through the airport with more lye than an opera/Knew crooks who move books like Harry Potter/Get cleaners to get it cleaner/A legend like John, Lennon, I’m a dreamer

Mind trips to Medina to visit the redeemer/A hero, I’ll drop out like Hiroshima
Off sangria with two broads at La Esquina/Still opening roads for Omoye and Amina/I’m a Dreamer

Survival of the fit with hope in they eye/Taking notes from the sky to fly above understanding/They notes from from the most high, so I gotta land them

9. “The People” (Finding Forever)

Scuffle for notes, the rougher I wrote, times were harder/Went from rocky starter to a voice of a martyr/Why white folks focus on dogs and yoga/While people on the low end tryin to ball and get over

10. All of Pop’s raps ( “Pop’s Rap” – Resurrection, “Pop’s Rap Pt 2/Fatherhood” -One Day It’ll All Make Sense, “Pop’s Rap III….All My Children” -Like Water for Chocolate , “It’s Your World” Featuring Bilal and Pops – Be, “Finding Forever” – Finding Forever and “Pop’s Belief”–The Dreamer/The Believer)

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