Common and Pete Rock have released their collaboration album, The Auditorium Vol. 1. The Chicago legend and producer king share their admiration for hip-hop and each other’s work on a journey that defies ageist critiques of rap. They open the album with the jazzy “Dreamin,'” and it is quickly apparent that Common’s warm word alchemy still moves spirits and the crowd. Rock’s brilliant sample of Aretha Franklin’s “Daydreaming” glides in its support of Common’s sunlit musings that acknowledge but are not limited to Dr. Maya Angelou, MLK, J.Dilla, Prince, and Gladys Knight. Rock’s hands help tell Common’s stories with chemistry that compliments and never tries to override the MC’s ideas.
The Auditorium Vol. 1 keeps things engaging with rhythmic calm, straight rap, and poetry. “So Many People,” featuring Bilal, describes hope and faith as a woman Common has been entwined with throughout his life. The pro-woman imagery is presented again in “A God (There Is),” with a guest appearance from Jennifer Hudson, who brings her gospel chops to the fold. Rock produces and gets behind the microphone on “All Kinds of Ideas” to brag about his limitless creativity with Common and Rakim’s sampled voice from “Eric B. Is President.” It’s been three years since Common and Pete Rock released their individual albums, and it was long enough for them to have been missed. The Auditorium Vol. 1 is a solid welcome back and further proof that Gen X is far from being done with hip-hop.
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