Why Common’s “Black America Again” Is More Than An Album

“Trayvon will never get to be an older man/ Black children, they childhood stole from them/ Robbed of our names and our language, Stole again”

“Black America Again” is Chicago native Common’s 11th studio album, and during a time where racial injustices are prevalent; it will go down as a staple of black music during the time with messages of black empowerment, knowledge, self-love, black on black crime, black history, and more.

“Black America Again” portrays what the title is, black america, our thoughts, our problems, our fears, but there is hope; hope in which “we are rewriting the black American story.” Throughout the album, Common makes references to a variety of topics and issues within our community, while trying to promote good values. “I felt like Black America Again was a strong statement and it also was a way to start the conversation to say black America Again isn’t only about the protesting and the justice,” Common told Billboard. “Black America Again is about humanity and how we express ourselves, love and ways of feeling free.”  This is the Hip-Hop we should have, music with a message to uplift and encourage. This album has a strong emphasis on the black woman, helping the black woman, encouraging the black woman, the black woman most of us came from, but we as society allow others, including our own community to disrespect the black woman in everyday life. He has a song on the album “The Day Women Took Over,” where he describes how the world would be if women ruled the world, how it could go back to how it was, chivalry, respecting women, not referring them to hoes, knowing their worth, and more. In the song he praised Michelle Obama, Oprah, Maya Angelou, Beyoncé, and more; their contributions to the African-American movement.

“Mothers get medals for being courageous soldiers/ On dollars, it’s Michelle Obama, Oprah and Rosa/ The mayor, the shah is Liz Dozier/ Hoods feel safer, families feel closer/ We all drunk in love with no need to be sober/ Ladies get their hair done, and men, we notice/ You get high grade Indian weaves, at the lowest/ Prices, chivalry is no longer lifeless/ We openin’ doors and pulling out chairs again/ Things are merry and there’s more marryin’/ Monthly free doses of Motrin and Valerian/ For your menstrual, it’s no more minstrel shows/ Depicting women as ignorant simple hoes/ It’s more love songs on the radio/ Respect for the ladies, you can hear it in the flow”

On his song “Letter To The Free (Feat. Bilal),” which was written for the Ava DuVernay directed film, “13th”. is a song that will tug on your heart, mind, and spirit. Common addresses our history with slavery (physically and mentality), hangings, mass incarceration and more to relate it to what is happening today in society. History always repeats itself when lessons aren’t learned, just in new forms. It addresses many of the issues, past and present, which results in the way many of us think or are taught growing up, the problems from our past that seem to stay present in the future; for example, the new Jim Crow (Mass Incarceration).

“Southern leaves, southern trees we hung from/ Barren souls, heroic songs unsung/ Forgive them Father they know this knot is undone/ Tied with the rope that my grandmother died/ Pride of the pilgrims affect lives of millions/ Since slave days separating, fathers from children/ Institution ain’t just a building/ But a method, of having black and brown bodies fill them/ We ain’t seen as human beings with feelings/ Will the U.S. ever be us? Lord willing!/ For now we know, the new Jim Crow/ They stop, search and arrest our souls/ Police and policies patrol philosophies of control/ A cruel hand taking hold/ We let go to free them so we can free us/ America’s moment to come to Jesus”

Through the album, Common approach very sensitive topics with growth, knowledge, power, and understanding. The 15 track album features Bilal, John Legend, Stevie Wonder, PJ,and more. He takes you on a journey, and that journal is respected and heard and louder after watching the short movie Common put together with the album. “Black America Again” is an album, and a phrase that we should take, promote, and show the world who we truly are as a community, how string and resilient the black community is. Purchase Black America Again here: #BlackAmericaAgain

“N*ggas get foreign cars and think they made it/ It ain’t yours til you create it”