Having dropped his debut album more than 25 years ago, Common's been around hip-hop for a long time, and his pen game has been top notch for just as long. On August Greene, the eponymous debut album from a new trio comprised himself, Grammy-winning pianist Robert Glasper and jazz drummer Karriem Riggins, the legendary Chicago MC once again delivers.
Over the course the project, Com cruises a jazzy soundscape as he takes us through his own psyche and contemplates the plight Black America. At his best, he combines bits wisdom and a knack for poetic writing with his reassuring baritone to create songs that can be optimistic, ferociously honest, heroic or vulnerable. Sometimes, they even encapsulate all those qualities at once.
On "Meditation," the first song on the album, the former G.O.O.D. Music artist begins by describing his potential for growth before addressing the human trafficking crisis in Washington, D.C. On "Black Kennedy," Common imagines a world where Black excellence prevails and the saga President Obama has a sequel.
Common's got plenty more gems where those ideas came from, too. With spurts tight rhyme schemes, impactful language choices and a flow that's only gotten better with time, Common is in top form over Glasper and Riggins' warm, musical sound beds.
XXL takes an in-depth look at the 20 best lyrics from August Greene's self-titled debut album. Peep it for yourself below—you might even get a tweet out it.