| Nobody's Smiling | |
|---|---|
 Studio album by Common | |
|
Released |
22 July 2014 |
|
Recorded |
2013-2014 at 4220 Feng Shui Studios (Hollywood, California) |
|
Genre |
|
|
Length |
41:32 |
|
Label |
ARTium, Def Jam |
|
Producer |
No I.D. (also exec.) |
| Common chronology | |
|---|---|
|
Previous |
The Dreamer/The Believer (2011) |
Nobody's Smiling is the tenth album by American rapper Common, released in 2014 on Def Jam Recordings and ARTium Records. Following the release of his last album The Dreamer/The Believer in 2011, Common took a hiatus from musical endeavours. In 2013, he returned to the studio and began work on a new album, and later revealed that the production, much like his previous effort, would be handled entirely by longtime collaborator No I.D.. In 2014, Common signed a recording contract with No I.D.'s label ARTium Records, through Def Jam Recordings, for the distribution of the album.
The title and concept of the album was inspired by the violence and high crime rate in Common's hometown of Chicago, Illinois. The album features guest appearances from Lil Herb, Big Sean, Jhené Aiko, Dreezy, Vince Staples and Cocaine 80s, among others. The album was supported by three singles: "Kingdom" featuring Vince Staples, "Speak My Piece" and "Diamonds" featuring Big Sean.
The album debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, selling 24,000 copies in its opening week, giving Common his third top ten on the chart and his highest-charting album since Finding Forever debuted at number one in 2007. The album sold 37,581 copies in its first month of sales.
Track listing[edit | edit source]
All songs produced by No I.D.
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Neighborhood" | Common, Lil Herb, Cocaine 80s | Fauntleroy, Lynn, Mayfield, Wilson, Wright | 3:58 |
| 2. | "No Fear" | Common | Lynn, Wilson | 3:13 |
| 3. | "Diamonds" | Common, Big Sean | Anderson, Lynn, Wilson | 3:54 |
| 4. | "Blak Majik" | Common, Jhené Aiko | Chilombo, Lynn, Poyser, Wilson | 3:19 |
| 5. | "Speak My Piece" | Common | Alpert, Angelettie, Armer, Combs, Lawrence, Lynn, Wallace, Wilson | 3:52 |
| 6. | "Hustler Harder" | Common, Snoh Aalegra, Dreezy | Dockery, Izquierdo, Lynn, Michels, Nowrozi, Sledge, Wilson | 3:58 |
| 7. | "Nobody's Smiling" | Common, Malik Yusef | Jones, Lynn, Wilson | 4:16 |
| 8. | "Real" | Common, Elijah Blake | Fenton, Lynn, Scott, Wilson, Wilson, Wyreman | 3:23 |
| 9. | "Kingdom" | Common, Vince Staples | Fowler, Lynn, Poyser, Staples, Wilson | 6:22 |
| 10. | "Rewind That" | Common | Keith, Lynn, Poyser, Wilson | 5:22 |
Notes
- Track 1 features additional vocals performed by Robert Clark Betty, Jr.
- Track 2 features keyboards performed by Dion Wilson.
- Track 3 features keyboards performed by James Poyser.
- Track 4 features keyboards performed by James Poyser.
- Track 6 features additional vocals performed by Robert Clark Betty, Jr.
- Track 7 features keyboards performed by Dion Wilson.
- Track 8 features guitar performed by Steve Wyreman, and keyboards performed by Kevin Randolph.
- Track 9 features keyboards performed by James Poyser and Dion Wilson, and background vocals performed by The Kingdom Voices (Marcus Morton, Alfred Golden, Terrence "Snoop" Marshall, Vernard Burton, Sandra Howse Dillard, Carya Holmes, Eleanor Hampton, Tanesha Jefferson, Brandi Brumfield, Andrea Moore Daly, Meagan McNeal and Meriam Noelle), and ad-libs performed by Eleanor Hampton.
- Track 10 features bass performed by Derrick Hodge, and keyboards performed by James Poyser.
