| Resurrection | |
|---|---|
 Studio album by Common Sense | |
|
Released |
October 4, 1994 |
|
Recorded |
July 1993 - March 1994 |
|
Studio |
Mirror Image Studios |
|
Genre |
|
|
Length |
54:23 |
|
Label |
Relativity Records |
|
Producer |
Peter Kang (exec.), No I.D., The Late Show's Ynot Never the Less |
| Common Sense chronology | |
|---|---|
|
Previous |
Can I Borrow a Dollar? (1992) |
|
Next |
One Day It'll All Make Sense (1997) |
Resurrection is the second studio album by American rapper from Chicago Common (then known as Common Sense), released in October 4, 1994 on Relativity Records. Recording sessions were mostly taken place at Mirror Image Studios in New York City and Battery Studios in Chicago from July 1993 to March 1994. After the critically and commercially unsuccessful of his debut, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, Common adopted a new rhyming style, which he admits was heavily influenced by Nas' style on Illmatic. Production of the album was handled entirely by No I.D. and Ynot, with both producers also making the only guest appearances.
Resurrection sold 2,000 copies in its first week and debuted at #179 on the Billboard 200.[1] Upon release, the album received critical acclaim, but not a significant amount of mainstream attention. The record was originally rated 3.5 mics in The Source, but it was later selected by the magazine as one of the 100 Best Albums. It was his last album released under the name Common Sense after a reggae band from California using the same name filed a legal case against him, forcing him to change his stage name to simply Common.
Background
Common was amongst the first Chicago artists to release a hip hop album. In the early 1990s, the only two hip hop scenes that were of prominence were the East Coast and West Coast, although Southern hip hop was beginning to make a name for itself. However, the Midwest (e.g. Detroit and Chicago) were almost completely ignored by the mainstream. Although his debut Can I Borrow a Dollar? spawned three popular singles that garnered significant airplay on BET and MTV, the album failed to make a commercial impact, selling only 2,000 copies.
"When you release your first album, you think, 'Man, I'm dope,' because all your friends telling you you dope," said Common in a 2011 interview. "Then, once the world gets to it and you don't see them going out to buy it, you're not the talk of hip-hop, your album is not the album that everybody's playing. Then you're like, 'I thought I had that!' Then you realize... it's like a wake-up call.'
While working on Resurrection, Common and No I.D. were heavily influenced by Nas' 1994 album Illmatic. No I.D. stated, "We'd felt the pressure of Illmatic coming out, and we were both like, 'Okay, it's time for us to step this up three or four notches'." Common was also inspired by the albums Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Called Quest and Buhloone Mindstate by De La Soul.
Recording and production
Resurrection was recorded at Mirror Image in Dix Hills, New York, and Battery Studios in Chicago. Eleven of the album's songs were produced by No I.D., and two were produced by Ynot. No I.D. believes that his heavier input on the album was due to his willingness to adjust his production to Common's preferences, whereas Ynot would be forceful with which songs should be used.
Most songs were created when No I.D. made a beat and Common wrote something to go with it. No I.D. was taught how to go crate-digging by The Beatnuts and Buckwild, and began experimenting with jazz records, instead of the predominantly house music records he had used on Can I Borrow a Dollar?.
Music and lyrics
The album is divided into two sections: the "east side of Stony" (tracks 1-7) and "west side of Stony" (tracks 8-15). Stony Island Avenue is a street that runs through the South Side of Chicago, where Common was raised.
Track listing
All songs written by L. Lynn.
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Producer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Resurrection" | Common | No I.D. | 3:47 |
| 2. | "I Used to Love H.E.R." | Common | No I.D. | 4:39 |
| 3. | "Watermelon" | Common | No I.D. | 2:39 |
| 4. | "Book of Life" | Common | No I.D. | 5:06 |
| 5. | "In My Own World (Check the Method) | Common, No I.D. | No I.D. | 3:32 |
| 6. | "Another Wasted Nite With..." | Common | - | 1:02 |
| 7. | "Nuthin' to Do" | Common | No I.D. | 5:20 |
| 8. | "Communism" | Common | No I.D. | 0:34 |
| 9. | "WMOE" | - | No I.D. | 0:34 |
| 10. | "Thisisme" | Common | No I.D. | 4:54 |
| 11. | "Orange Pineapple Juice" | Common | No I.D. | 3:28 |
| 12. | "Chapter 13 (Rich Man Vs. Poor Man)" | Common, The Late Show's Ynot Never the Less | The Late Show's Ynot Never the Less | 5:23 |
| 13. | "Maintaining" | Common | No I.D. | 3:49 |
| 14. | "Sum Shit I Wrote" | Common | The Late Show's Ynot Never the Less | 4:31 |
| 15. | "Pop's Rap" | Lonnie "Pops" Lynn | No I.D. | 3:22 |
Notes
- All scratches performed by Mista Sinista.
Samples
Resurrection
- "Dolphin Dance" by Ahmad Jamal Trio
- "Sorcerer of Isis" by Power of Zeus
- "No Delayin'" by Nice & Smooth
- "I Got It Made" by Special Ed
I Used to Love H.E.R.
- "The Changing World" by George Benson
- "I'm Gonna Do You" by Jungle Brothers
Watermelon
- "Sweet Inspiration" by King Curtis
- "Get Outta My Life Woman" by The New Apocalypse
- "Just to Get a Rep" by Gang Starr
- "Just Rhymin' with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
Book of Life
- "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity
- "Stoop Rap" by Double Trouble
In My Own World (Check the Method)
- "Las Vegas Tango" by Gary Burton
- "But Not for Me" by Modern Jazz Quartet
- "The Mixed Up Cup" by Clyde McPhatter
- "Keep It Rollin'" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Large Professor
- "Get Off the Bandwagon (Remix)" by EPMD
Nuthin' to Do
- "Walk on By" by Living Jazz
- "Leroy the Magician" by Gary Burton
- "Protect Ya Neck" by Wu-Tang Clan
- "Heidi Hoe" by Common
Communism
- "The Surest Things Can Change" by Freddie Hubbard
- "Knocking 'Round the Zoo (1971 Version)" by James Taylor and The Flying Machine
WMOE
- "Capricorn" by The Cannonball Adderley Quintet
- "Get Out of My Life, Woman" by Wilmer and the Dukes
Thisisme
- "The Power of Love" by Alton McClain & Destiny
- "Momma Miss America" by Paul McCartney
- "Build and Destroy" by Boogie Down Productions
Orange Pineapple Juice
- "Maybe Tomorrow" by Grant Green
- "Hydra" by Grover Washington Jr.
- "Hostile" by Erick Sermon feat. Keith Murray
- "Top Billin' (Acapella)" by Audio Two
Chapter 13 (Rich Man vs. Poor Man)
- "Future Song (Love a Good Woman, Love a Good Man)" by Curtis Mayfield
- "Cross Country" by Archie Whitewater
- "You're Getting a Little Too Smart" by Detroit Emeralds
- "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Maintaining
- "But Not for Me" by Modern Jazz Quartet
- "Why Can't People Be Colors Too?" by The Whatnauts
- "Scenario (Remix)" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Leaders of the New School & Kid Hood
Sum Shit I Wrote
- "We Write the Songs" by Marley Marl, Biz Markie and Heavy D
- "Outside Love" by Brethren
Pop's Rap
- "Thisisme" by Common
Credits
- Engineer: Troy Hightower (track 1, 3, 5, 7, 9-14)
- Engineer (recording): Stephen Georgiafandis (track 2, 4, 8)
- Engineer (mixing): Troy Hightower (track 2, 4, 8)
- Engineer (assistant): Mike Koch (track 1-5, 7-14), Chris Brickley (track 2, 4, 8)
- Mastered by: Michael Sarsfield
- Art Direction: David Bett
- Photography: Chris Anda
- Sleeve: allan wai
- Project Coordination: Robin Frank
- Clothing provided by: Tony's Sports (Chicago)