Common Speaks on the 10th Anniversary of His Classic Album ‘Be’

On May 24, 2005, Chicago MC Common released his classic LP, Be. The critically-acclaimed album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts and went on to sell more than 800,000 copies, giving the album a certified Gold plaque by the RIAA. But the album also stands out in our own history: it's one of the select few albums to come out since XXL Magazine began in 1997 to receive a perfect XXL rating upon its release in our May 2005 issue.

The impeccable work from Common on Be resonated with hip-hop heads all across the country and gave new life to the Chicago rapper. Music critics and media publications raved about the album's lyrical content and soulful production—handled almost exclusively by Kanye West, with an assist from J Dilla—naming Be as one of his best-ever albums. The thought-provoking lyrics, truth and storytelling of Common made the album stand apart from the rest of the music climate during 2005 and proved to many hip-hop heads that Common, more than a decade into his career, still had a lot to say.

Production-wise, Kanye West was at the helm of the project and gave the album a soulful vibe from start to finish. Along with production from the legendary J Dilla, Common found comfort in the production, giving him the ability to take his talents to higher heights. The combination of Common and Kanye West made for a match made in heaven.

After releasing Be 10 years ago, XXL went down memory lane with the recent Oscar Award-winner to reflect on the impact of the album and the LP's process. —Roger Krastz