Common Writes Tribute Letter In Honor Of Maya Angelou
“Love Is...”
Artist: CommonProducer: J Dilla
Release Year: 2005
Song Sampled: “God Is Love”
Sample Release Year: 1970
Sample Effect: J Dilla and Common use a lesser-known message song from Marvin for their own message song about the importance of love and faith. This definitely works in a subtler fashion than using something more famous like “What’s Going On?”
Why The Song Is Dope: Common is at the peak of his powers on this track, blending socially conscious rap with smooth soul samples for an ambience that perfectly fits the tone of his progressive lyrics. —MC
Last week, Maya Angelou's death rocked the world. The exemplary author influenced a lot of poets, leaders, and also artists, especially in the form of Common. The Chi-Town rapper wrote a letter highlighting his first encounter with Maya Angelou, and the fond memories the two shared. Despite the two having some problems in the past, stemming from Common using the N-word, the two always appreciated each other a lot. Check out an excerpt below from his letter.
Excerpt:
“The next night she did her thing at the event and embraced me as a young writer-artist, an important voice in hip hop and even flirted with me. Now that really made me feel special. She and I would go on to build a bond that not only would have us spreading love at events in Harlem, Chicago, and DC, but I would be blessed to go visit her at her home in Winston-Salem, NC, and celebrate several birthdays with her where we had great times and I got to know her lovely family. It was always an honor to be in her presence and though she did feel like my mother, my grandma, and my friend. I would always Thank God for being there with her.
Every experience was unique, but every time I saw her I learned something about myself and about life, about humanity, about progress. And I was always reminded how we are true reflections of God, how much Light we do have, how great and dynamic Black Women are and how far Integrity, Self Love and Self Respect can take you. I don’t know if my words—or any words—can truly describe the experience of being in the atmosphere of Dr. Maya Angelou, someone you know is sent from the Creator to Give the World A Voice it has never heard, a brightness it has never witnessed, an energy that is Greatness, Divinity and Awakening all wrapped into one.”
Check out the piece in its entirety at TheDailyBeast.com.