Common, born Lonnie G. Rashid Lynn Jr., is an American rapper, actor, and writer from Chicago, Illinois. He has released several critically acclaimed albums throughout his career. Some of his most famous albums include:

"Be" is the seventh studio album by American rapper Common, released on May 24, 2005, through No I.D.'s Think Common Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album received widespread critical acclaim and earned Common a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album.

Amazon still allows you to buy digital albums outright, separate from their streaming service. When you purchase, the album is added to your Amazon Music library, and you can download all 11 tracks directly to your computer or phone.

Before we get into the tracks, we have to talk about the production. Be is often cited as the perfect marriage between an MC and his producers. The soundscape was crafted by a young, hungry Kanye West and the late, great J Dilla.

At the time, Kanye was revolutionizing the industry with his chipmunk-soul samples, and he brought that signature warmth to this project. But the secret sauce was the involvement of J Dilla. Tracks like "It's Your World" carry that dusty, off-kilter drum pattern magic that only Dilla could provide. The result is an album that feels like a warm blanket on a cold Chicago day—it’s rich, soulful, and incredibly inviting.

Stream on Spotify | Buy on Apple Music | Vinyl on Amazon

If you’ve never heard Be, you’re in for a masterclass in sequencing, lyricism, and soulful boom-bap. If you’re revisiting it, you already know: this is Common’s undisputed classic.

For fans of: Mos Def, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Slum Village, early Kanye West.