News: Common Prepares For ‘Forever’

Last night at New York's Sony Studios, rapper/actor Common played several stand-out tracks from his seventh album, Finding Forever, out July 10. The title, as he explained, refers to the idea of Jay Dee living on forever in the music. (Jay Dee, aka J Dilla, born James Yancey, passed on February 10, 2006 due to complications from lupus. He was Common's roommate and produced most of 2000's Like Water for Chocolate.)

Some track titles and features (list is incomplete; sequencing not yet set):

"The People" (featuring Dwele; prod. by Kanye West)
"Black Maybe" (featuring Bilal; prod. by Kanye West)
"I Want You" (prod. will.i.am)
"Southside" (featuring and prod. by Kanye West)
"Misunderstood" (Nina Simone sample; prod. by Devo Springsteen)
"Drivin Me Wild" (featuring Lily Allen; prod. by Kanye West)
"So Far to Go" (featuring D'Angelo; prod by Jay Dilla)
"Break My Heart" (prod. by Kanye West)
"Start the Show" (prod. by Kanye West)

Common stated that on some tracks, West tried to chop beats in the same fashion as Dilla as a way of honoring him. He said that it had been difficult for him to come home to his apartment and not see Dilla on the couch watching "whatever show comes on in the morning." (It was determined said show was either "Maury Povich" or "Montel Williams.") But that he knew Dilla lived on in the music.

Chicago rapper Common has set a July 10 release date for his next album, titled ''Finding Forever.''

The set features production from Kanye West, will.i.am, the late J Dilla and Devo Springsteen, while Bilal and Dwele sing background vocals on a couple of tracks as well.

West produced the first single, ''The People,'' which Common describes as a ''declaration type of song.'' Another of West's productions is a song called ''Black Maybe.''

On the flirty ''So Far to Go'' featuring a rare guest turn from D'Angelo, Common rhymes, ''We make good music, and baby you are the vocals.'' The Nina Simone-sampling ''Misunderstood'' is a song Common describes as a ''story of people talking to God.''

''He stood on the corner like the rest of them, but didn't know the corner ain't have the best for him,'' he raps.

Another standout track is the Lily Allen-assisted ''Driving Me Wild,'' which Common says is about obsessions. ''Driving herself crazy like the astronaut lady,'' he chants. ''Love is not a mystery, it's everything.''

Common's last album, 2005's ''Be,'' debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard album chart.

His last album, 2005's "Be," was the most successful of his career, having entered the Billboard 200 chart at No. 2. Two years later, Chicago rapper Common returns with the July 10th release of "Finding Forever," a collection he hopes will raise his game even higher.

"I want to leave a mark on this earth," Common tells Billboard.com of the set, which includes production from Kanye West, will.i.am, the late J Dilla and Devo Springsteen. "By making music and saying what I have to say in my music is one of the ways I will exist forever."

West produced the first single, "The People," which Common describes as a "declaration type of song." Another of West's productions is a song called "Black Maybe."

D'Angelo makes a rare appearance on the flirty "So Far To Go," which includes Common's line: "We make good music, and baby you are the vocals."

The Nina Simone-sampling "Misunderstood" is a song Common describes as a "story of people talking to God." "He stood on the corner like the rest of them, but didn't know the corner ain't have the best for him," he raps.

British pop star Lily Allen jumps in on "Driving Me Wild," which Common describes as a song about obsessions. "Driving herself crazy like the astronaut lady," he raps, "Love is not a mystery, it's everything."