Common has announced the signing of his new deal with No I.D.’s Artium/Def Jam Recordings, where he is slated to release his upcoming album, Nobody’s Smiling. 

“Creating this album and signing to Def Jam feels like a new beginning for me,” Common says. “I feel like a new artist because I created this album with the purpose to give back to my city and to the culture of Hip Hop. Def Jam is part of the foundation of Hip Hop and being able to work with No I.D. was returning to my foundation now with new energy and new hunger.” 

No I.D. also commented on his work with Common and the deal.

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“Common and I have a long history of making great music together,” he says. “His rich legacy and robust talent are perfect additions to the Def Jam family. It’s particularly significant that he’s coming under our roof for his 10th album as a matured artist and cultural ambassador. It’s a tremendous boost for the spirit of Def Jam as well as the world of Hip Hop.”

Recently, Common released “Kingdom,” a song that features Vince Staples. In announcing the selection, Common called it “the start of something great.” Common spoke with HipHopDX about collaborating with Staples in 2013. “I got my man Vince Staples on a song,” Common said in an exclusive interview with HipHopDX at the time. “I like him. He’s cold on the mic. When I heard him rapping, I was like, ‘This dude can really rhyme.’ It made me want to write.”

RELATED:Common Calls Vince Staples Collaboration “Kingdom” “Start Of Something Great”