Common and Pete Rock have released their first joint album The Auditorium Vol. 1 — check it out below.
Now available on streaming services as well as other formats such as CD, cassette and vinyl, the 15-track album features contributions from De La Soul‘s Posdnuos, Bilal and Common’s girlfriend Jennifer Hudson.
Backed by warm, thumping production from the Soul Brother Number One, the Chicago MC delivers some of his best lyrical performances throughout the project.
He touches on various topics, ranging from vivid street tales (“Wise Up”) and 50 years of Hip Hop (“Dreamin'”) to spirituality (“A GOD [There Is])” and love and loneliness (“Lonesome”).
Prior to its release, Common described making a full album with Pete Rock — who he worked with in the past on “Verbal Murder 2” and the Ice Cube diss song “The Bitch In Yoo” — as a bucket list moment.
“For me, this all started with A Dream. A Dream to let the world know I’ve been here. A dream to be a part of Hip Hop. A Dream to MC at a level where De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-One and Ice Cube knew who I was,” he wrote on Instagram. “It’s been a dream of mine to work with the LEGENDARY @realpeterock (on more than just one song).”
He added: “I have to say, the love you all have been showing has been INCREDIBLE. And know, anytime someone says they are ‘looking forward to that album you are doing with Pete Rock’ – It just makes me happy to be a part of this art form.
“We pray and hope that this music will move your spirit and be with you for the rest of your life. Thanks to all who helped make it happen and to all of you for the Supreme Love. GOD Bless.
The 52-year-old has also hailed The Auditorium Vol. 1 as one of his best albums, putting it up there with fan-favorite projects like Be, Like Water For Chocolate and Resurrection.
“Y’all gon’ think I’m just talking, but this new Pete Rock joint. I’ma see y’all when I come back, whenever I’m back, and y’all can tell me if I’m bullshittin’ or not,” he said at a MusiCares panel in California earlier this year.
“It’s in my top [three],” he added. “I’ve had a couple people coming in saying, ‘Yo, this is one of your best albums.’ So I’m excited about it.”
The dopest album out BY FAR! I listened to the album at midnight, let it digest for a few hours, then listened again several hours later to confirm what I thought I heard! 5 star album!!! It is soulful music with a twist of hip hop! They stayed true to themselves and didn’t chase modern music trends!
Exaggerating much? Smh You the type of cornball to hear someone burping on the mic for 30 minutes and say it sounded amazing. Get a new pair of ears and step your bar up. The album is mid at best. 5 stars? It’s illmatic, it was written, doggystyle, ob4cubanlinx, 36 chambers, supreme clientele, 7 day theory, ready 2 die, life after death status? Those are all examples of real 5 star albums.
Shut up shareef
@KNEE GROW PLEASE Albums ain’t gotta be street to get 5 Stars. De La, ATCQ and Outkast have all put out 5 Star material. Grow up.
Stfu
This is album is AOTY status
Dope, Dope, Dope!
Pete Rock went in on the production. Common fit so well with the beats.
This album is fire
Damn this album is dope af!! Pete Rock & Common is a deadly combo. These beats are so soulful it hits your soul. This is what I call a proper rap album, not that trash Eminem put out today with the garbage instrumentals and voice.
Honestly the album is boring as hell. Expected better beats from PR
Honestly the album is boring as hell. Expected better beats from PR
I’m going to give it more listens but Pete’s production made it horrible for me. I really was expecting more.
4 real, that’s the truth. Shit put me to sleep. It’s a soul album with rapping about social issues. It’s the album version of something like Selma or The Color Purple. It’s good but funny really touch greatness in my opinion.
Very nice album… today was a very nice day for hip hop. Eminem, Common and Pete Rock, Blu and Evidence, Jay Worthy and DaM FunK, TiRon and Ayomari, Daniel Son and Futurewave… Action Bronson yesterday… we lucky if we rap fans
I like Common and what he has done for Hip Hop and even some of the roles he has acted in but for some reason I play his joints once maybe twice and then never again. I can’t think of one joint that I ever bumped in the ride. Carry on!!!
They promised and they delivered. This album sounds like it was recorded between LWFC and Be. Beautiful. I haven’t heard Pete Rock on such soulful wave in a whiiiiiile. This is the one to enjoy for years to come, you can tell
if common wasn’t spending the whole album threatening to suck Pete’s cock it might be a decent record. sounds like old man bs trying to jump on Nas and Black Thought wave with zero originality or passion.
if common wasn’t spending the whole album threatening to suck Pete’s cock it might be a decent record. sounds like old man bs trying to jump on Nas and Black Thought wave with zero originality or passion
A breath of fresh Air in hip hop! I can’t stand anymore of the same ol beats, Rhyme styles and what not. But this right here is real rap on real hiphop beats. Top 5 hip hop album of this year for sure! ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽