Disco de Common: “Can I Borrow a Dollar?”

From Usigned Hype winner to underground superstar, Common has changed quite a bit since this debut album. This album shows a more vocally animated Common using any and every clever metaphor to put a new slant on the ever popular style of battle rhyming. As you listen to his vocal and lyrical trickery, you can't help but see how much fun Common seems to be having while rhyming. While most of the album deals with destroying weak emcees's, the overall vibe is upbeat and happy. The downside is that Common's lyrics never surpass battling wack emcee's and dogging out women (on numerous mysognistic tracks like "Heidi Hoe" and "Puppy Chow") for the whole album. While the laid back, dusty jazz beats hold him musically, if the production is weak on a track, Common's freshman subject matter becomes more evident. On the upside, while his subjects are redundant, his lyrics are always unique. Some may be turned off by some of the over-sampled beats that Common's producers have included, such as Isley Brother's "Between The Sheets" and "For The Love Of You". Still, this is a good debut for Common, and it definatley shows a great deal of growth on his part from then til now. Don't expect any deep songs like "Retrospect For Life" or "G.O.D.", and you won't be disappointed.

I remember the first time I heard this album. It's was 1992 and I was 15 years old. Being a hip-hop fan, I remember being impressed with Common's flow and delivery. The production was also very tight. Although new school hip-hop fans might not agree - being fed the "hip-POP" that radio play now a days. Anyway, this album is in my "top 10 hip-hop albums of the 90's" list. Common's second release "Resurrection" is in there as well. If you don't own this, pick up a copy. I highly Recommend it!!

to me this album is exactly what hip-hop should be! You can just tell that when common made this he was having fun and didnt care about what anyone else thought which is how it should be. as a rapper bring what you bring to rap not what rap brings to you as so many rappers do today. absolutely genuine album one of my all time favorites

This is Common (Sense)'s first LP "Can I Borrow A Dollar". I really didn't pick this up until about a month ago. I think Common had a very good starting point back in 1992 with his singles "Soul By The Pound" and "Breaker 1/9" (if you can, find the remix 12" with a song called "Can I Bust" with Y-Not). Common had his sped up tounge twisting flow which is way different than what you hear from him fifteen years later. A favorite of mine would be "Take It EZ" along with the ode to cerial "Two Scoops Of Raisins" featurning Immenslpoe (aka No I.D.). Like everyone said, mostly on this album is about Common chasing females with songs like "Puppy Chow" and "Heidi Hoe".

Common sounds different here. One thing I noticed is his voice, as it squeeks when he rhymes. It may get annoying to some people. Can I Borrow A Dollar is a different side of Common that people are not used to hearing. Fans of

will enjoy this more than those who are fans of

. The overall album is high quality and very enjoyable. I recommend this to fans of early 90's rap. Peace.

Lyrics: A-

Production: A-

Guest Appearances: A-

Musical Vibes: A

Top 5 Tracks:

1. Take It EZ

2. Two Scoops Of Raisins (featuring No I.D.)

3. Soul By The Pound

4. Breaker 1/9

5. Tricks Up My Sleeve (featuring Miss Jonsey)

Honorable Mention Tracks:

1. Heidi Hoe

2. Puppy Chow

Favorite Common LP's from best to worst (none are lower than a 8 out of 10)(changed since the last time I did this)

1. Ressurection

2. Like Water For Chocolate

3. Can I Borrow A Dollar?

4. Finding Forever

5. Be

6. Electric Circus

7. One Day It'll All Make Sense

I really, really, really liked Common Sense in 1992. "Take It Easy" was like my theme song during my senior year of high school, and being from Chicago I was really glad to see a Chicago MC doing his thing. If you didn't get into Common until later, "Can I Borrow A Dollar," might come as a bit of a suprise to you. In the beginning, even with the first single "Take It Easy," Common seemed much more light hearted and comedic along the lines of The Pharcyde or Busta Rhymes. Musically, it was a good album and the second single "Breaker 1-9" got heavy rotation on The Box like the first single. If you are just getting into Common check this album out.