Underground MC’s have been finding ways to rise to the mainstream but still maintain their underground status.

Common is the latest to begin the ascension with his new album, Like Water For Chocolate. Coming straight out of Chicago, Common has been receiving underground respect for years.

After dropping “I Us

ed to Love H.E.R.” Common made a name for himself as one of Chi-Town’s most raw and lyrically gifted MC’s. Like Water For Chocolate is no different.

Taking the name for his album from the best selling novel by Laura Esqivel, Common includes a variety of styles and guests on his album.

From soul singer D’Angelo to Femi Kuti to Cee-Lo of the Goodie Mob, Common has an abundance of unique guests and sounds.

One of the hottest jams receiving major airplay on college radio stations is “The 6th Sense.”

With the skillful DJ Premier producing, this track is banging.

The piano-backed beat flows and then Premier adds his patented cuts and scratches to keep the beat fresh.

The track gets deeper as Common Sense spits on the mic. He begins to bring out the side of hip-hop that doesn’t receive much publicity.

While the media has portrayed hip-hop as nothing but killing and drugs, Common throws it back in the media’s face.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want millions/ more than to have money saved I want to save children/ dealing with alcoholism and Afrocentricity/ a complex man drawn off of simplicity/ reality is frisking me/ this industry will make you lose intensity/ the common sense in me remembers the basement/ I’m Morphius in this hip-hop Matrix exposing fake s***.”

On “A Film Called(PIMP)” Common and MC Lyte go back and forth in a little lyrical battle. Common takes the role of a new age pimp while MC Lyte is a thinking woman of the night.

The new age pimp tries to get the woman of the night to come and work for him, but it’s not the typical relationship between the pimp and the prostitute.

“She needed me to coach her/ expose her to some paper, freedom and culture/ the way a righteous pimp is supposed ta hold Common’s hand/ I’ma take you to a pimp’s promised land/ where no man can break ya.”

Lyte answers back, “How I look working for a brotha in a coufe/ with those things on your wrist looking goofy.”

Common responds by telling her how sweet and easy her life will be. “I pimp without pause for the cause I’m a rebel/ You’ve been on the streets I’m trying to take you to another level.”

Even after all his attempts, she just won’t see it his way, “You must not know me/ I’m the mack here/ I’ma have you ho for me/ pimp your punk ass/ have you write me poetry.”

Another track that will be put on repeat is “Geto Heaven Part Two.” The voodoo master himself, D’Angelo backs up Common with his vocals.

The beat is laid back but will still make heads bob as it plays. D’Angelo lends his talent fingers to bring out the hip-hop in the ebony and ivory keys while executive producer, ?uestlove slowly jams away on the drum set.

Common delves into spirituality in the neighborhood. He and D’Angelo look to find the highest power all around them.

“I walk through the valley with a life preserver/ feeling at times that I might just murder/ Yo that ain’t what I was sent for/ I want folks to say his life meant more/ than any car, any rock or any broad he found ghetto heaven in himself and God.”

“A Song For Assata” is Common’s tribute to freedom fighter Assata Shakur who still is political prisoner in exile in Cuba. Common turns into a biographer as he tells Shakur’s story in lyrical form.

In his elegant voice he recounts what happened to Shakur to drive her to become such a hero among those who follow her.

It’s hard to write lyrics for this track since its entirety should be read or heard all at once. “A Song for Assata” is powerful and should receive the attention that it deserves.

Common has shown why he is regarded as one of the premier lyricists in the hip-hop game. He continually creates rhymes that sound good and have a point.

He doesn’t dwell on what he’s got, what his in his way don’t, and how he plans to eradicate those enemies.

Nope, that’s not Common’s style. He’d rather turn his attention to politics and helping those in need.

Everyone should get some Common Sense.