$12.99   MPN: 000938202 UPC: 602517321939 Finding Forever Features : Explicit Lyrics Artists : Common Tracks : Intro Start the Show The People Drivin' Me Wild I Want You Southside The Game U, Black Maybe So Far To Go Break My Heart Misunderstood Forever Begins Release Date:  31 July, 2007 Manufacturer:  Universal Music Group Availability:  Usually ships in 24 hours List Price:  $13.98   Accessories: (none) Similar Products: Graduation Eardrum Curtis Desire I Am   It's no small feat to follow an instant classic like Common's Be (2005) but he skillfully builds on that success with a worthy sequel. The two albums share much in common, especially with Finding Forever's focus and brevity (under 50 minutes) and especially with Kanye West's musical direction. The two Chicago natives have forged a strong chemistry together, especially on songs like "Start the Show" and "Southside" where both men appear, but just as a producer, West makes his presence felt on everything from the catchy piano tinkles of "Driving Me Wild" (featuring British chanteuse Lily Allen) to the brass-knuckled "The Game" (featuring DJ Premier). As has become his trademark, Common balances heartfelt earnestness ("Black Maybe") with clever charm ("Break My Heart") though he has one too many love songs ("I Want You"). Whether Finding Forever surpasses Be is a matter of individual, song-for-song taste: At worst, it's on par--a laudable accomplishment for a veteran now 15 years into his career. --Oliver Wang   Customer Reviews   GOING INTO LEGEND MODE Rating: 4 FINDING FOREVER IS ANOTHER HIP-HOP CLASSIC, COMMON IS MAKING ME FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS GENRE OF MUSIC AGAIN! HE BRINGS A BALANCE TO THIS STYLE OF MUSIC.......COMMON IS SLOWLY BECOME A LEGEND,AND I HOPE THE COMEUPS PAY ATTENTION TO THIS GENT. Common Does it again Rating: 5 It's not as good as Be,but still a good album to listen to.Just go check it out. Standouts:The people,U,black maybe,Break my heart Common still makes sense (4 and 1/2 stars) Rating: 4 You cant mention the positive side of hip hop without mentioning Common. As with any great MC that has given you substantial music, Common has always evolved. Unfortunately not many of his fans have evolved with him. Be was a good album but it felt like it was missing something. This album seems more complete than Be was. Start The Show is a great track but the hook by Kanye is kind of suspect. The People is on point and Dwele wasnt too shabby on the chorus. Common excells at storytelling in Drivin Me Wild which features Lily Allen. The Game is that vintage b-boy Common sense joint where Common shows that he is still a nasty lyricist. Im not sad that there isnt more tracks like The Game on here and its not the end of the world if he doesnt make tracks like that anymore. U, Black Maybe and Misunderstood are as enjoyable as they are soulful. Will.i.am(whose production has been sounding pretty good lately)joins in on I Want You as Common kicks it for the ladies over a thumping beat. Skip Material: Break My Heart is not bad but it doesnt really grab this reviewer and Southside featuring Kanye West stinks! Plus Kanye's high-pitched singing after the third verse sounds kind of feminine(you know that part where he goes "you have to spice it up"). Bottom Line: The verdict is in... Common's Finding Forever is one of 2007's best releases. The production was superb and Common still has what it takes to make good music. Common will continue to evolve as an MC and as a person so if you refuse to evolve with him then its not his fault. Its all on you. Standout Tracks: THE PEOPLE, DRIVIN' ME WILD, I WANT YOU, THE GAME, U, BLACK, MAYBE(my favorite), SO FAR TO GO and MISUNDERSTOOD. You didnt think that I was going to go without addressing this babbling idiot a couple of reviews down. Racial slurs? Comtempt for women? Disdain for police? You didnt hear this album at all did you? Just another f****t a** yokel making halfa**ed assumptions based off your irrational preconcieved notions about rap. Its obvious that you're jealous that people respect him over you but who could blame them. You're a sissy a** garbage pail kid who talks reckless behind closed doors. Nobody in their right mind respects a sniveling coward that despises people behind their backs but grins in their faces and look at when you mouth off. When nobody is around to give you the a**beating you deserve. You craven gender-bender! You spineless fruitbasket! F*** You, B**** O Reilly and all 20 of those nutsackulas that agreed with your babbling a**! Schizophrenic F****ts!