Common Can I Borrow a Dollar ?

Posted on 05.24.1996

1 comment(s)

Common
Album : Can I Borrow a Dollar ?
Release Date : October 6, 1992
Label : Relativity

Customer Review :

Many won’t remember Common’s first LP mainly because it wasn’t heavily promoted. I bought the album after seeing the video for "Take It EZ" on The Box back in 1992 (that song and video are super tight). With production handled by Immenslope and Twilite Tone (The Beatnuts produce one track), a young Common (known as Common Sense at the time) rips track after track with a unique style and a charisma that wasn’t really present in the hardcore climate of rap music at the time. Can I Borrow A Dollar wasn’t exactly a landmark debut, but it was good enough to turn some heads. He wouldn’t fully hit his stride until his second LP Ressurection (now THAT was a landmark LP). This album mostly revolves around hittin’ skins, guzzling 40 oz’s, and kicking flavor.

If I had to find a flaw in the album, it would have to be a lack of subject matter. "Heidi Hoe", "Puppy Chow", and "Tricks Up My Sleeve" (along with a few others) are all about hittin’ skins and "Two Scoops Of Raisins" is skippable, but those songs have dope beats that will make you listen anyway (well, I know I did). Another problem I had was the fact that some of the singles released were remixes that were very hard to come by. The remixes for "Soul By The Pound" and "Breaker 1/9" are definitely tighter than the originals contained on the LP, but my complaints about the album are pretty minor.

This album shows a young, confident, and talented Common Sense kicking flavor over some truly dope beats. There’s no filler, no fluff, and no b.s. It’s just an ill MC getting busy over tight beats. Rap music from today could really use a return to the music of this era because raw skills have been replaced by marketability and it’s truly saddening. If you want a taste of what cats like me were listening to when we were young (I was 15 at the time), then cop this disc ; you won’t be dissapointed. Highly reccomended.

Common artists page

Track Listing :
1. Penny for My Thoughts
2. Charms Alarm
3. Take It Ez
4. Heidi Hoe
5. Breaker 1/9
6. Two Scoops of Raisins
7. No Defense
8. Blows to the Temple
9. Just in the Nick of Rhyme
10. Tricks up My Sleeve
11. Puppy Chow
12. Soul by the Pound
13. Pitchin’ Pennies

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