Common Declares This Nas Record ‘One Of The Greatest Songs Ever Written’
Common is giving Nas his flowers.
In a recent interview with Men’s Health, honoring 50 years of hip hop, the emcee reflected on the genre’s journey and Nas’ contributions to the art form.
The Chicago native is considered one the greatest lyricists in rap, but he admits had it not been for artists like the Queens native, he probably wouldn’t be the wordsmith he is today.
The industry veteran recounted an encounter with a fan who shared that his record, "Retrospect for Life," had significantly influenced their decision to start a family.
Common told the outlet, “I wrote that song because I had been through that experience, and there was a moment when I was on the way to the abortion clinic, and the mother of my child decided, “We can’t do this again,” because this was after already having one abortion. Let’s figure out whatever we have to do.”
The rapper added, “That situation showed when you receive experiences from a place of truth, it just resonates in a different way.” Common argued for the same reason “we related to when Nas talked about what he talked about on Illmatic.”
He continued, “He experienced it, and the way he told it was just beautiful. In ‘One Love,’ he talks to his boy in prison. That’s one of the greatest songs ever written.”
Common and Nas have collaborated in the past. In 2011, they teamed up for the former’s leading single “Ghetto Dreams” from his album “The Dreamer/The Believer.” No I.D. produced record.
