A Beautiful Revolution, Pt. 2

by Common

Overview

A Beautiful Revolution, Pt. 2 is very similar to the work of pain, resilience, hope, and advocacy that preceded it less than a year earlier. Like A Beautiful Revolution, Pt. 1, the core backing for Common here is producer/drummer Karriem Riggins, bassist Burniss Travis, and guitarist/keyboardist Isaiah Sharkey, and singer/songwriter PJ again is involved almost enough to justify a co-billing. Also similar: the first voice heard is that of Jessica Care Moore, the last is that of fellow poet Morgan Parker, and the Roots' Black Thought appears on track three -- this one an Afrobeat rumbler further authenticated by saxophone and additional vocals from Seun Kuti. (Moore, Parker, and Thought all contribute in equally powerful form.) Common is just as eager to share the spotlight, and it doesn't take much exposure to understand that he's still collectivist-minded instead of short on ideas. This is most evident on "Saving Grace," for which he delivers a contemplative opening verse and exits to make room for a helping of Brittany Howard's bluesy gospel soul. Few moments truly stand out or offer something not provided by part one, though there are a couple nice surprises toward the end: Riggins' clever usage of a Rene & Angela quiet storm classic on the utopic "Imagine," and a visit from Raphael Saadiq on the righteous "Get It Right," in which Common extols "a woman vice president that went to Howard" and "Stacey and the people of Georgia." The energy throughout the album is so steady and positive that, even at a low volume, it can have a pacifying effect on the soul. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	12/10/2021
Label:	Concord / Loma Vista
UPC:	0888072289109

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Common   Primary Artist,Vocals
PJ   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Marcus King   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Seun Kuti   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals,Sax (Alto)
Isaiah Sharkey   Primary Artist,Guitar,Keyboards,Featured Artist
Jessica Care Moore   Primary Artist,Spoken Word,Featured Artist
Black Thought   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Morgan Parker   Primary Artist,Spoken Word,Featured Artist
Iyabo Adeniran   Vocals
Adebowale Osunnibu   Sax (Baritone)
Ali Prawl   Keyboards
Annastezhaa Mitchell-Curtis   Harp
Joy Okpara   Vocals
Adefolarin Idowu   Trumpet
Dimeji Akinyele   Trumpet
Brittany Howard   Vocals,Featured Artist
Burniss Travis   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Karriem Riggins   Drums
James Poyser   Keyboards
Robert Glasper   Organ
DJ Dummy   Turntables
Raphael Saadiq   Vocals
David Ojo   Sax (Tenor)
Keyon Harrold   Trumpet

Technical Credits

Clint Welander   Assistant
Michelle Mancini   Mastering Engineer
Herman Chaney   Composer
PJ   Composer
Tariq Trotter   Composer
Common   Composer
Ali Prawl   Composer
Jeremie Inhaber   Mixing
Morgan Parker   Composer
Annastezhaa Mitchell-Curtis   Composer
Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti   Composer
Brittany Howard   Composer
Burniss Travis   Composer
Kyle Hoffmann   Recording
Michael Law Thomas   Recording
Paris Jones   Composer
Karriem Riggins   Composer,Producer,Recording Producer
James Poyser   Composer
Lonnie Lynn   Composer
Isaiah Sharkey   Composer
Jessica Care Moore   Composer
Rene Moore   Composer
Montez Roberts   Recording
Manny Marroquin   Mixing
Angela Winbush   Composer
Seun Kuti   Composer