Tracks
1. Prince
2. Leroy Matthias
3. Simon Johns
4. Chad Hugo
5. Larenz Tate
6. Sticman
7. Pharrell Williams
8. Mattie Turner
9. Kenyetta Synder
10. Big Daddy Kane
11. Vinia Mojica
12. Erykah Badu
13. Rahsaan Abraham
14. James Poyser
15. Tim Gane
16. DJ Dumi
17. ?Uestlove
18. Black Thought
19. Granma Gipson
20. Marie Dauline
21. Richard Pryor
22. Marlon Everett
23. Jay Dee
24. Mary Campbell
25. Jeff Campell
26. Steef Van De Gevel
27. M1
28. Don"Babatunde" Eaton
29. Tyrone Tribett
30. Pino Palladino
31. Abiodun Oyewolf
32. Andrew Dosunmu
33. Umar Bin Hassin
34. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
35. Joseph Sharrieff
36. Steve Mandel
37. Jimi The Cat
38. Dartanian Donaldson
39. Mary Hanson
40. Steve Hess
41. Morgane Lhote
42. Kimberly Jones
43. Aunt Stella
44. Q-Tip
45. Marc Baptise
46. Granma Mable Lynn
47. Derek Dudley
48. Uncle Charles
49. Uncle Steve
50. John Hancock
51. Bob Power
52. Koryan Wright
53. Ashaka Giens
54. Swayne Lyle
55. Eevin Wright
56. Russ Elevado
57. Marcus Murray
58. Barbara Sims
59. Rachelle
60. Cee-Lo
61. Jill Scott
62. Bayatae Abraham
63. Charlie Malone
64. Jeff Lee Johnson
65. Assata Shakur
66. Leslie Sims
67. Angela Murray
68. Kolleen Queenie Wright
69. Laetitia Sadier
70. Cousin Bianca
71. Omoye Lyn
72. Mary J Blige
73. Grandma Elva Brown
74. Millie Malone
75. Chris Webbber
76. Bilal
77. Lonnie Pops Lynn
78. Jimi Hendrix
79. George Daniels
80. Fred Hampton Jr
81. Fred Hampton
82. Omar
83. Seven
84. Karriem Riggins
85. Ma
86. Ralph
Performer Notes
- Personnel: Common (rap vocals); Erykah Badu (vocals, vinyl scratches); Cee-Lo, Sunny, Pharrell Williams, Laetitia Sadier, Bilal, Omar, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Lonnie "Pops" Lynn, Dart Chillz, Vinia Mojica, Marie Daulne (vocals); Dilla (electric guitar, Moog synthesizer, bass, drums, programming); James Poyser (guitar, piano, keyboards); Prince (guitar, keyboards); Jeff Lee Johnson (guitar); Bobbi Humphrey, Damon Bennett (flute); Nicholas Payton (trumpet); Greg Tardy (cornet); Vincent Gardne (trombone); Pino Palladino (bass); Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson (drums); Franklin Walker (percussion); Joe Sinista (vinyl scratches); Soulgo, Ebi Breezy, Tye Tribbett (background vocals).
- Producers include: Dilla, James Poyser, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, Karriem Riggins, The Neptunes.
- Personnel: Common (rap vocals); Erykah Badu (vocals, programming); Cee-Lo, Sonny, Pharrell Williams, Laetitia Sadier, Bilal, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Lonnie "Pops" Lynn, Dart Chillz, Vinia Mojica, Marie Daulne (vocals); Dilla (electric guitar, Moog synthesizer, bass, drums, programming); James Poyser (guitar, piano, keyboards); Prince (guitar, keyboards); Jeff Lee Johnson (guitar); Bobbi Humphrey, Damon Bennett (flute); Nicholas Payton (trumpet); Greg Tardy (cornet); Vincent Gardne (trombone); Pino Palladino (bass); Ahmir" ?uestlove" Thompson (drums); Franklin Walker (percussion); Joe Sinista (vinyl scratches); Soulgo, Ebi Breezy, Tye Tribbett (background vocals).
- Producers include: Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, Dilla, James Poyser, The Neptunes, Karriem Riggins.
- Zap Mama.
- Producers: The Neptunes, Jay Dee, Almir "?uestlove" Thompson, James Poyser,
- Karrien Riggins.
- Personnel: Cee Lo Green (vocals); James Poyser (guitar, piano, keyboards, hand claps); Prince (guitar, keyboards); Jef Lee Johnson (guitar); Damen Bennett, Bobbi Humphrey (flute); Nicholas Payton (trumpet); Greg Tardy (cornet); Questlove (drums, hand claps); Tye Tribbett & G.A., Mary J. Blige, Pharrell Williams, Bilal, Tye Tribbett (background vocals).
- Audio Mixers: Bob Powers; Questlove; Patrick Viala; Phil Tan; Russell Elevado; Bob Power.
- Recording information: AXIS Studios, Philadelphia, PA; Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL; Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY; Patchwerk Studio, Atlanta, GA; Right Track Recording Studios, New York, NY; Signature Sound, San Diego, CA; Studio A, Dearborn Heights, MI; Studio A, Paisley Park, MN; The Hit Factory, Miami, FL; The Studio, Philadelphia, PA.
- Photographer: Marc Baptiste.
- When one thinks of progressive/"underground" hip-hop, few names spring to mind as quickly as that of Common, who remains at the vanguard of the sub-genre with his eclectic musical vision and visionary lyricism, never failing to simultaneously innovate and impress. Much is made of Common's crossover appeal to hip rock audiences, and it surely speaks volumes about him that he sounds just as comfortable dueting with Mary J. Blige as he does with Stereolab singer Laetitia Sadler, but that's only the tip of the iceberg.
- Common isn't cool because he drops the names of alt-rock saints like Kurt Cobain and records at the legendary Hendrix-associated Electric Ladyland studios. Rather, he's cool because his vision expands out beyond such simple stylistic designations as "rap," "rock," or "R&B." Throughout ELECTRIC CIRCUS, Common bears echoes of everyone from Prince to Marvin Gaye to the aforementioned guitar god (who gets his own homage on the freaky, psychedelicized experimentation of "Jimi Was a Rock Star"), but the important thing is that he melds it all into his own distinctive paradigm.
Professional Reviews
Rolling Stone (2/6/03, p.60) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...ELECTRIC CIRCUS is a wild, vibrant trip billowing with purple-haze guitars, ethereal choruses and warped scratching....Common makes it all fly, breaking hip-hop rules with a freewheeling fearlessness worthy of his guitar-god muse..."
Entertainment Weekly (12/13/02, p.82) - "...Although he can be self-righteous, scattered, and grim, a team of truly youthful-minded producers is there to color the gray." Rating: A
Uncut (3/03, p.95) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Common's emphasis is more on social and historical awareness..."
CMJ (1/27/03, p.6) - "...Common opens the tent door to his psychedelic ELECTRIC CIRCUS, following up the Jazz-inflected LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE with a flamboyant, swirling consciousness-rap opus..."
Vibe (p.75) - "[H]ere the Hendrix-influenced MC spits some of the sickest rhymes of his career. His lyrics slice like a machete through the purple haze concocted by producers..."
Mojo (Publisher) (2/03, p.96) - "...[A] masterpiece....ELECTRIC CIRCUS is a record of startling breadth....An astounding record, unhesitatingly recommended..."
