Out Today: Common Releases A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1 via Loma Vista Recordings

Listen to the “Complex and Compelling” (Rolling Stone) New Project — Featuring Appearances From Lenny Kravitz, Black Thought, Chuck D, Stevie Wonder + more — HERE

Michelle Obama Taps “A Place In This World” For ‘When We All Vote’ Initiative, See HERE

BET Hosts Album Release Block Party Celebrating Common's Music and Get Out The Vote Initiative, Airing On BET Jams + BET Soul Today, Oct 30

Common to Perform On The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon Nov 4

Hosting Album Experience via YouTube On Nov 6

Today, Common — the acclaimed GRAMMY-, Emmy-, and Oscar-winning artist, activist, actor, and two-time New York Times Bestselling author — releases A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1, a new musical project that digs deep into the actions of protests and civil rights movements with an adventurous sonic signature that ties together the legacies of various revolutionary Black musical movements, including jazz, soul, afrobeat, and hip-hop. With help from guest appearances by Black Thought (“Say Peace”) and Lenny Kravitz (“A Riot In My Mind”) and backed by a band that includes Robert Glasper (keys), Karriem Riggins (drums), Burniss Travis (bass), Isaiah Sharkey (guitar), and PJ (vocals), Common is able to put together an assemblage of music that not only speaks to this moment in history, but that will stand the tests of time. 

Alongside Black Thought, Lenny Kravitz and his backing band, A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1 also features contributions from hip-hop/rap icon Chuck D and the legendary Stevie Wonder.

STREAM A BEAUTIFUL REVOLUTION PT 1

In honor of Common’s new album release A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1, BET is celebrating his commitment to social justice by compiling an hourlong “Album Release Block Party” of his socially conscious music videos airing on BET Jams and BET Soul three times on each channel today. This Album Release Block Party and Common’s new release will be promoted across BET’s array of digital and social platforms reaching an additional 25 million people.  BET is also recognizing Common’s work with voter engagement and his Urgency 2020 initiative in partnership with Project ’68 by adding his voice to their Reclaim The Vote campaign in partnership with the National Urban League and key national organizations committed to harnessing Black collective power and increasing Black participation in the 2020 Election.

To celebrate his new project, on Friday, November 6th,  Common will be hosting an album listening experience on his YouTube channel. Stay tuned for more details: https://www.youtube.com/thinkcommon

Early Praise for A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1

"Very gracefully spans decades of Black music with lush instrumentation...Bridges different generations of civil rights movements together" – NPR Music

"Common and Black Thought search for a righteous serenity in their characteristically complex and compelling bars"  – Rolling Stone

“Bouncy and observant” – Uproxx

"fiery, afro-funk-fueled" – Okayplayer

"It's a lively, groovy song with a killer bassline...Common and Black Thought sound as great together” – Brooklyn Vegan

“Common and Black Thought fight for peace and equality... the two MCs weigh on the historic racial injustice and oppression in America” – Rap Radar

“Backed by a funky instrumental, the pair deliver flexing their lyrical prowess at the high standards one would expect from Common and Black Thought”

– HotNewHipHop

A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1’s cover art is based on photography by Ghanaian photographer and artist Derrick Boateng. The collection will be accompanied by a full-length listening film directed by Mark Leibowitz and featuring Common’s full band performing in colorful, vibrant environments inspired by Boateng’s photographs.

As part of Michelle Obama’s “When We All Vote” initiative, Michelle is currently featuring “A Place In This World" from A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1. Check out the special shoutout from the former First Lady here: https://found.ee/Common_MOVoteEarly

Common will perform lead single “Say Peace,” joined by Black Thought and PJ, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on November 4th, the night after the U.S. presidential election.

A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1 Tracklist:

Intro

Fallin’

Say Peace (feat. Black Thought)

What Do You Say (Move It Baby)

Courageous

A Place In This World

A Riot In My Mind (feat. Lenny Kravitz & Chuck D)

Don’t Forget Who You Are

Outro

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