Common | Can I Borrow A Dollar? (LP)

While hip-hop was experiencing a creative revolution in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the genre was still somewhat restricted geographically, primarily dominated by New York City and Los Angeles.  Acclaimed artist Common was among the first successful rappers from elsewhere, officially putting Chicago on the hip-hop map with this debut album Can I Borrow A Dollar?.  Released in 1992, the album is a vintage boom-bap masterpiece, with famed producer No I.D. behind the boards on 12 of 13 tracks.  It also marks the beginning of a storied career, as Common would go on to release three gold albums, create classics with the likes of J Dilla and Kanye West, win multiple Grammys and even an Academy Award, and land several major roles as an actor.  Long out-of-print, Can I Borrow A Dollar? is now back on 2LP vinyl while supplies last.  This 25th anniversary edition also includes a bonus 7” featuring the rare B-side “Can-I-Bust” and the instrumental for the single “Breaker 1/9”. 

A Penny For My Thoughts, Charms Alarm, Take It EZ, Heidi Hoe, Breaker 1/9, Two Scoops Of Raisins, No Defense, Blows To The Temple, Just In The Nick Of Rhyme, Tricks Up My Sleeve, Puppy Chow, Soul By The Pound, Pitchin’ Pennies, Can-I-Bust (Bonus), Breaker 1/9 Instrumental (Bonus)

Personnel: Common Sense (vocals); Tony Orbach (saxophone); Lenny Underwood (keyboards); Kenny Aaronson (bass); Twilite Tone, Tarsha Jones (background vocals); Immenslope, Rayshel. Producers: Immenslope, The Beat Nuts, Twilite Tone. The first album by Chicago MC Common, CAN I BORROW A DOLLAR?, is widely accepted in hip-hop's underground as a classic. Raw cuts like "Blows to the Temple" demonstrate why, and give listeners a glimpse at a legend in the making. With CAN I BORROW A DOLLAR?, a younger, more careless Common was simply out to demonstrate his talents to a nation obsessed with New York and L.A. rap. The lo-fi beat structure of the album is reminiscent of the music of the early '90s, when heavy jazz and funk influences dominated East Coast hip-hop. Though the disc is layered with gritty beats and samples that now seem familiar, they seem vibrant when put into context with other material of the same era. The Beatnuts offer one of their early productions on "Heidi Hoe," a track that may shock listeners who are used to Common's more reflective, socially aware lyrics of today. While certainly not his best work, die-hard fans won't be disappointed.

Tracklist

Dollar LP    

A1        A Penny For My Thoughts
A2        Charms Alarm
A3        Take It EZ
B4        Heidi Hoe
B5        Breaker 1/9
B6        Two Scoops Of Raisins

Sense LP    

C1        No Defense
C2        Blows To The Temple
C3        Just In The Nick Of Rhyme
C4        Tricks Up My Sleeve
D5        Puppy Chow
D6        Soul By The Pound
D7        Pitchin' Pennies

Bonus 7"    

E        Breaker 1/9 (Instrumental)
F        Can-I-Bust (Non-Album Track)

*Audio and/or tracklist may vary slightly from the vinyl version.

Label: NASD
Rel. Date: 04/21/2018
UPC: 822720781317

• Genre: Rap/Hip Hop
• Format: Vinyl
• Format Detail: LP