Common says he’s got a Mount Rushmore of rappers and one for producers in an interview with XXL.
DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, J Dilla and No I.D. are on his Mount Rushmore of producers. Dilla and No I.D. are muses for Common on “Rewind That,” a cut off Nobody’s Smiling. On the track, Common details the deterioration and rejuvenation of his relationship with No I.D. as well as the affection he feels for J Dilla, who passed away in 2006 after a long battle with lupus and other health complications.
The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Tupac and Rakim make up the Chicago, Illinois’ rapper’s Mount Rushmore of emcees. Recently, Common spoke highly of one of the emcees on the list, Tupac. “I think the artist that is maybe able to relate to the gutter shit, and speak about the gutter shit, but understands the other shit and maybe understands the other shit too, is actually to me not only the most celebrated, but most valued artist,” he said. “Think about Tupac. He was an actor; and a real dude. He had been through some stuff. He was a revolutionary but he also was a dude that was like, ‘Yo, I’ll beat your ass too.’ There’s something very powerful about being able to relate to the street, but still be able to do some high art.”
RELATED:Common Details Tupac’s Revolutionary & Street Mentality, J Dilla’s Fusion Of “Artsy” & “Ghetto”
