Common

Newcomers to the Chicago emcee may not recognize the Common on this compilation, which features tracks from his first three albums: Can I Borrow a Dollar?, Resurrection and One Day It'll All Make Sense. The songs from the debut ("Take It Eazy," "Breaker 1/9" ) reveal a Common that was more of a rapper than a lyricist, and his aerobic flow suggest a boho Twista. The emcee soon grew to be one of the most important conscious rappers of the day, however, and 1994's "I Used to Love H.E.R." and 1997's "Retrospect for Life" (featuring Lauryn Hill) are considered indie hip-hop classics.