It’s been about 25 years since Common has graced our ears with a story about a girl he met as a kid with whom he eventually fell in love. That girl was Hip Hop, that song was “I Used to Love H.E.R.,” off his 1994 sophomore album Resurrection. Well, Common has returned to yet again profess his love for Hip Hop in the newly released album “Let Love,” inspired by his best-selling memoir Let Love Have the Last Word, in which he opened up about his relationship struggle both platonic and romantic.

“The music is not a song based on every chapter on the book,” he explained. “It just allowed me to go to different places and gave me a theme on what I wanted to write about and a guide. Once I get a title, I feel great about creating the music. It sets the tone for whatever the movie I want to create is gonna be.”

Earning the recognition as one of entertainment’s busiest men having his has in various projects, from film and TV to video games and book publishing to political activism. Common hasn’t lost his love for music. 

“I was able to set and focus for a while and not try to do any movies and do too many extra things besides just focus on music, which has been new for me in a minute. But I felt it was that important to me so I just wanted to put my heart and soul for it.”

“Let Love,” features 11 tracks with guest appearances from Daniel Caesar, Swizz Beatz, Leon Bridges, Dwele, and Leikeli47, with production from Karriem Riggins, Samora Pinderhughes, A-Trak, and the legendary J Dilla on single “HER Love”.

Most fans know what to expect from a Common album, love ballads, dedication songs, historical references to the black experience and Hip Hop’s trending topics; occasional environmental awareness and politics as usual. But this form of conscience rap and poetic love is needed in these times of uncertainty and unjustified hate. Possibly not everyone’s cup of tea, this is a must-listen at least once. 

“The book was the seed that started me in this conversation,” he told Apple Music. “I believe that the energy of love and the act of love, the practice of it, is the thing that we can use as individuals and as people to overcome the heaviness of the times. When I say ‘Let Love,’ I’m saying put love into practice. Allow love to be the law that we abide by.” 

Stream Let Love below: