Today, Common has announced that he will release his new project A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 1) this Friday (October 30). He explained the meaning behind the nine-track via press release, attributing its creation to the current fight for equality:
“Beautiful Revolution Pt 1. is affirmation … It’s recognition. It’s elevation. It’s music to go with a movement. Because the truth is, there is still so much work to do. Regardless of the outcome of the election, we need to make sure things do not return to the status quo. The intention of the music is to channel all of our pain and outrage into something productive, inspirational, and good. It’s to help lead a movement into our next phase of the work to be done.”
Before A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 1) makes landfall, Common unveils a new single titled “Say Peace,” a funky offering that features The Roots’ Black Thought and sees the duo flipping the different meanings of peace, as well as various pathways to it:
“I emcee, from the point of entry, of peace, some find it all through their paper routin’, and some find their peace, their peace through praise and shoutin’, and some find their peace through pullin’ the shades like Malcolm, I found my peace, my peace makin’ these albums, peace…/”
A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 1) will follow last year’s Let Love, which saw 11 tracks and features from Daniel Caesar, Swizz Beatz, Leikeli47, BJ The Chicago Kid, A-Trak, Jill Scott, and more. As far as the election year is concerned, Common also liberated the politically and socially charged Black America Again — days before Donald Trump shocked the world with his presidential election win. Now, Common looks to re-address that subject matter throughout the forthcoming drop.
Until then, you can check out “Say Peace” below.