Common

The blending of Common's lyrical intensity and Kanye West's borderline blurry nostalgi-soul production has proved a musical masterstroke, delivering that rarest of things: a coherent hip-hop album. "The Corner" and "The Food" stand out, but more importantly Be is compact, considered and impressively controlled.

Few of the best moments belong to the main attraction, who's not as wise as they tell him he is ("It's Your World [Part 1 & 2]," "The Food [Live]"). (Grade - ***)