Universal Mind Control

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Universal Mind Control
Studio album by Common
Released December 9, 2008
Recorded 2008
Genre Alternative hip hop, Electro hop
Length 38:00
Label GOOD Music, Geffen
Producer The Neptunes, Mr. DJ
Common chronology
Finding Forever
(2007)		 Universal Mind Control
(2008)		 The Dreamer, The Believer
(2011)

Universal Mind Control is Common's eighth studio album. Originally scheduled to be released on June 24, 2008 under the name Invincible Summer, the release date was pushed back to September 30, 2008 due to Common filming Wanted.[1] However, on September 10, 2008, it was announced that the title would be changed to Universal Mind Control and the release date was set for November 11, 2008. Later, the release was pushed back to December 9, 2008.[2]

The album's first single, titled "Universal Mind Control", was officially released on July 1, 2008 via the US iTunes Store as part of the Announcement EP (sold as "Universal Mind Control-EP" in the UK). The song features Pharrell, who also produced the track. The Announcement EP included an additional track track titled "Announcement" featuring its producer, Pharrell. The video for "Universal Mind Control" was filmed in September by director Hype Williams.[2] This album was being sold for 79 points (roughly $.99) on Zune Marketplace to help promote the album.

In 2010, the album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album but lost to the Eminem album Relapse.

Contents

[edit] Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 2.5/5 stars[3]
Robert Christgau (2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[4]
Entertainment Weekly C[5]
The Guardian 4/5 stars[6]
Los Angeles Times 2.5/4 stars[7]
Spin 3.5/5 stars[8]
Pitchfork Media 2.8/10[9]
PopMatters 3/10[10]
USA Today 3.5/4 stars[11]
XXL 3/5 stars (L)[12]

Billboard magazine has described the sound as "electro-tinged" and "techno-inspired."[1] The album has largely divided critics and fans, with Pitchfork awarding just 2.8 out of 10, yet The Guardian giving 4 stars of out 5. Metacritic, the score aggregator, calculated a score of 53 out of 100, indicating mixed to average reviews.

[edit] Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Intro/Universal Mind Control" (featuring Pharrell) Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr., Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo The Neptunes 3:34
2. "Punch Drunk Love (The Eye)" (featuring Kanye West) Lynn, Williams, Hugo, Kanye West The Neptunes 4:15
3. "Make My Day" (featuring Cee-Lo Green) Lynn, Thomas Callaway, Dukes Of Daville, J. Bowden, J. Boyd, D. Sheats Mr. DJ 3:59
4. "Sex 4 Suga"   Lynn, Williams, Hugo The Neptunes 4:03
5. "Announcement" (featuring Pharrell) Lynn, Williams, Hugo The Neptunes 3:46
6. "Gladiator" (featuring Pharrell) Lynn, Williams, Hugo The Neptunes 4:07
7. "Changes" (featuring Muhsinah and Omoye Assata Lynn) Lynn, Sheats, Bowden Mr. DJ 3:58
8. "Inhale"   Lynn, Williams, Hugo, Raymond Harris The Neptunes 3:12
9. "What a World" (featuring Chester French) Lynn, Williams, Hugo The Neptunes 3:58
10. "Everywhere" (featuring Martina Topley-Bird) Lynn, Sheats, Martina Topley-Bird Aramis 3:15

[edit] Chart positions

Chart (2008) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard 200 12
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 4
U.S. Billboard Top Rap Albums 1
Canadian Albums Chart 79

In its first week, Universal Mind Control sold 81,663 in the United States. As of December 31, 2008, the album has sold 211,781. [13]

[edit] Release history

Country Date
United States December 9, 2008
Canada
United Kingdom March 6, 2009
Poland
Mexico December 24, 2008
Spain April 7, 2009
Brazil May 12, 2009
China December 10, 2008
Russia
Japan January 6, 2009
New Zealand November 17, 2008
Europe
Australia

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Common Readies "Universal Mind Control" For July Release | Hip Hop News > HipHopDX.com
  2. ^ a b "Common Changes Album Title, Shoots Video With Hype Williams". DJBooth.net. 2008-09-10. http://www.djbooth.net/index/news/entry/common-changes-album-title-shoots-video-with-hype-williams-0910083/. Retrieved 2008-09-17. 
  3. ^ "Allmusic review". http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1456202. 
  4. ^ "Robert Christgau review". http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist2.php?id=272. 
  5. ^ "Entertainment Weekly review". http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20243983,00.html. 
  6. ^ Batey, Angus (December 5, 2008). "The Guardian review". London. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/dec/05/common-universal-mind-control. 
  7. ^ "Los Angeles Times review". http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008/12/album-review-co.html. 
  8. ^ "Spin review". http://spin.com/reviews/common-universal-mind-control-good-musicgeffen. 
  9. ^ "Pitchfork Media review". http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12508-universal-mind-control. 
  10. ^ "PopMatters review". http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/66941-common-universal-mind-control/. 
  11. ^ Jones, Steve (December 9, 2008). "USA Today review". http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/2008-12-08-common-listen-up_N.htm. 
  12. ^ "XXL review". http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=35173. 
  13. ^ http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.8366/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-1-4-09

[edit] External links

Common
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Featured singles
"Confusion" · "Respiration" · "Jam" · "Hurricane" · "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" · "Where I'm Going" · "Wouldn't You Like to Ride" · "SupaStar" · "Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now" · "Make Her Say"
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