The Dreamer/The Believer is the ninth studio album by American rapper Common. It was released on December 20, 2011, through Warner Bros. Records; longtime friend and collaborator No I.D. handled production and co-wrote the entire album.[6]
Background and development
Recording sessions for the album began in 2009, and was originally due for a spring release, but was not completed because Common wanted to concentrate on acting. Eventually, the album was scheduled for a April 2011 release, but it has since slipped to late 2011. The first single was "Ghetto Dreams" featuring Nas. It was released on iTunes July 6, 2011. In preparation for the album's release, Common spoke with The BoomBox about how the LP is taking shape and that he and No I.D. are crafting the album in a more positive direction, quote: "It's going to be positive hip-hop. Hip-hop that can really generate good spirit, the spirit of the music and just good energy," he said. "I'm excited about the album 'The Dreamer, The Believer'. I feel blessed that I got to work with No I.D. I'm enthused to do hip-hop, which is something that I have to do when I feel it. It's the spirit and energy of hip-hop that made you just enjoy it and love the music and not feel like, "Man, is this gonna sell?" or "I sold this many." It's stuff that made you feel something, it's stuff that you can use that inspired your life. I think about hip-hop like Brand Nubian and KRS-One and N.W.A. and Rakim, that stuff inspired my life. Those things really shaped who I am." The second single off the album was "Blue Sky" which officially made available on iTunes October 7, 2011.[7]
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