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Shallow Nation

December 5th, 2008 at 9:32 am

Video: Common on Tonight Show with Jay Leno 12-4-08 ‘Universal Mind Control’ Performance

Common

Grammy Award winning rapper and actor Common performed the title track from his eighth studio album Universal Mind Control on Tonight Show with Jay Leno on December 4, 2008. The album will be released on December 9, 2008.

The single was produced by The Neptunes and features Pharrell Williams. The official music video, directed by Hype Williams, was released in October 2008 and can be seen on YouTube.

First single “Universal Mind Control (UMC),” featuring Williams, plucks its rhythm from Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock” as Common rhymes about “booties dropping … styling and being fly.”

“I wanted to do what I felt was missing from my catalog — songs that could be played at parties internationally,” Common says. “I just came off tour with N*E*R*D, and crowds really felt ‘Universal Mind Control (UMC).’” [...]

Common - Universal Mind Control album cover

Beyond his music, the rapper continues to be busy with film work. He has acted alongside Jeremy Piven in “Smokin’ Aces,” Denzel Washington in “American Gangster” and Angelina Jolie in “Wanted,” and will play the character Barnes in the 2009 action film “Terminator Salvation.”

Having achieved Hollywood success, Common knows he can take artistic chances with his music in a way few other rappers can. “A brother isn’t just relying on hip-hop to pay my bills anymore,” he says.

Source: Hip-hop star Common in a party mood on “Control”

Photo credit: Steve Nguyen via Creative Commons

via Mr World Premiere