So, it's September sum'n and still no sign of Common's Invincible Summer (which I somehow don't think is an homage to the k.d. lang album of the same name). That's because the LPâproduced exclusively by the Neptunes and Mr. DJ (genius producer for Outkast and others)âhas been pushed till November, and the name has been changed to Universal Mind Control, after the Pharrell-featuring, "Planet Rock"âevoking single of the same name.
I won't lie, as much as Com (whom you can catch at the Showbox Sodo September 18) hasn't quite grabbed me for a sec, I was even less stoked to hear the album would be "techno-inspired" jams influenced by fun stuff like "barbecue and strippers." Don't get me wrong, I love both of those things (especially together), but it sounds exactly like the latest Fader-rapper mixtape with cool streetwear references and zero replay valueâand probably more than a little like that gawdawful "Love Lockdown" from Common's townmate Kanye West. I don't care if the version that's leaked is not mixed, that shit suuuucks (and hell no, I ain't watching the VMAs)!
People keep asking: Is Ye's said-to-be all-sangin', all-Auto-Tune fourth album 808's & Heartbreak gonna be his The Love Below? Probably, saleswise; qualitatively, it'll probably be more like Idlewild. Dear Hiphop's Best and Brightest: Please stop ruining my life. Cats are falling off so fucking fast, I'm going deaf from all the sonic booms. Man, I remember when drugs and money made people make awesome music. What happened? It blows when the only props I can give Yeezy is for spiking a paparazzo's camera. Nowadays, doing any kind of dirt at the airport is gangsta!
What are you doing Friday night, though? Those trying to do it big have a couple of options. There's the charismatic Cali collective Living Legends at Neumosâlike, all of them motherfuckers! They haven't toured as a whole family for some time, so those LL heads (no Old Spice Swagger) in the town will be wanting to get down with them, turf goofballs the Bayliens, and our hardworking neighbors from Portland, the Sandpeople.
If that's not your thing, hit up that Showbox Sodo Lounge for the CD release for The Cost of Living by Black Lab Productions rep and Beacon Hill soldier Graves. There'll be performances from Life Cycle, Cheo Lopez, Phreewil with WD4D, and 33 1/3 with Jewels Hunterânice lineup. I haven't heard the album yet, but I've peeped the videos for Graves's "Partial Truth" and the excellent "Primal Rap" from his MySpace, and so can you: www.myspace.com/spacefamilymusic. Yeah, kids, do the knowledge, check the files, keep an ear to the streetâbut keep some Purell. 
