Can I Borrow a Dollar?

Infobox Album |
Name = Can I Borrow a Dollar?
Type = Studio album
Artist = Common Sense


Released = 1992
Recorded = 1991-1992
Genre = Chicago hip hop
Length = 49:34
Label = Relativity Records
Producer = Immenslope
The Beatnuts
Twilite Tone
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:ryaxqj2bojta link]
*RapReviews.com rating-10|7 [http://rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_borrowadollar.html link]
*Piero Scaruffi rating-10|6 [http://www.scaruffi.com/vol5/common.html link]
*"The Source" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.buy.com/prod/can-i-borrow-a-dollar/q/loc/109/60341432.html October, 1992; p. 55]
Chronology = Common
Last album =
This album = "Can I Borrow a Dollar?"
(1992)
Next album = "Resurrection"
(1994)Singles
Name = Can I Borrow a Dollar?
Type = studio
single 1 = Take It EZ
single 1 date = September 2 1992
single 2 = Breaker 1/9
single 2 date = January 12 1993
single 3 = Soul by the Pound
single 3 date = July 13, 1993

"Can I Borrow a Dollar?" is the 1992 debut album by Chicago rapper Common, then known as Common Sense. The album was entirely produced by No I.D then Immenslope, The Beatnuts and Twilite Tone. It contains guest vocals from Immenslope, Miss Jones and Common's then-girlfriend Rayshel. "Entertainment Weekly"'s Neil Drumming describes it as "a clever but little-noticed first album."cite web | last = Drumming | first = Neil | url = http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1066214,00.html | title = Confidence Man at EW.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = May 13 | accessyear = 2007]

Overview

Background

In 1991, a feature was written about Common in the Unsigned Hype section of "The Source". Relativity Records soon signed Common, and prepared to release three singles for his debut album. The first and best-charting single, 1992's "Take It EZ," boasted an upbeat 2 pc. DRK production. "Take It EZ" reached #5 on the Hot Rap Singles chart while his next two singles, "Breaker 1/9" and "Soul by the Pound," reached #10 and #7 respectively. All of these singles combined to give Common a strong underground reputation prior to the album's release.cite web | last = Huey | first = Steve| url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:6orn282t052a~T1 | title = Common Biography at Allmusic | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = March 24 | accessyear = 2007]

Content

"Can I Borrow A Dollar?" shows Common's earlier style of rapping; namely a sing-songy and inflection-heavy vocal delivery, as well as lyrics packed with wordplay and popular culture allusions.cite web | last = Swihart | first = Stanton | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:ryaxqj2bojta | title = Can I Borrow a Dollar? Review at Allmusic | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = March 24 | accessyear = 2007] cite web | last = Jost | first = Matt | url = http://rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_borrowadollar.html | title = Can I Borrow a Dollar? Review at RapReviews.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = March 24 | accessyear = 2007] The album's production, utilizing samples, keyboards, and drum breaks prominently, tends to be minimalistic, jazzy and laid back.cite web | last = Swihart | first = Stanton | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:ryaxqj2bojta | title = Can I Borrow a Dollar? Review at Allmusic | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = March 24 | accessyear = 2007] "The Source" called the production top notch.cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:ryaxqj2bojta | title = Can I Borrow a Dollar? Professional Reviews at Buy.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = March 25 | accessyear = 2007] Although receiving a lukewarm reception, Stanton Swihart of Allmusic considers it to have put Chicago hip hop on the map and to be an underrated debut album.cite web | last = Swihart | first = Stanton | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:ryaxqj2bojta | title = Can I Borrow a Dollar? Review at Allmusic | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = March 24 | accessyear = 2007]

Track listing

On vinyl releases, the first six tracks are considered to be on the 'Dollar Side' of the album, while the next seven tracks are on the 'Sense Side'.

References