Retrospect for Life

Infobox Single
Name = Retrospect for Life


Artist = Common featuring Lauryn Hill
from Album = One Day It'll All Make Sense
B-side =
Released = 1997
Format = 12-inch single, Vinyl
Recorded =
Genre = Chicago hip hop
Length = 6:23
Label = Relativity Records
Writer = Lonnie Lynn
James Poyser
Ernest Wilson
Stevie Wonder
Syreeta Wright
Producer = James Poyser
No I.D.
Certification =
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = Common singles
Type = singles
Last single = "The Bitch in Yoo"
(1996)
This single = "Retrospect for Life"
(1997)
Next single = "Reminding Me (Of Sef)"
(1997) Extra chronology 2
Artist = Lauryn Hill singles
Type = singles
Last single = "The Sweetest Thing"
(1997)
This single = "Retrospect for Life"
(1997)
Next single = "Summer"
(1997)

"Retrospect for Life" is the first single from rapper Common's third album "One Day It'll All Make Sense". It features production from James Poyser and No I.D., vocals from Lauryn Hill and bass guitar playing by Vere Isaacs. Its autobiographical lyrics weigh the choices of abortion and birth for a woman impregnated by Common. The lyrics as well as a "mellow, piano-driven beat" has caused Dan Menella to call it the most memorable track on Common's third album.cite web | last = Mennella | first = Dan | url = http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_onedayitll.html | title = One Day It'll All Make Sense Review at RapReviews.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = April 1 | accessyear = 2007] Kevin Powell of "Rolling Stone" considers it to be the centerpiece of its album,cite web | last = Powell | first = Kevin | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/common/albums/album/93918/review/6067710/one_day_itll_all_make_sense | title = One Day It'll All Make Sense Review at RollingStone.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = April 1 | accessyear = 2007] and Leo Stanley of Allmusic similarly boasts of its significant emotional impact.cite web | last = Stanley | first = Leo | url = http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:39fqxqrjld0e | title = One Day It'll All Make Sense Review at Allmusic | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = April 1 | accessyear = 2007] Lauryn Hill's verse embodies portions of "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" by Stevie Wonder, while the song's beat samples "A Song for You" by Donny Hathaway. A music video directed by Lauryn Hill was made for it. Two of its b-sides, "Invocation" and "Hungry," received low budget music videos.

Track listing

A-side

# "Retrospect for Life (Radio Edit)" (2:14)
# "Retrospect for Life (Album Version)" (5:23)
# "Retrospect for Life (Instrumental)" (5:23)

B-side

# "Invocation" (2:14)
# "Hungry" (2:33)
# "Real Nigga Quotes" (5:23)

References

ee also

*List of Common songs