A celebration of Chicago, Millennium Park, Common and how far Hip-Hop has come. If there was ever a light that represented how far the city of Chicago and the great Millennium Park has come in the last 20 year’s, Chicago and Hip-Hop legend, Common is one of the things that has shown it. With the amount of times he has played concerts and other events at or near Millennium Park over the year’s. Saturday night’s packed show at the Pritzker Pavilion was one of the perfect examples of doing so. With Saturday’s free concert the main highlight of this weekend’s events happening around Millennium Park that started on Thursday and concludes tomorrow with several concerts and other events happening at and/or around the park. To help celebrate Millennium Park’s 20th anniversary.
It may have been night, but Common and the Grant Park Orchestra turned the packed house into a ray of sunshine with plenty of great and unexpected surprises throughout his set. Whether it be bringing Bilal and Posdnous of De La Soul out for their collaboration, When The Sun Shines Again, from his recent critically-acclaimed collaboration album with Pete Rock, The Audiotorium, Vol. 1. To bringing out his girlfriend and fellow Chicago native, Jennifer Hudson, for a three-song duet.
Never one to turn down honoring his hometown of Chicago, Common, really was the perfect representative to honor his Windy City roots in such a joyous and jubilant celebration of not only Millennium Park, but the city of Chicago as a whole. As he really transformed the crowded Pritzker Pavilion into a celebration of both Hip-Hop and Chicago. While also showing why he’s one of the greatest emcees, entertainers and performers you will ever see.
The Chicago emcee, who donned white pants with a matching vest and green shirt going through several of his classics such Go!, I Used to Love H.E.R., and The Light. As well as a cover of Erykah Budu and his classic collaboration, Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop), from the Brown Sugar soundtrack. Really engaging and encouraging the crowd to rap and sing along to each song. Common showed why he has always been and still is for the people.
The Grant Park Orchestra, which was lead by conductor, Anthony Parnther, and that the Chicago native praised throughout the show. That was paired with Common’s band, two backup singers and DJ Dummy on the turntables, adding a nice musical rich texture to his catalog. Which made the performance sound that much better and truly shows how far Hip-Hop has come. Common even remarking of the pairing to quote the late great, The Notorious B.I.G., “Whoever thought Hip-Hop would take it this far?”
Then turning the crowd into a joyous and electryfying celebration of how far Hip-Hop has come in just a little over 50 year’s. Common did covers of classic Hip-Hop songs from everyone from Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg’s, Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang to A Tribe Called Quest’s, Scenario, Wu-Tang Clan’s, C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) and Biggie’s, Juicy. Right before turning the spotlight to DJ Dummy to show off his scratching skills while playing Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock’s classic, It Takes Two. The crowd going absolutely crazy as he reversed Base’s line, “One, two, three, get loose now,” to, “Three, two, one.” While everyone in the crowd from young, old and in between. Got loose dancing and singing along as they took in how a DJ is supposed to get down on the, “wheels of steel.”
By the time Common got to the very latter part of his performance he not only brought out Bilal and Posdnous of De La Soul, but also ended up bringing out De La as well to perform their classic, Me Myself and I. Which he had everyone joyously and ecstatically singing and rapping along to as Maseo and then Talib Kweli came out. Right before asking if anyone in the crowd believed in God or a higher being to get to where they are and bring us all the joys so many of us experience. Common then introduced fellow Chicago great, Jennifer Hudson, as he launched into their powerful collaboration, A GOD (There Is), from his most recent album, The Audiotorium, Vol. 1.
Common bringing the holy trinity of, A GOD (There Is), his John Legend collaboration, Glory and The Light. To really allow Hudson to show her amazing pipes to close out his very amazing performance that seen him joined by everyone from her to Pete Rock, Bilal, De La Soul, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch and GRAMMYs Award-winning Chicago poet, J. Ivy onstage. To close out his very joyously stirring and spectacular performance at the Pritzker Pavilion celebrating Millennium Park’s 20th anniversary.