Maps of Music

Black America Again (2016)

Where the lyrics of Black America Again take you, and where it was really made.

An album released near the 2016 US election debuted at number 25 on the Billboard 200, selling 15,000 copies in the United States.

Place unknown

Do you know where this album was recorded, or where its cover was shot? Tell us and we will add it to the map.

Common felt the need to release the album close to election day in 2016
"Love Star" released 2 September 2016, featuring Marsha Ambrosius and PJ, produced by Karriem Riggins
"Black America Again" released 23 September 2016, featuring Stevie Wonder, produced by Karriem Riggins with Robert Glasper
Remix of "Black America Again" released 14 November 2016, featuring Gucci Mane, Pusha T and BJ the Chicago Kid

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, born March 13, 1972 in Chicago, Illinois.
Began rapping in the late 1980s at Luther High School South in Chicago.
Formed the rap trio C.D.R., which dissolved by 1991.
Debuted as a solo artist in 1992 under the name Common Sense, later shortened to Common after a lawsuit from a reggae band of the same name.

Released Can I Borrow a Dollar? (1992), Resurrection (1994), and One Day It'll All Make Sense (1997) on Relativity Records and then MCA Records.
Gained mainstream success through the Soulquarians collective, especially with Like Water for Chocolate (2000), produced largely by J Dilla.
Electric Circus (2002) was experimental and less commercially successful.
Signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music; Be (2005) and Finding Forever (2007) followed, with Finding Forever debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Won Grammys for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Southside" and Best R&B Song for "Love of My Life" with Erykah Badu.
Later albums The Dreamer/The Believer (2011), Nobody's Smiling (2014), Black America Again (2016), and A Beautiful Revolution Pts. 1 and 2 (2020–2021).
Won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Glory" from Selma (2014) with John Legend.
Acting career includes Hell on Wheels, Wanted, Date Night, John Wick: Chapter 2, and Silo.
Won a Primetime Emmy for "Letter to the Free" from the documentary 13th.
Made his Broadway debut in Between Riverside and Crazy (2023).

Metacritic: average score 88 out of 100, based on 13 reviews
AllMusic, Andy Kellman: praised the album as vital from its dark and bright moments alike
Chicago Tribune, Greg Kot: called it one of the year's most potent protest albums, while noting the lightweight love songs in the middle
Entertainment Weekly, Eric Renner Brown: singled out the MC's empathetic and clear-eyed rhymes as the reason it matters to the national conversation
Exclaim!, Erin Lowers: described it as a socio-politically charged album that is not meant for casual listening
Mojo, Andy Cowan: noted the still-abrasive mood of the rapper's work
The Observer, Damien Morris: said there is no hit to match "Glory" but called it intelligent, impressive work
Pitchfork, Edwin "STATS" Houghton: saw freedom presented as an act of improvisation and imagination
Q, Steve Yates: called it uneven but a stirring reminder of the Chicago MC's relevance
XXL, Scott Glaysher: described it as a strong snapshot of America at the time
PopMatters, William Sutton: said it was not flawless but among Common's most vital work

Common felt the need to release the album close to election day in 2016.
Karriem Riggins produced "Love Star" and co-produced "Black America Again" with Robert Glasper.
The album's mastering is credited to Larrabee Sound Studios.
The Independent placed the album at number 19 on its Best Albums of 2016 list.
The second single was followed by a remix on 14 November 2016 with Gucci Mane, Pusha T and BJ the Chicago Kid.