Common's "Joy and Peace" begins with a pastor delivering a self-affirming sermon over a sure-footed, unhurried kick-and-snare groove layered with dazzling, frantic, and harmonically daring guitar. the groove continues, the sermon fades away and Common enters to argue that we should be hopeful and not despair.
"Fuck Big Brother, father, mother, God is watching you," he raps.
"Turn your light on," Bilal sings.
Just yesterday, Common released "Home" feat. Bilal. Before that, he released "Letter to the Free" and "Black America Again" feat. Stevie Wonder, the title track off his upcoming album that, judging from the singles, is going to be nice.