The People (Common song)

Infobox Single
Name = The People


Artist = Common featuring Dwele
from Album = Finding Forever
B-side = "The Game"
Released = May 22, 2007
Format = 12-inch, CD, Digital download, Vinyl
Recorded =
Genre = Alternative hip hop
Length = 3:31
Label = G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen Records
Writer = Lonnie Lynn
Kanye West
Producer = Kanye West
Chronology = Common singles
Last single = "A Dream"
(2006)
This single = "The People"
(2007)
Next single = "The Game"
(2007)
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = Dwele singles
Type = singles
Last single = "Weekend Love"
(2006)
This single = "The People"
(2007)
Next single = "Flashing Lights"
(2008)

"The People" is the first single from rapper Common's 2007 album "Finding Forever". It features uncredited vocals on the chorus sung by soul singer Dwele and production by Kanye West. For the track's beat, West samples vocals from "Long Red" by Mountain just as J Dilla did on De La Soul's "Verbal Clap." This action is part of Kanye's plan to tribute his productions to the late J Dilla on "Finding Forever".cite web | last = Rodriguez | first = Jayson | url = A line in the third verse "From inglewood to a single hood in "Botswana" has particularly generated massive interest in Common in the southern African country Botswana, and the song is getting massive airplay there.http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1556781/20070410/common.jhtml | title = Kanye West, Lily Allen Finding Something In Common at MTV.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = June 13 | accessyear = 2007] cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.thefader.com/blog/articles/2007/04/26/track-by-track-commons-finding-forever | title = Track by Track: Common's Finding Forever from Fader Magazine | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = June 11 | accessyear = 2007] West also samples "We Almost Lost Detroit" by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson for the track's beat. The song also makes an appearance the on the Kanye West "Can't Tell Me Nothing" mixtape. Its music video, which premiered on June 22 on "Y! Music", features stills of Common rapping in Chicago.

Common considers "The People" and "Drivin' Me Wild" to be his favorite tracks on "Finding Forever".cite web | last = | first = | url = http://www.thefader.com/blog/articles/2007/04/26/track-by-track-commons-finding-forever | title = Track by Track: Common's Finding Forever from Fader Magazine | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = June 11 | accessyear = 2007] The song peaked at #11 on the U.S. Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, equaling #111 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song was #29 on "Rolling Stone"'s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007. [No byline (December 11, 2007). [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17601363/the_100_best_songs_of_2007/8 "The 100 Best Songs of 2007"] "Rolling Stone". Retrieved 2007-12-21]

The track references Jay-Z's "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" with the line, "Can't leave rap alone/the streets need me", a reference to the earlier track's "Can't leave rap alone/the game needs me".

Track listing

CD single

# "The People" (Radio Edit) (3:33)
# "The People" (LP Version) (3:33)
# "The People" (Instrumental) (3:23)

Vinyl single

A-side

# "The People (Radio Edit)
# "The People (LP Version)
# "The People (Instrumental)

B-side

# "The Game" (Radio Edit)
# "The Game" (LP Version)
# "The Game" (Instrumental)

Chart positions

References

ee also

*List of Common songs