Hip-Hop Royalty Reunites: Common and Pete Rock Drop “Wise Up,” A Nostalgic Masterpiece
Hip hop has come alive as two of its greats have reconnected with fresh music. Wise Up is quite alright but it isn’t just a new song. A reunion, a celebration and all brand new.
The album is released as Common celebrates the 19th anniversary of his critical album “Be.” As an artist, he took to social media to celebrate Kanye West (formerly Ye) and the late J Dilla, confidants who shaped the very fibers of “Be.” Such is the reminder of music made from the heart and collaboration that is Common.
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With “Wise Up,” no exceptions; in its own right, it’s yet another masterful gem, blending seamlessly a warm soulful sound from the golden age with edginess that listeners today can connect with. The music, indeed, is a bridge through time—a testimony to the power of great music.
Common, one of the deepest lyricists in the game, laces rhymes over classic Pete Rock production. Wisely, “Wise Up” follows, with an LP to follow that is sure to be seminal.
But the magic doesn’t stop at the audio. More so, the video directed by Marleaux Desiré is a masterpiece of its own. It depicts the raw energy of street-level stories, a perfect reflection of the song’s themes. With contributions from ILLIMITÉWORLD and amazing still photography by Alonzo Hellerbach, ‘Wise Up’ is raised to a multi-experiential work. After all, “Smart Up” is more than just some beats and rhymes. It’s about issues on social awareness and critical thinking, which encourage listeners to act on their environment. The song and video are just about ready to kick-start something important within not only the hip-hop community but also far beyond, ultimately proving that music can indeed become both interesting and purposeful across all walks of life.
But “Wise Up” is not so much the one shot as it is about a possibility of having a little more ammo somewhere down the line. Fans and critics both are going to be hard-pressed to hear what else Common and Pete Rock could come up with. On this one, they’ve solidified their place as legends while setting the bar for everybody else.
More than just another new single, “Wise Up” is evidence of collaboration, an ode to a bygone era in hip-hop, and the promise of epochal things to come. It’s a classic example of the way Common and Pete Rock always break the boundaries, doing things to inspire the future generations—torchbearers for the future of hip-hop. If ever hip-hop had a rosy outlook for the future, it had to be now.
