"Retrospect for Life" | ||||
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Single by Common featuring Lauryn Hill | ||||
from the album One Day It'll All Make Sense | ||||
Released | July 29, 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1996 | |||
Genre | Hip hop Chicago hip hop | |||
Length | 6:23 | |||
Label | Relativity Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Lonnie Lynn James Poyser Ernest Wilson Stevie Wonder Syreeta Wright | |||
Producer(s) | James Poyser No I.D. | |||
Common singles chronology | ||||
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Lauryn Hill singles chronology | ||||
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"Retrospect for Life" is the first single from rapper Common's third album One Day It'll All Make Sense . It features production from James Poyser and No I.D.,vocals from Lauryn Hill and bass guitar playing by Vere Isaacs. Its autobiographical lyrics weigh the choices of abortion and birth for a woman impregnated by Common. The lyrics as well as a "mellow,piano-driven beat" has caused Dan Menella to call it the most memorable track on Common's third album. [1] Kevin Powell of Rolling Stone considers it to be the centerpiece of its album, [2] and Leo Stanley of Allmusic similarly boasts of its significant emotional impact. [3] Lauryn Hill's verse embodies portions of "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" by Stevie Wonder,while the song's beat samples "A Song for You" by Donny Hathaway. A music video directed by Lauryn Hill was made for it. Two of its b-sides,"Invocation" and "Hungry," received low budget music videos.
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones,better known by his stage name Nas,is an American rapper. Rooted in East Coast hip hop,he is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. The son of jazz musician Olu Dara,Jones's musical career began in 1989 as he adopted the moniker of "Nasty Nas" and recorded demos for Large Professor. He was later featured on the 1991 single "Live at the Barbeque" by Main Source.
Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American rapper,singer,songwriter,and actress. She is often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time,as well as being one of the most influential musicians of her generation. Hill is credited for breaking barriers for female rappers,popularizing melodic rapping and for bringing hip hop and neo soul to popular music. She is known for being a member of Fugees,and for her 1998 solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,which became one of the best-selling albums of all time. Hill has won many accolades,including eight Grammy Awards,the most for a female rapper to this day.
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Lonnie Rashid Lynn,known by his stage name Common,is an American rapper and actor. He debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow a Dollar?, and gained critical acclaim with his 1994 album Resurrection. He maintained an underground following into the late 1990s. He achieved mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians.
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