Common Like Water for Chocolate

Included in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2000.
3.5 stars out of 5 - "...The dance jams...bump like acne....Common has a need to kick something that means something....A hip-hop MC willing to actually examine himself through his art? There's nothing Common about about that."
8 out of 10 - "...His most aggressive and powerful record yet....[His] genius is that he's never more pop and playful than when he's worried, and vice versa....KRS-One's podium is open; maybe Common oughta step up."
Ranked #6 in EW's Top 10 Albums of 2000 - "...One helluva free-flowing album..."
3 stars out of 5 - "...Decidedly arthouse....This is wholemeal hip hop: chewy and a wee bit bland but nutritious all the same."
3 out of 5 - "...A good introduction to Common....complex and versatile....[he] serves up bite-size tastes of each of his various skills..."
"...[His] fourth and best album..."
"...his most eclectic joint to date....fusing his gritty rap edge with bohemian, jazzy soul..."
4 mics out of 5 - "...Reflects a more worldly Common....creating full-fledged jazz, funk and soul songs....this LP unfolds in 2 acts. Act I stretching the boundaries of traditional hip-hop....Act II finds [him] on an emotional roller coaster..."
"...The most intelligent and organic album since OutKast's AQUEMINI....a masterful blend of soul/funk music and [his] lyrics of hope and mental and spiritual well-being."
"...May be the most user-friendly contribution so far to the wave of 'conscious' rap....an intriguing balance [of]...paying tribute to inspirational figures like Fela Kuti and Black Panther heroine Assata, while letting the sheer pleasure of word-play bubble through..."
8 out of 10 - "...Equal parts philosopher and documentarian....Common deftly illustrates the big picture. Like all great storytellers."