Common - Resurrection

One song put Common on the map, and it's still one of the smartest metaphors in rap. "I Used to Love H.E.R." tells the story of a woman who loses her way, an allegory for hip-hop itself being lured away from its roots by materialism. It announced a Chicago MC with something to say, and it remains the calling card of Resurrection.

The whole record is built on the jazzy loops of No I.D., whose production gives the album a loose, late-night feel that suits Common's dense and playful writing. The title track sets the tone, "Book of Life" and "Nuthin' to Do" show his reflective side, and "Chapter 13 (Rich Man Vs. Poor Man)" trades ideas with real wit. The album closes with "Pop's Rap," a spoken-word turn from Common's father.

It barely dented the charts when it arrived on Relativity in 1994, peaking at number 179 on the Billboard 200, but critics have long since recognized it as a classic of '90s hip-hop and the moment Common truly broke through.

A single LP on black vinyl, with the album's "East Side of Stony" and "West Side of Stony" sides intact.