Common Compares Chicago of the '80s & '90s to Today

Veteran MC and Chicago's own Common sat down with VladTV to discuss his 10th album, "Nobody's Smiling," the meaning behind its title, and the difference between the Chicago of his youth and Chiraq today.

When it's comes to dropping his 10th album, Common says it feels good to be able to have that many albums under his belt, but that he doesn't get caught up in how many albums he's dropped because he knows you're only as good as your last cut. He's more excited about the new project than anything else.

The album in question, "Nobody's Smiling," is about Chicago's increasingly violent nature and the need for it to be addressed. When reminded of Chicago rapper and Chief Keef's cousin Big Glo's murder back in April, Common says that's the reason he made this album.

"I'm not happy, I'm from Chicago. I'm not happy we losing people over...people getting shot over things that ain't even necessary. I can't even act like i know every situation, why it happens, but some of it...it's become part of...a way of life. People don't value life as much as we can, as much as we should."

When asked about the state of Chicago today vs. Chicago of the late '80s and '90s when he was coming up, he says he feels it's worse now. Also, he quotes a statistic saying the murder rate was higher in his era, but the order and street code of the hood no longer exists, citing the fact that kids as young as 3 years old are being shot and killed as an example.