After a lukewarm response to the experimental and eclectic Electric Circus, Common went back to the raw essence of MCing that made

him one of the most renowned rap artists in the game. Be is a composite of adroit lyricism, insightful storytelling, an Afro-Centric

ethos. But, just as importantly, the album features a soulful sonic backdrop provided by Kanye West and J. Dilla.

From the gorgeous title track intro to the diverse singles — the hard-hitting “The Corner;” the breezy “Go!;” and the dramatic “Testify,

— Be is a lean, spotless album. There were no skips, with deep cuts like “They Say,” “Faithful,” “Love is,” and “Chi-City” rounding out

one of the best rap albums of the 2000s.

In celebration of its anniversary, we dug up some facts about the creation of Common’s masterful comeback Be. Here are 10 facts yo may not have known about Be.

Be was Common’s First Album After Breaking Up With Erykah Badu

Common and Erykah Badu dated for several years. “ Photo Credit: M. Caulfield/WireImage for Essence Entertainment

When Common began writing Be, every area of his life was changing. The almighty Soulquarian collective would go on to work on separate projects after Electric Circus, his previous album, was not as highly regarded as his previous works. Of all the changes that Common was experiencing, his public break up with Neo soul-songstress Erykah Badu may have been the biggest of all. The two dated for several years and one of Common’s most successful singles, “The Light,” was dedicated to Badu. And on “Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop)” the duo won a Grammy. But when the couple called it quits, it definitely took a toll on Common.

After a lukewarm response to the experimental and eclectic Electric Circus, Common went back to the raw essence of MCing that made him one of the most renowned rap artists in the game. Be is a composite of adroit lyricism, insightful storytelling, an Afro-Centric ethos. But, just as importantly, the album features a soulful sonic backdrop provided by Kanye West and J. Dilla.

From the gorgeous title track intro to the diverse singles — the hard-hitting “The Corner;” the breezy “Go!;” and the dramatic “Testify,” — Be is a lean, spotless album. There were no skips, with deep cuts like “They Say,” “Faithful,” “Love is,” and “Chi-City” rounding out one of the best rap albums of the 2000s.

In celebration of its anniversary, we dug up some facts about the creation of Common’s masterful comeback Be. Here are 10 facts you may not have known about Be.

Be was Common’s First Album After Breaking Up With Erykah Badu

After a lukewarm response to the experimental and eclectic Electric Circus, Common went back to the raw essence of MCing that made him one of the most renowned rap artists in the game. Be is a composite of adroit lyricism, insightful storytelling, an Afro-Centric ethos. But, just as importantly, the album features a soulful sonic backdrop provided by Kanye West and J. Dilla.

From the gorgeous title track intro to the diverse singles — the hard-hitting “The Corner;” the breezy “Go!;” and the dramatic “Testify,” — Be is a lean, spotless album. There were no skips, with deep cuts like “They Say,” “Faithful,” “Love is,” and “Chi-City” rounding out one of the best rap albums of the 2000s.

In celebration of its anniversary, we dug up some facts about the creation of Common’s masterful comeback Be. Here are 10 facts you may not have known about Be.

Be was Common’s First Album After Breaking Up With Erykah Badu

The almighty Soulquarian collective would go on to work on separate projects after Electric Circus, his previous album, was not as highly regarded as his previous works. Of all the changes that Common was experiencing, his public break up with Neo soul-songstress Erykah Badu may have been the biggest of all. The two dated for several years and one of Common’s most successful singles, “The Light,” was dedicated to Badu. And on “Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop)” the duo won a Grammy. But when the couple called it quits, it definitely took a toll on Common.

In an interview with Ebony Magazine, Common recalled, “Some of the hardest work I’ve done on myself has been after breakups. With Erykah Badu, that was my first love where you’re just open and floating. When we split, I was 27 or 28. I was in a haze, just going through the motions. It was hard to eat. It wasn’t her fault, the relationship just didn’t go forward.”

Be Does Not Stand For “Before Erykah.”

Common performing, wearing hat

“The album is entitled Be because the hardest thing to do is to be yourself,” Common said at the time. Photo Credit: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images

There was a rumor that Common titled the album Be with a hidden, subliminal message. It was alleged that Be actually stood for “Before Erykah.”

When AllHipHop asked if that’s what Be stood for, Common replied, “Naw. The album is entitled Be because the hardest thing to do is to be yourself, although many think it’s the easiest it’s really not. Being is just to exist, you don’t have to try hard to do anything because God gave us each an individual and unique characteristic that is the core of who we are. So Be is just about that, being whoever you are, wherever you are

When Common began writing Be, every area of his life was changing. The almighty Soulquarian collective would go on to work on separate projects after Electric Circus, his previous album, was not as highly regarded as his previous works. Of all the changes that Common was experiencing, his public break up with Neo soul-songstress Erykah Badu may have been the biggest of all. The two dated for several years and one of Common’s most successful singles, “The Light,” was dedicated to Badu. And on “Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop)” the duo won a Grammy. But when the couple called it quits, it definitely took a toll on Common.

In an interview with Ebony Magazine, Common recalled, “Some of the hardest work I’ve done on myself has been after breakups. With Erykah Badu, that was my first love where you’re just open and floating. When we split, I was 27 or 28. I was in a haze, just going through the motions. It was hard to eat. It wasn’t her fault, the relationship just didn’t go forward.”