Rapper Common has landed the first #1 album of his career with the release of his 7th and latest album, Finding Forever.
The album, which was released via Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music, moved 155,329 copies during its first week in stores, besting his previous chart ranking, which was #2 with 2005’s album BE.
Finding Forever beat Korn’s latest album Untitled, which will land at #2 with over 123,000 units sold.
According to Common, the success of Finding Forever, which also hit #1 on iTunes, is due to the honest of the album’s lyrical content.
“I always wanted to be that voice for all people,” Common told AllHipHop.com in a statement about the album. “If I tell you a story about some spacey astrology thing that’s because I’ve experienced it or I’ve been next to somebody who experienced it, if I tell you a story about selling some dope or getting robbed or shot that’s because I’m next to the person that knows the person it happened to… I rap from a truthful place.”
Common is currently preparing to film a video for the single “Drivin’ Me Wild,” which features Lily Allen.
Producer Kanye West will also make a cameo appearance in the video, which is being shot this month.
In related news, Common is preparing to release his third book, titled M.E. (Mixed Emotions).
The rapper’s first book, The Mirror and Me, teaches lessons about life, the human spirit and human nature, while his second book, I Like You, But I Love Me was nominated for a NAACP Image Award.
M.E. (Mixed Emotions) is due for release later this year.