Video: Common, ‘Say Peace’ (feat. Black Thought and PJ)

Kevin Bronson on December 11th, 2020

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Revolutions are messy things. It is with focused intensity and frenetic energy that Common narrates the ongoing fight for racial and social justice on his album “A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 1),” released in October.

The idea that any social movement starts with one person — and requires some heavy-duty soul-searching — is driven home in the new video for “Say Peace,” which was directed by A.G. Rojas and Darol Olu Kae and features Julian Huckleby, Phillip Walker and Zane Aluvale.

The song, boasting a guest turn from Black Thought and the sweet vocals of PJ (who stars throughout the album), finds the 48-year-old artist, activist, author and actor — “awake and not afraid” — finding his own peace in his music. “Some find their peace / Their peace through praise and shoutin’ / And some find their peace through pulling the shades like Malcolm / I found my peace, my peace through making these albums.”

To others, he suggests in the opening of the video, “Son. You already have everything you need. You’re blessed. All you have to do is look inside.”

On “Revolution,” he’s backed by a band including keyboardist Robert Glasper, guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, bassist Burniss Travis and drummer Karriem Riggins, alng with PJ. Black Thought, Lenny Kravitz and Stevie Wonder (harmonica on “Courageous”) guest.

As Common says, “‘A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 1)’ is affirmation. It’s recognition. It’s elevation. It’s music to go with a movement. Because the truth is, there is still so much work to do.”

Throughout the album, which is indeed beautiful, Common’s verses cut deep, like this one from “Fallin’”: “Once upon a time there was a Black man / They loved him when he shot ball / They loved him when he ran / They loved him when he rapped / They loved him when he danced / But really didn’t love him when he was out with his fam.”

||| Watch: The video for “Say Peace”