New Music: Solange feat. Common - 'Cranes in the Sky (Remix)'

Common soars on an unofficial remix to Solange’s “Cranes in the Sky” off A Seat at the Table.

Delivering introspective rhymes and thought-provoking themes, Common raps about Lauryn Hill, everlasting love, escapism, and sadness.

“Can’t work it away,” he rhymes. “Can’t drink it away / Can’t laugh it away / Can’t think it away / That pain come up on ya like a thief in the day.”

In a statement to The FADER, Common explained how Solange’s track inspired his raps.

“Every once and a few years, there are certain songs that come out and have the sound of forever,” he said. “‘Cranes in the Sky’ is that song for me. Every time I listened to it, I keep wanting to hear it again and again. I started mumbling some words to it and then decided I want to write a verse. This is an unofficial remix simply inspired by the love of art.”

“Cranes in the Sky” has inspired others too, including Kaytranada, who also unleashed his own Solange-approved remix.

Meanwhile, Common is gearing up for his own album Black America Again, which is due Nov. 4.