Common Tastes "Chocolate" For New Record

Chicago rapper Common, who recently joined The Roots and Mos Def on the title track to the Denzel Washington film, "The Hurricane," is now preparing for the release of his new studio album.

The 14-track LP is titled "Like Water For Chocolate" (inspired by Laura Esquivel's novel of the same name) and is the long-awaited follow-up to Common's 1997 effort "One Day It'll All Make Sense." The rapper will shoot the video for the DJ Premier-produced first single, "The 6th Sense," in the next few weeks.

The album features guest appearances by D'Angelo, Goodie M.O.B.'s Cee-Lo, Roots MC Black Thought, Mos Def, MC Lyte, Femi Kuti, Vinia Mojica, jazz great Roy Hargrove (who appears on D'Angelo's new album as well), and Slum Village.

Common's father, who is credited as "Pops," also turns up on "Like Water For Chocolate," providing backing vocals on "All My Children," the LP's closing track.

"Like Water For Chocolate" will be released on March 28 by Common's new label, MCA Records.

-- John Gill (mtv.com)