Common Sense (J Hus album)

Common Sense
Studio album by
J Hus
Released12 May 2017
Recorded2014–2016
Genre
Length55:49
LabelBlack Butter
Producer
J Hus chronology
The 15th Day
(2015) 		Common Sense
(2017) 		Big Conspiracy
(2020)
Singles from Common Sense
  1. "Did You See"
    Released: 2 March 2017
  2. "Common Sense"
    Released: 4 May 2017
  3. "Spirit"
    Released: 30 July 2017
  4. "Bouff Daddy"
    Released: 16 November 2017

Common Sense is the debut studio album by British rapper J Hus. It was released on 12 May 2017 by Black Butter Records, distributed by Sony Music, for digital download and CD purchase.[5] The album features production from long-time collaborator Jae5,[6] along with guest appearances from MoStack, Mist, Tiggs da Author and Burna Boy.

Common Sense debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart and received widespread acclaim from critics. It is certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The lead single, "Did You See", peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, becoming J Hus' highest-charting single. Complex ranked it number one on the UK's Best Albums of 2017.

Background

Throughout 2015 and 2016, J Hus released a variety of singles, including "Lean & Bop", "Friendly" and "Playing Sports", along with the debut mixtape The 15th Day (2015), subsequently building a strong online presence.

In early April 2017, J Hus announced the track listing and release date for his debut album, Common Sense.[7][8][9]

Singles

The promotional single "Friendly" was released for digital download on 1 January 2016 after initially being premiered on SoundCloud.[10]

The lead single "Did You See" was released on 2 March 2017, along with its music video. The song peaked at number 9 so far on the UK Singles Chart, becoming J Hus' first chart entry and highest-charting song.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.5/10[11]
Metacritic84/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Clash9/10[14]
Evening Standard[15]
Financial Times[4]
The Guardian[3]
The Irish Times[16]
Mixmag9/10[17]
NME[18]
The Observer[19]
Pitchfork7.8/10[20]

Upon release, Common Sense received widespread acclaim from critics. Kate Hutchinson of The Guardian praised Hus' blend of musical genres: "J Hus leads a wave of MCs who blend the genre's hard-hitting, distinctly UK flow with bashment and Afrobeat. Hus show that mix's true breadth, from playful braggadocio about partying, chasing girls and being, as one song title has it, the "Bouf Daddy", to introspective moments such as Spirit, on which loopy synths and polyrhythmic brilliance meet Hus's weary-sounding motivational speaker. The sound of the summer? You know it makes sense."[3]

Will Pritchard of Clash stated: "This sound now has an album to pin to the mast. It'll soundtrack this summer, but don't be fooled into thinking that its time will be up by September. It's just common sense."[14] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of Financial Times commented: "The music is a rich blend of styles, in which hip-hop, R&B, dancehall and Afrobeats suggest not only Hus's versatility but also a world of expanding horizons."[4]

Paul A. Thompson of Pitchfork commented: "The shifting musical styles underscore Hus' own versatility; he flits from a lilting sing-song to something more gruff and guttural easily and without hesitation", concluding Common Sense is "an excellent debut from an artist on the cusp."[20]

Accolades

Common Sense was acknowledged in numerous year-end lists in 2017, particularly by international publishers.

Accolades for Common Sense
Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
Crack Magazine The Top 100 Albums of 2017
17
[21]
Complex Complex UK's Best Albums of 2017
1
[22]
Fact The 50 Best Albums of 2017
7
[23]
NME NME's Albums of the Year 2017
6
[24]
Pigeons and Planes Best Albums of 2017
16
[25]
The Guardian The Best Albums of 2017
14
[26]

Commercial performance

Common Sense debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart and also entered the Dutch Album Top 100 and the Scottish Albums Chart. It is certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Track listing

Common Sense track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Common Sense"
  • Momodou Jallow
  • Nana Ntorinkansah
  • Jonathan Mensah
  • Stephen Asamoah
  • David Ohene-Akrasi
  • Charles Mensah-Bonsu
3:44
2."Bouff Daddy"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
Jae53:25
3."Clartin"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
Jae53:14
4."Leave Me"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
  • Ayodele Oyadare
  • Jae5
  • IO
3:23
5."Closed Doors"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
Jae53:49
6."Did You See"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
Jae53:01
7."Like Your Style"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
Jae52:56
8."Plottin"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
Jae52:31
9."Sweet Cheeks"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
  • Oyadare
  • Jae5
  • IO
3:01
10."Fisherman" (featuring MoStack and MIST)
2:57
11."Good Time" (featuring Burna Boy)
Jae53:05
12."Spirit"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
  • Ikeoluwa Oluwatobi Oladigbolu
  • Oyadare
  • Jae5
  • TSB
  • IO
3:34
13."Mash Up" (featuring MoStack)
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
  • Daley
Jae53:38
14."Goodies"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
Jae52:52
15."Good Luck Chale" (featuring Tiggs Da Author)
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
  • Ellis Taylor
  • Adam Simon
  • Jae5
  • Show N Prove
3:12
16."Who You Are"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
Jae53:32
17."Friendly"
  • Jallow
  • Mensah
Jae53:55
Total length:55:49

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Common Sense
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[32] Platinum 300,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for Common Sense
Region Date Format Label
Various 12 May 2017
Black Butter

References

  1. ^ Dhruva Balram (24 January 2020). "J Hus – Big Conspiracy review: soulful British rapper barely puts a foot wrong on introspective second album". NME. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  2. ^ "It Seems Like The J Hus Album Has Leaked". Clash. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Hutchinson, Kate (11 May 2017). "J Hus: Common Sense review – unashamed grooves from east London rapper". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (12 May 2017). "J Hus: Common Sense — 'going straight'". Financial Times. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  5. ^ "iTunes – Common Sense by J Hus". iTunes. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Meet Jae5, The East London Genre Blender Behind J Hus's Out Of This World Afrobeats Sound". The Fader. 26 April 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  7. ^ "J Hus Announced Details Of His Debut Album, Common Sense". The Fader. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  8. ^ "No One Is Like J Hus". Noisey. 12 May 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  9. ^ "J Hus announces debut album Common Sense". FACT Magazine. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  10. ^ "Hold the Phone! J Hus Just Dropped a Surprise New Track Called "Friendly"". Noisey. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  11. ^ "Common Sense by J Hus reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Reviews and Tracks for Common Sense by J Hus". Metacritic. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  13. ^ Simpson, Paul. "Common Sense – J Hus". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  14. ^ a b Pritchard, Will (11 May 2017). "J Hus – Common Sense". Clash. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  15. ^ Smyth, David (12 May 2017). "J Hus – Common Sense review: 'Remarkably broadminded debut album'". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  16. ^ Carroll, Jim (25 May 2017). "J Hus makes his mark with skill and confidence". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  17. ^ Wheeler, Seb (30 June 2017). "J Hus 'Common Sense' (Black Butter)". Mixmag. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  18. ^ Madden, Joe (15 May 2017). "J Hus – 'Common Sense' Review". NME. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  19. ^ Joshi, Tara (14 May 2017). "J Hus: Common Sense review – a rich, zeitgeisty debut". The Observer. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  20. ^ a b Thompson, Paul A. (19 May 2017). "J Hus: Common Sense". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  21. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  22. ^ "Complex UK's Best Albums of 2017". Complex. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  23. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Fact. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  24. ^ "NME's Albums of The Year 2017". NME. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  25. ^ "Best Albums of 2017". Pigeons and Planes. 21 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  26. ^ "The best albums of 2017: the full list". The Guardian. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  27. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – J Hus – Common Sense" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  28. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  29. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  30. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2017". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  31. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2018". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  32. ^ "British album certifications – J Hus – Common Sense". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 9 May 2020.