"The Light" is Common's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 44.
In 2024, Common explained to Drink Champs that his "Digga-da, digga-da, digga-da, digga-digga-da-da" ad lib was a placeholder. He wasn't able to find anything else to fill it and left it in.[2]
Chart performance
After the release of Like Water for Chocolate, the song almost immediately attained the status of one of hip hop's few "precious" love songs and women's anthems.[3] The song gave Common his best chart positions in the US. It peaked at No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 21 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart and No. 12 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. Additionally, it reached No. 13 on the Hot Rap Singles chart, a feat that Common had previously surpassed.
Reception
AllMusic writer Steve Huey said that "The Light" as well as "The 6th Sense" are "quintessential Common, uplifting and thoughtful [songs that] helped bring him a whole new audience."[4]
Cynthia Fuchs of PopMatters described it as a "charming, tender, and undeniably soulful declaration of affection and respect."[3] The music video (directed by Nzingha Stewart) features Common, Erykah Badu and "recognizable sensual delights" including "a homemade Minnie Ripertoncassette, a mango, a pink lava lamp [and] a deeply green water-beaded leaf."[3]
The song was listed at number 268 on Pitchfork Media's "Top 500 songs of the 2000s".
A remix featuring vocals by Erykah Badu was released by Motown Records as a single in 2000 for the Bamboozled soundtrack.
The original version is featured on compilations such as The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Vol. 4 (2000), Grammy R&B/Rap Nominees 2001, Pure R&B Vol. 2, and Wrap It Up (all from 2001), The Hip Hop Box (2004) and Hip Hop: Gold (2006).
"The Light '08 (It's Love)", a remake made by Common and producer Just Blaze, featuring Marsha Ambrosius, was released in 2008 for a Smirnoff advertising campaign.
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