I knew this wasn't a record catering to the BET crowd, but I just can't understand how the critics could sleep on Electric Circus. (Did they confuse it with "Inside The Electric Circus" the lame third cd by 80s shock rockers WASP?)At times, Common's reach exceeds his grasp, yes. And he should stay away from ballads most of the time. But other than that EC is a terrific CD in the tradition of Public Enemy's greatest. He dares to go places others won't in this day and age. The musicianship and production are out of this world, adding a new language to the often hackneyed and cliched lexicon of rap-rock.Buy this CD and if you have an open mind that appreciates left field hip-hop (OutKast, the Roots, eL-P) ol skool, (BDP, Tribe PE, Paris) or black-rock (Fishbone, Hendrix, Living Color) you will love this disc. I ain't got no reason to lie to ya.