Calm and Ready: Common "The Game"

Common "The Game"
dir. by Neon
Ever stand middle of the pack at your favorite artist's concert and feel, for a split second, his or her eyes meeting your own? In that moment it's as if no one else is in that crammed auditorium, bar or basement venue - suddenly it's a private performance. Directing group Neon capture the sensation of those connections, but from the perspective of the musician as well as the audience. Common storms the stage looking for that reciprocity; he catches brief glimpses of fans singing along and is genuinely motivated by it. He loses himself in that communal experience, and wants to share it with each and every face in the crowd.

The rest of the video falls somewhere between 8 Mile and Raging Bull, with Common showing off his newfound acting ambition. As he speaks to the mirror we initially assume he's alone in the room, but in fact he's only isolated in his mind - revealing the strength of his concentration before a show. He quickly moves from a moment of hesitation at the sink into the excitement of approaching the stage, like a prize fighter preparing for battle. It's a compelling look inside the game, and raises expectations for Common's forthcoming Finding Forever.