Studio Album · No. 4

Like Water for Chocolate Songwriting Credits by Common

2000 MCA 16 tracks 77:51

Produced by Questlove, Executive producer#Music, Common, co-exec., Derek Dudley, co-exec., J Dilla, James Poyser, DJ Premier, D'Angelo, Karriem Riggins  ·  Engineered by Russell Elevado, Vidal Davis, Tom Coyne, Terry Baily

MCA Conscious Hip HopNeo SoulJazz Rap
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 16 of 16 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 16 / 16 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 16 tracks with documented writers, by whether Common carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
16 trackswritten by Common 0 tracksoutside writers
Common's roles on this album

Share of the 16 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

16
Tracks
31
Lyricists
8
Producers
2000
Released
Data Insight

The Soulquarians album, and the first with any track he wrote alone: one of the 16. J Dilla, James Poyser and Questlove write across most of the rest, so the room is a band rather than a producer handing over beats. He is credited on every track, which had not happened before.

Like Water for Chocolate came out on MCA in March 2000 and is certified gold. "The Light" reached number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, his highest charting single as a lead artist.

Track Listing & Credits 16 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Time Travelin' (A Tribute to Fela)
CommonD'AngeloQuestloveJames PoyserJ Dilla Lonnie Rashid LynnMichael ArcherAhmir ThompsonJames PoyserJames Yancey D'AngeloQuestloveJames PoyserJ Dilla Common (Performer)Vinia Mojica (Featured Vocals)Roy Hargrove (Featured Vocals)Femi Kuti (Featured Vocals)
2
Heat
Common Lonnie Rashid Lynn J Dilla Common (Performer)
3
Cold Blooded
CommonQuestloveD'AngeloRahzelBlack ThoughtKelo SaundersGeorge ClintonGlenn GoinsGarry Shider Lonnie Rashid LynnAhmir ThompsonMichael ArcherRahzel BrownTariq TrotterKelo SaundersGeorge Clinton Jr.Glenn GoinsGarry Shider D'AngeloQuestloveKelo SaundersThe Roots Common (Performer)Rahzel (Featured Vocals)Roy Hargrove (Featured Vocals)Black Thought (Featured Vocals)
4
Dooinit
CommonJ Dilla Lonnie Rashid LynnJames Yancey J Dilla Common (Performer)
5
The Light #44
CommonJ DillaBobby CaldwellNorman HarrisBruce Malament Lonnie Rashid LynnJames YanceyBobby CaldwellNorman HarrisBruce Malament J Dilla Common (Performer)
6
Funky for You
CommonJ DillaJames PoyserBilal Lonnie Rashid LynnJames YanceyJames PoyserBilal Oliver J DillaJames Poyser Common (Performer)Bilal (Featured Vocals)Jill Scott (Featured Vocals)
7
The Questions
CommonJ DillaJames PoyserYasiin Bey Lonnie Rashid LynnJames YanceyJames PoyserDante Smith J DillaJames Poyser Common (Performer)Yasiin Bey (Featured Vocals)
8
Time Travelin' (Reprise)
CommonD'AngeloQuestloveJames PoyserJ Dilla Lonnie Rashid LynnMichael ArcherAhmir ThompsonJames PoyserJames Yancey D'AngeloQuestloveJames PoyserJ Dilla Common (Performer)
9
The 6th Sense
CommonBilalDJ PremierHavocProdigy Lonnie Rashid LynnBilal OliverChristopher MartinKejuan MuchitaAlbert Johnson DJ Premier Common (Performer)Bilal (Featured Vocals)
10
A Film Called (Pimp)
CommonJ DillaBilal Lonnie Rashid LynnJames YanceyBilal Oliver J Dilla Common (Performer)Bilal (Featured Vocals)MC Lyte (Featured Vocals)
11
Nag Champa (Afrodisiac for the World)
CommonJ Dilla Lonnie Rashid LynnJames Yancey J Dilla Common (Performer)
12
Thelonius
CommonJ DillaTitus GloverR.L. Altman III Lonnie Rashid LynnJames YanceyTitus GloverR.L. Altman III J Dilla Common (Performer)Slum Village (Featured Vocals)
13
Payback Is a Grandmother
CommonJ DillaJames BrownFred WesleyJohn "Jabo" Starks Lonnie Rashid LynnJames YanceyJames BrownFred WesleyJohn Starks J Dilla Common (Performer)
14
Geto Heaven Part Two
CommonQuestloveD'AngeloPeter LordSandra St. VictorVernon Smith Lonnie Rashid LynnAhmir ThompsonMichael ArcherPeter LordSandra St. VictorVernon Smith D'AngeloQuestloveJames Poyser Common (Performer)D'Angelo (Featured Vocals)
15
A Song for Assata
CommonJames PoyserCeeLo Green Lonnie Rashid LynnJames PoyserThomas Burton James Poyser Common (Performer)CeeLo Green (Featured Vocals)
16
Pops Rap III... All My Children
CommonErykah BaduAnthony ScottKarriem Riggins Lonnie Rashid LynnErykah BaduAnthony ScottKarriem Riggins Karriem Riggins Common (Performer)Lonnie Lynn (Featured Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 53 contributors

C
Common
Writer · Performer
On this album16 written
LR
Lonnie Rashid Lynn
Writer
On this album16 written
JD
J Dilla
Writer · Producer
On this album10 written
JY
James Yancey
Writer
On this album10 written
JP
James Poyser
Writer · Producer
On this album5 written
D
D'Angelo
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album4 written
Q
Questlove
Writer · Producer
On this album4 written
AT
Ahmir Thompson
Writer
On this album4 written
MA
Michael Archer
Writer
On this album4 written
B
Bilal
Writer · Vocals
On this album3 written
BO
Bilal Oliver
Writer
On this album3 written
DP
DJ Premier
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Like Water for Chocolate

Who wrote Like Water for Chocolate?
Common is credited on all 16 tracks and is the only writer on one, the first solo credit anywhere in the catalogue.
Who wrote "The Light"?
Common with J Dilla, over a Bobby Caldwell song, so Caldwell is credited as well. It reached number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who produced it?
J Dilla took most of it, with James Poyser, Questlove, D'Angelo and DJ Premier on the rest.
How did it sell?
It is certified gold by the RIAA. No sales figure is published on the cited pages.
What is the Soulquarians?
The collective around D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Questlove and J Dilla that made this record and Voodoo and Mama's Gun in the same period.
Who engineered it?
Russell Elevado and Vidal Davis, with Tom Coyne mastering.
How long is the album?
77:51 across 16 tracks.

Sources

Wikipedia: Like Water for Chocolate Wikipedia: Common discography Cover Art Archive: Like Water for Chocolate by Common