Studio Album · No. 8

Universal Mind Control Songwriting Credits by Common

2008 GOOD Music / Geffen 10 tracks 38:00

Produced by Pharrell Williams, Executive producer#Music, The Neptunes, also co-exec., Kanye West, also co-exec., Common, also co-exec., Derek Dudley, also co-exec., Mike Chavez, also co-exec., Mr. DJ

GOOD Music / Geffen Alternative Hip HopElectro
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Common carries a lyricist or composer credit.

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

Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

10
Tracks
10
Lyricists
2
Producers
2008
Released
Data Insight

Ten tracks, all of them his, and an electro record rather than a rap one. Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo write across most of it, which makes the Neptunes the second producer duo in three albums to take over a Common record almost entirely. It was received worse than anything before it.

Universal Mind Control came out on GOOD Music and Geffen in December 2008, his last album for the label. The Neptunes produced most of it and the title track reached number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Intro / Universal Mind Control
CommonPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo Lonnie Rashid LynnPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo The Neptunes Common (Performer)Pharrell (Featured Vocals)
2
Punch Drunk Love (The Eye)
CommonPharrell WilliamsChad HugoKanye West Lonnie Rashid LynnPharrell WilliamsChad HugoKanye West The Neptunes Common (Performer)Kanye West (Featured Vocals)
3
Make My Day
CommonCee-Lo GreenJeff BowdenJason BoydMr. DJDukes Of Daville Lonnie Rashid LynnThomas CallawayJeff BowdenJason BoydDavid SheatsDukes Of Daville Mr. DJ Common (Performer)Cee-Lo Green (Featured Vocals)
4
Sex 4 Suga
CommonPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo Lonnie Rashid LynnPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo The Neptunes Common (Performer)
5
Announcement
CommonPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo Lonnie Rashid LynnPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo The Neptunes Common (Performer)Pharrell (Featured Vocals)
6
Gladiator
CommonPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo Lonnie Rashid LynnPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo The Neptunes Common (Performer)Pharrell (Featured Vocals)
7
Changes
CommonMr. DJJeff Bowden Lonnie Rashid LynnDavid SheatsJeff Bowden Mr. DJ Common (Performer)Muhsinah (Featured Vocals)Omoye Assata Lynn (Featured Vocals)
8
Inhale
CommonPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo Lonnie Rashid LynnPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo The Neptunes Common (Performer)
9
What a World
CommonPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo Lonnie Rashid LynnPharrell WilliamsChad Hugo The Neptunes Common (Performer)Chester French (Featured Vocals)
10
Everywhere
CommonMr. DJMartina Topley-Bird Lonnie Rashid LynnDavid SheatsMartina Topley-Bird Mr. DJ Common (Performer)Martina Topley-Bird (Featured Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 18 contributors

C
Common
Writer · Performer
On this album10 written
LR
Lonnie Rashid Lynn
Writer
On this album10 written
CH
Chad Hugo
Writer
On this album7 written
PW
Pharrell Williams
Writer
On this album7 written
MD
Mr. DJ
Writer · Producer
On this album3 written
DS
David Sheats
Writer
On this album3 written
JB
Jeff Bowden
Writer
On this album2 written
CG
Cee-Lo Green
Writer · Vocals
On this album1 written
DO
Dukes Of Daville
Writer
On this album1 written
JB
Jason Boyd
Writer
On this album1 written
KW
Kanye West
Writer · Vocals
On this album1 written
MT
Martina Topley-Bird
Writer · Vocals
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Universal Mind Control

Who wrote Universal Mind Control?
Common is credited on all ten tracks, always with a co-writer.
Who produced it?
The Neptunes took most of it, with Mr. DJ on the rest.
Which single charted?
"Universal Mind Control" reached number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Announcement" number 94 on the R&B chart.
Why is it electro?
The Neptunes built it on synths and drum machines rather than samples, which is a break from every album before it.
How did it sell?
The discography's certification column is blank for this album and no sales figure is published.
Are engineering credits published?
No. The album article lists producers and writers but no engineers.
How long is the album?
38:00 across ten tracks.

Sources

Wikipedia: Universal Mind Control Wikipedia: Common discography Cover Art Archive: Universal Mind Control by Common