HIP HOP NEWS: Common Takes Control

Hip Hop star Common has released Universal Mind Control (U.M.C.), the first single from his anticipated upcoming album, Invincible Summer, which is due in mid-July through Geffen Records.

Produced by the Neptunes, with front-man Pharrell on the hook, Universal Mind Control (U.M.C.) is a high-energy musical excursion reminiscent of the iconic Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force.

"I created this music for the summertime. It's about feeling good," Common recently told Billboard. "This is the type of music I felt was missing from my body of work."

Mr. DJ, the hitmaker whose clientele includes Outkast and The Neptunes, produced the bulk of Invincible Summer. In what may be a disappointment to some fans, Kanye West, who crafted the majority of Common's 2007 effort Finding Forever, did not contribute any production this time around.

So far Finding Forever has sold 551,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Invincible Summer is scheduled for a July release through Geffen Records.