Common Sense (J Hus album)

Common Sense
Studio album by J Hus
Released	12 May 2017
Recorded	2014–16
Genre	Afrobeat hip hop[1] dancehall
Length	55:49
Label	Black Butter Epic
Producer	J Hus (exec.) IO JAE5 JOAT Music Group Mark Crown Steel Banglez The Compozers TSB
J Hus chronology
The 15th Day (2015)The 15th Day2015 Common Sense (2017)
Singles from Common Sense
"Did You See" Released: 2 March 2017

Common Sense is the debut studio album by British recording artist J Hus. It was released on 12 May 2017 by Black Butter and Epic, distributed by Sony Music, for digital download and CD purchase.^[2] The album features production from long-time collaborator JAE5,^[3] along with guest appearances from Mo Stack, MIST, Tiggs da Author and Burna Boy. The lead single, "Did You See", peaked at number 9 so far on the UK Singles Chart, becoming J Hus' highest-charting single.

Background

Throughout 2015 and 2016, J Hus released a variety of singles, including "Lean & Bop", "Friendly" and "Playing Sport", along with the debut mixtape The 15th Day (2015), subsequently building a strong online presence.

In early April 2017, J Hus announced the track listing and release date for his debut album, Common Sense, followed by the announcement of signing with Epic Records.^[4][5][6]

Singles

The promotional single "Friendly" was released for digital download on 1 January 2016 after initially being premiered on SoundCloud.^[7]

The lead single "Did You See" was released on 2 March 2017, along with its music video. The song peaked at number 9 so far on the UK Singles Chart, becoming J Hus' first chart entry and highest-charting song.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.8/10[8]
Metacritic	85/100[9]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Clash Magazine	9/10[10]
Crack Magazine	8/10[11]
Evening Standard	[12]
The Guardian	[1]
Financial Times	[13]

Upon release, Common Sense received critical acclaim from critics. Katy Hutchinson of The Guardian praised Hus' blend of musical genres: "J Hus leads a wave of MCs who blend the genre’s hard-hitting, distinctly UK flow with bashment and Afrobeat. Hus show that mix’s true breadth, from playful braggadocio about partying, chasing girls and being, as one song title has it, the “Bouf Daddy”, to introspective moments such as Spirit, on which loopy synths and polyrhythmic brilliance meet Hus’s weary-sounding motivational speaker. The sound of the summer? You know it makes sense."^[1] Will Pritchard of Clash Magazine stated: "This sound now has an album to pin to the mast. It’ll soundtrack this summer, but don’t be fooled into thinking that its time will be up by September. It’s just common sense."^[10] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of Financial Times commented: "The music is a rich blend of styles, in which hip-hop, R&B, dance hall and Afrobeats suggest not only Hus’s versatility but also a world of expanding horizons."^[13]

We Plug Good Music heaped further praise on the album: "After listening to Common Sense in its entirety, I believe J Hus has stepped his game up another level, showing that he is more mature with the construction of his messages through his music, and how he has developed his sound even further than before. Furthermore, he showcases that he cannot be put into a box, as his style is extremely diverse [...] this album has displayed J Hus’ distinctive sound exceptionally well."^[14]

Track listing

Charts

Release history

References