Common and Pete Rock drop visuals for their new single, ‘Wise Up’

Real rap is making a comeback. Off the heels of what might be the greatest rap battle ever between Drake and Kendrick Lamar — Lamar took the win — super producer Pete Rock and the Grammy-, Oscar- and Emmy- winning Common have dropped a video for their single “Wise Up.” This track is the lead-up to a highly anticipated album from these hip-hop legends. Common has publicly said this project could be some of his best work yet.

“‘Wise Up’ represents the union of a New York producer and a Chicago MC doing the hip-hop we love. It embodies the spirit of where we come from — the boom bap, the basement — but it also feels fresh and new. We chose this as the first joint because it captures a new sound and a new light while speaking directly to our hip-hop family,”said Common.

To launch “Wise Up,” Common and Rock teamed up with director Marleaux Desiré to create an inspiring and creative video. Many of the shots are in Harlem in front of Allah School in Mecca, home of the Five Percent Nation. This setting strengthens the release’s message, as “Wise Up” is a mantra that brings about understanding, which is the best part of life.

The video captures the street-level community stories they present in their new single, visually depicting the themes of the song. It features visual ideas from ILLIMITÉWORLD and still photography by creative director Alonzo Hellerbach.

“Working with Common was a breath of fresh air,” Rock said. “We both connected to a higher power, which helped us tap into our greatest level of creativity. We constructed an amazing project! Common has an incredible soul, so it was easy to connect with someone on the same page as me.”