Common, Robert Glasper, and Karriem Riggins Form New Band, Share New Song: Listen

“Optimistic,” featuring Brandy, is the first track from their new group August Greene
Rapper Common smiling and waving
Common, Photo by Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Common has formed a new band with pianist Robert Glasper and drummer/producer Karriem Riggins. They’re called August Greene, and they’ve shared their first song today. It’s a cover of Sounds of Blackness’ “Optimistic” and it features Brandy. Listen to the track below. “Optimistic” will appear on their debut album, August Greene—out March 9 as an Amazon Original. Common, Glasper, and Riggins previously collaborated on “Letter to the Free,” for the Ava DuVernay documentary 13th. That track won the 2017 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics.

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