It was May when we first heard about the eighth album from Chicago MC Common. Back then, the disc was called Invincible Summer, with plans for release in the season for which it was named. "I created this music for the summer time," Common told Billboard months ago.But after delays Common attributes to his time on the set of the forthcoming movie Terminator Salvation and a little huddle with his creative consultant, the album that resulted is now called Universal Mind Control, and it's coming out December 9 from Geffen.We dialed up Common earlier this week to chat about the reasons for the switch, the benefits of working with geniuses, and just what Common plans to do for our next president. Oh yeah, we even asked about the fate of the Justice League movie. You're welcome, nerds.Pitchfork: You must be excited to have this album coming out. It's been a little while in the making. Common: Yeah, I actually started in late February, and the process was, I guess, the fastest I had ever created an album. Because I was really close to done by the middle of May, but I got the opportunity to be a part of Terminator Salvation, and I really had to focus on that, and had to do that for the whole summer pretty much. So I couldn't complete the album, but it was next to completion. And from there, once I finished Terminator, I ended up finishing the music, and shooting the videos, and then we were able to roll and get a date set. Pitchfork: Obviously, some things have changed since we first heard about the album, starting with the title. What was the process like changing it from Invincible Summer to Universal Mind Control? Common: Man, the process was like me holding onto the title Invincible Summer, finding a reason why it really could still be called Invincible Summer, and then one of my creative friends-- she has been working with me as a creative consultant-- had listened to the album and she said, "Man, this album is not Invincible Summer, it's Universal Mind Control!" And I said, "Man... yes!" I remember just taking a breath, because I wanted the name to change, but I'm very particular about titles, and I'm not just gonna change it. Titles are the first thing that I come up with for an album. And then from there, you know, I start working on it. So, the titles really mean a lot to me, and I was holding onto Invincible Summer, and another title that really came up that resonated with me-- Universal Mind Control actually defines the album even more. Pitchfork: Did you have to change the music at all when you changed the name?Common: Nah, I didn't change the music really, since basically all the songs that I'd recorded were all on Invincible Summer. What I was describing by "summer" was just a good feeling. When I think of summer, I think of a good feeling, and that's what this music is there to generate. And I think that that's why when I did get the title Universal Mind Control, it still felt very natural, and like it was supposed to be that title, Universal Mind Control. Pitchfork: What exactly is "universal mind control"? I've heard the song, but what about the record as a whole?Common: I really believe that that title is saying, "What I'm thinking in my mind and wanting you to feel, you will feel, because I'm gonna create music that will make you feel it." And it's also symbolic of the global sound that I wanted to create, something universal, something that would touch all parts of the world, 'cause that's what it was inspired by. And I also wanna say, I just like the way that sounds: "universal mind control." It sounds so futuristic, like a movement.So, as far as what I'm talking about on this album, it's not a very light-hearted album. It's simple. Some of the subject matters deal with sexual themes, deal with bein' at the beach and barbecuing and having fun, some are just open-minded rap songs, and one I'm even talking to a stripper, and it's called "Sex for Sugar". Another song deals with, in a very upbeat way, my journey of being an artist, and the things that I went through to keep who I was, and to believe in who I was. It's called "What a World". It's really a celebration of me believing in myself, no matter who said I should do what, it was like, "Hey, I believe in myself, and in sticking to what I believe in." I'm able to holla '"what a world" now.read more