It's no coincidence that most top 40 rappers are under 25: rap revels in misspent youth. Which makes Common's adventures in adulthood so interesting. He's an astounding lyricist, always has been. But with Like Water for Chocolate he's made the tricky transition from b-boy to b-man without losing the magic. Chocolate may be a mature album, but it ain't stern: hilarious, poetic, musical, and intensely personal, this is Common at his finest. --Lizz Mendez Berry