Common's career has been a curious one. It may be a lesson in longevity but commercially his sales have been far from stratospheric. Dumped into the interminably limiting "backpack" category, his conscious couplets, noted Jay-Z a year or so ago, were all well and good but much too meaningful to translate into the mainstream mind.

Enter then hip-hop's hottest producer and respected rapper in his own right, Kanye West. Together, the Chicago-born two have created Be, a beat-busting soundtrack of superior storytelling set off by screaming soul samples. The lyrics are as lithe, but the music is far more accessible. Indeed, sales are soaring and the reviews are rave.

The success of his sixth album seems to have reinvigorated the rapper. This is a far more confident, commanding and entertaining performer than the one who took to the same stage two years ago. From the agile acoustic bass of the show's opening chords, to the happy-clappy closing refrains of Food, Common proves to be an ultra-magnetic presence. Not for him the tried-and-tested crotch-grabbing. Instead, he prowls about purposefully, his sweat soaking the front row. Backspins, body-popping and fist-pumps serve as emphatic exclamation points to the politicised word-play; his cleverly constructed rhymes cover prostitution, faith and the struggles of being young, poor, black and American.

The 34-year-old has discovered both a consistency and a commercial appeal that seemed lacking for so long. Be has been out but a month, yet every single song is ecstatically received.

"I'm free to be me," he beams before bounding about to Go! Together, Common and Kanye have proven that you can sell without selling out. Tonight, Common makes perfect sense.