Common Sense对90年代的地下HIP HOP界有着极大的影响,娴熟的歌词技巧以及流畅的爵士说唱令当时极端商业化的匪帮饶舌风格也不得不退居次位。他以深厚的文化底蕴和睿智的思想所造就的饶舌风格以及政治意识并不适合当时的潮流，但Common还是凭借实力让另类说唱风格作为一种创新的力量而最终得到广泛的认可。不仅他的每张专辑都得到评论的肯定，他也得以签约主流厂牌之下以令他和他的音乐得到更多的关注。例如1992年推出的《Can I Borrow a Dollar?》和1994年推出的《Resurrection》。在后一张专集里的歌曲“I Used to Love H. E. R”因其对gangsta rap的贬低之意而受到人们的注意。 《Can I Borrow a Dollar? 》是当年Common Sense借以改变整个Hip Hop音乐地图、将芝加哥的Hip Hop之声写入音乐历史的处子专辑，以独一无二的声色取胜，而Common Sense也因此而成为与A Tribe Called Quest和Gang Starr艺术Hip Hop大师。专辑庸懒轻松的爵士音乐曲风与Common Sense旋律化丰富多变的饶舌搭配得天衣无缝。歌词内容引述和参考了是从流行到街头的文化现象。虽然其中的不自觉的情感流露偶尔也会令人悲观，但却不能否认这还是一张体现了90年代早期最精华的Hip Hop音乐唱片。　　 by Stanton Swihart A former Source magazine "Unsigned Hype" winner, Common Sense almost single-handedly put Chicago hip-hop on the map in the early '90s with his excellent debut, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, which displayed a truly unique sound that, nevertheless, situated the rapper somewhere between the ground staked out by A Tribe Called Quest and Gang Starr. Can I Borrow a Dollar? features the fabulous, oddly muted production of 2 Pc. Drk Productions (Immenslope and Twilite Tone). They opt for a spare, minimalist production that prominently features understated keyboard loops over simple drum tracks, occasionally augmented by saxophone or flute for an overall jazzy, laid-back feel. The production perfectly complements Common Sense's hiccuping/singsongy vocal style and involved rhymes. His lyrics are packed with allusions and references to pop and street culture nearly as eclectic as those of the Beastie Boys. Though sometimes lighthearted to the point of aimlessness and occasionally veering into harder-hitting (vaguely misogynistic) sentiments, Can I Borrow a Dollar? acted, for the most part, as an antidote to the exaggeratedly hardcore rhymes of a lot of early-'90s hip-hop. Standout tracks such as "Charms Alarm," "Take It EZ," and the only outside production, the Beatnuts' characteristically bell-driven "Heidi Hoe," are calls to arms to all hangers-on and fakers in the hip-hop community. This is one of the most underrated hip-hop debuts of the '90s.