Nobody’s Smiling marks a creative reunion between Common and his long-time friend and collaborator No I.D. The 2014 release ofNobody’s Smiling, executive produced by No I.D., commemorates the 20th anniversary of Common’s breakthrough album Resurrection (1994), with his signature tracks, Resurrection and I Used To Love H.E.R. Nobody’s Smiling is Common’s first new album since 2011’s The Dreamer/The Believer.

As noted on his website, the album title Nobody’s Smiling was inspired by Common’s troubled hometown of Chicago, "I'm honored to team up with No I.D. and be a part of the Artium and Def Jam family. ? Creating this album and signing to Def Jam feels like a new beginning for me. I feel like a new artist because I created this album with the purpose to give back to my city and to the culture of hip hop. Def Jam is part of the foundation of hip hop and being able to work with No I.D. was returning to my foundation now with new energy and new hunger."