Lonnie Rashid Lynn (born March 13, 1972), known by his stage name Common (formerly known as Common Sense), is an American rapper and actor. He debuted in 1992 with the album ''
Can I Borrow a Dollar?
''Can I Borrow a Dollar?'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Common Sense. It was released on October 6, 1992, by Relativity Records. The album was entirely produced by No I.D. (then called Immenslope) and The Twilite Tone, with addit ...
,'' and gained critical acclaim with his 1994 album ''
Resurrection
Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and is resurrected. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions, whic ...
.'' He maintained an
underground following into the late 1990s. He achieved mainstream success through his work with the
Soulquarians
The Soulquarians were a rotating collective of experimental Black music artists active during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Members of the collective included singer and multi-instrumentalist D'Angelo, drummer and producer Ahmir "Questlove" Th ...
.
His first
major-label album, ''
Like Water for Chocolate'' (2000), received commercial success. In 2003, he won the
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
for
Best R&B Song for the
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu (), is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Influenced by R&B, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut al ...
single "
Love of My Life". His 2005 album ''
Be'' was also successful and was nominated for
Best Rap Album
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Album is an award presented to recording artists for quality albums with rapping at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in several categories ...
at the
2006 Grammy Awards. He received his second Grammy Award for
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Southside" (featuring
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
), from his 2007 album ''
Finding Forever
''Finding Forever'' is the seventh studio album by Common, released on July 31, 2007, on GOOD Music and Geffen Records. Like Common's previous album, '' Be'' (2005), ''Finding Forever'' is primarily produced by Kanye West. The album debuted at th ...
''. His best-of album, ''
Thisisme Then: The Best of Common'', was released in late 2007. In 2011, he launched Think Common Entertainment, his own record label imprint, having previously released music under various other labels including
Relativity,
Geffen and
GOOD Music.
Common won the 2015
Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song
The Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song is a Golden Globe Award that was awarded for the first time in 1962 and has been awarded annually since 1965 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The award is presented to the songwriters of a ...
and the
Academy Award for Best Original Song
The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is presented to the ''songwriters'' who have composed ...
for "
Glory", which he co-wrote and performed with John Legend, from the 2014 film ''
Selma'', in which he also co-starred as
civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social and political movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized institutional racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement throughout the Unite ...
leader
James Bevel
James Luther Bevel (October 19, 1936 – December 19, 2008) was a minister and leader of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement in the United States. As a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and then as its Director of Direct ...
. Common has also acted in films including ''
Smokin' Aces
''Smokin' Aces'' is a 2006 American action comedy film written and directed by Joe Carnahan. The film centers on the chase for Las Vegas magician turned mafia informant Robert 'Buddy Aces' Israel ( Jeremy Piven), on whom a one-million-dollar boun ...
'', ''
Street Kings'', ''
American Gangster'', ''
Wanted
Wanted may refer to:
Law enforcement
* Fugitive, a person wanted by the authorities
* Wanted poster, a poster put up to inform the public of one or more criminals whom authorities wish to apprehend
Film
* ''Wanted!'', a 1937 British comedy film
...
'', ''
Terminator Salvation
''Terminator Salvation'' is a 2009 American military science fiction action film directed by McG and written by John Brancato and Michael Ferris. It is the fourth installment of the ''Terminator'' franchise and serves as a sequel to '' Termi ...
'', ''
Date Night'', ''
Just Wright
''Just Wright'' is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Sanaa Hamri, starring Queen Latifah and Common. The film tells the story of a physical therapist, Leslie Wright, who falls in love with a professional basketball player, Scott McK ...
'', ''
Happy Feet Two'', ''
New Year's Eve
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the last day of the year, on 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly referred to ...
'', ''
Run All Night'', ''
John Wick: Chapter 2'', ''
Smallfoot'' and ''
Hunter Killer''. He starred as Elam Ferguson from 2011 to 2014 on the
AMC western TV series ''
Hell on Wheels
Hell on Wheels was the itinerant collection of flimsily assembled gambling houses, dance halls, saloons, and brothels that followed the army of Union Pacific railroad workers westward as they constructed the First transcontinental railroad in 186 ...
''.
Early life
Common was born on March 13 1972 at the Chicago Osteopathic Hospital in Chicago's
Hyde Park neighborhood. He is the son of educator and former principal of
John Hope College Prep
John Hope College Preparatory High School (JHCP) (locally known simply as John Hope) was a public 4–year high school and former middle school located in the Englewood neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Opened i ...
aratory High School, Mahalia Ann Hines, and former
ABA basketball player turned youth counselor
Lonnie Lynn. He was raised in the
Calumet Heights neighborhood. Lynn's parents divorced when he was six years old, resulting in his father moving to
Denver
Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...
, Colorado. This left Lynn to be raised by his mother; however, his father remained active in his life, and was able to get him a job with the
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded on January ...
as a teenager. Lynn attended
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), commonly known as Florida A&M, is a public historically black land-grant university in Tallahassee, Florida. Founded in 1887, It is the third largest historically black university in the Un ...
for two years under a scholarship and majored in
business administration
Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...
.
Music career
1987–1996: Career beginnings
Lynn began rapping in the late 1980s, while a student at
Luther High School South
Luther High School South was a private Lutheran high school in the Ashburn neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, near the village of Evergreen Park. From 2009 to 2010, the school was named Luther South Math, Science, and Performing Arts High School ...
in Chicago, when he, along with two of his friends, formed C.D.R., a rap trio that opened for acts such as
N.W.A
N.W.A (an abbreviation for Niggaz Wit Attitudes) was an American hip hop group whose members were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversial figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, and the group is widely considered ...
and
Big Daddy Kane
Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs in ...
.
When C.D.R dissolved by 1991, Lynn began a solo career under the stage name of Common Sense. After being featured in the
Unsigned Hype column of ''
The Source
''The Source'' is an American hip hop and entertainment website, and a magazine that publishes annually or . It is the world's longest-running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988 by Jonathan Shecter. David Mays was the ma ...
'' magazine, he debuted as a solo artist in 1992 with the single "
Take It EZ
"Take It EZ" is the debut single by Chicago rapper Common from his debut album '' Can I Borrow a Dollar?''. It is produced by 2 pc. DRK, a production team made up of Immenslope and The Twilite Tone. The song's beat mixes keyboards and saxophone ...
", followed by the album ''
Can I Borrow a Dollar?
''Can I Borrow a Dollar?'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Common Sense. It was released on October 6, 1992, by Relativity Records. The album was entirely produced by No I.D. (then called Immenslope) and The Twilite Tone, with addit ...
''.
With the 1994 release of ''
Resurrection
Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and is resurrected. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions, whic ...
'', Common Sense achieved a much larger degree of critical acclaim which extended beyond the Chicago music scene. The album sold relatively well and received a strong positive reaction among
alternative
Alternative or alternate may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki''
* ''The Alternative'' (film), a 1978 Australian television film
* ''The Alternative ...
and
underground hip hop fans at the time. ''Resurrection'' was Common Sense's last album produced almost entirely by his long-time production partner,
No I.D.
Ernest Dion Wilson (born June 23, 1971), professionally known as No I.D. (formerly Immenslope), is an American hip hop and R&B producer from Chicago, Illinois. Wilson is also a disc jockey (DJ), music arranger and former rapper, having relea ...
, who would later become a mentor to a young
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
.
In 1996, Common Sense appeared on the
Red Hot Organization's compilation CD,
America Is Dying Slowly
''America Is Dying Slowly'' (a backronym for AIDS) is a compilation album that is the eighth in the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series recorded by the Red Hot Organization. It featured collaborations from several hip hop acts, including Mobb Deep, De La ...
(A.I.D.S.), alongside
Biz Markie
Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021), known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer. Markie was best known for his 1989 single "Just a Friend", which became a Top 40 hit in ...
,
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close aff ...
, and
Fat Joe, among many other prominent hip hop artists. The CD, meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African American men, was heralded as "a masterpiece" by
The Source
''The Source'' is an American hip hop and entertainment website, and a magazine that publishes annually or . It is the world's longest-running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988 by Jonathan Shecter. David Mays was the ma ...
magazine. He would later also contribute to the
Red Hot Organization's
Fela Kuti tribute album,
Red Hot and Riot
''Red Hot + Riot'' (a.k.a. ''Red Hot + Riot: The Music and Spirit of Fela Kuti'') is the fourteenth in a series of music compilation projects produced by Paul Heck and John Carlin of the Red Hot Organization and Grammy-winning music producer ...
in 2002. He collaborated with
Djelimady Tounkara
Djelimady Tounkara is a Malian musician and one of the foremost guitarists in Africa.
Life and career
Born in the culturally rich town of Kita, west of the Malian capital, Bamako, Djelimady grew up surrounded with traditional music played by mem ...
on a remake of Kuti's track, "Years of Tears and Sorrow".
![Common-Mos Def-10-mika](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Common-Mos_Def-10-mika.jpg)
The song "
I Used to Love H.E.R.
"I Used to Love H.E.R." is a hip hop song by the Chicago-born rapper Common Sense. Released on the 1994 album ''Resurrection'', "I Used to Love H.E.R." has since become one of Common's best known songs. Produced by No I.D., its jazzy beat samples ...
" from ''Resurrection'' ignited a
feud with
West Coast rap group Westside Connection
Westside Connection was an American hip-hop supergroup formed by Mack 10, WC and Ice Cube. The group's debut album, '' Bow Down'', reached the number 2 position on the ''Billboard'' 200 in 1996, going platinum that year.
Biography
Westside ...
. The lyrics of the song criticized the path hip hop music was taking, utilizing a metaphor of a woman to convey hip hop and were interpreted by some as directing blame towards the popularity of West Coast
gangsta rap. Westside Connection first responded with the 1995 song "Westside Slaughterhouse," with the lyrics "Used to love H.E.R., mad cause I f*cked her". "Westside Slaughterhouse" also mentioned Common Sense by name, prompting the rapper to respond with the scathing
Pete Rock-produced attack song "
The Bitch in Yoo
"The Bitch in Yoo" is a Single (music), single and wikt:diss song, diss song released by rapper Common (rapper), Common in 1996 in music, 1996. The song first appeared on the Relativity Records compilation ''Relativity Urban Assault'' and later ...
". Common Sense and Westside Connection continued to insult each other back and forth before finally meeting with
Louis Farrakhan
Louis Farrakhan (; born Louis Eugene Walcott, May 11, 1933) is an American religious leader, Black supremacy, black supremacist, Racism, anti-white and Antisemitism, antisemitic Conspiracy theory, conspiracy theorist, and former singer who hea ...
and setting aside their dispute. Following the popularity of ''Resurrection'', Common Sense was sued by an
Orange County
Orange County most commonly refers to:
*Orange County, California, part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Orange County may also refer to:
U.S. counties
*Orange County, Florida, containing Orlando
*Orange County, Indiana
*Orange County, New ...
-based
reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
band with the
same name, and was forced to shorten his moniker to simply Common.
1996–1999: ''One Day It'll All Make Sense ''
Initially scheduled for an October 1996 release, Common finally released his third album, ''
One Day It'll All Make Sense
''One Day It'll All Make Sense'' is the third studio album by rapper Common, released on September 30, 1997, on Relativity Records. It was the follow-up to his critically acclaimed album ''Resurrection'' and the last Common album to feature prod ...
'', in September 1997. The album took a total of two years to complete and included collaborations with artists such as
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. She is often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as being one of the most influential musicians of her generation. ...
,
De La Soul,
Q-Tip,
Canibus
Germaine Williams (born December 9, 1974), better known by his stage name Canibus, is an American rapper and actor. He initially gained fame in the 1990s for his ability to freestyle, and eventually released his debut album Can-I-Bus in 1998 ...
,
Black Thought
Tariq Luqmaan Trotter (born October 3, 1973), better known as Black Thought, is an American rapper, actor and the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group the Roots, which he co-founded with drummer Questlove (Ahmir Thompson). Regarded a ...
,
Chantay Savage
Chantay Savage (born July 16, 1971) is an American R&B/dance singer. She experienced some success in the 1990s on various ''Billboard'' singles charts, one of which was "I Will Survive", a reworking of the Gloria Gaynor hit song.
Savage has sc ...
, and
Questlove – a future fellow member of the
Soulquarians
The Soulquarians were a rotating collective of experimental Black music artists active during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Members of the collective included singer and multi-instrumentalist D'Angelo, drummer and producer Ahmir "Questlove" Th ...
outfit. The album, which made a point of eschewing any gangsterism (in response to questions about his musical integrity), was critically acclaimed and led to a
major label contract with
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group.
Pre-history
MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 w ...
. In addition to releasing ''One Day'', Common's first child, daughter Omoye Assata Lynn, was born shortly after the release of the album.
As documented by hip-hop journalist Raquel Cepeda, in the liner notes for the album, this event had a profound spiritual and mental effect on Common and enabled him to grow musically while becoming more responsible as an artist. She writes:
:Rashid found out that he was going to become a daddy in about 8 months. Stunned and confused, Rashid had life-altering decisions to make with his girlfriend, Kim Jones. The situation led to the composition of his favorite cut on ''One Day...'' that offers a male slant on abortion. "
Retrospect for Life", produced by
James Poyser
James Jason Poyser is an American songwriter, record producer, musician and current member of the hip hop band The Roots.
Poyser has written and produced songs for various legendary and award-winning artists such as Erykah Badu, Mariah Carey, ...
and
No I.D.
Ernest Dion Wilson (born June 23, 1971), professionally known as No I.D. (formerly Immenslope), is an American hip hop and R&B producer from Chicago, Illinois. Wilson is also a disc jockey (DJ), music arranger and former rapper, having relea ...
featuring
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. She is often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as being one of the most influential musicians of her generation. ...
(who was due on the same day as Rashid's girlfriend), is the song that is the driving force behind the project. Rashid listens to "
Retrospect for Life" today at the mastering session geeked as if it were for the first time. He tells me as we listen to L-Boogie wail the chorus, "''when I listen to the song now, I think about how precious her (Omoye's) life is''".
Common addresses family ethics several times on ''One Day...'', and the album sleeve is decorated with old family photos, illustrating the rapper's childhood, as well a quote from
1 Corinthians 13:11, which summarizes the path to manhood:
1999–2003: Soulquarians era
![Common-02](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Common-02.jpg)
Following ''One Day...'', Common signed a major label record deal with
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group.
Pre-history
MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 w ...
and relocated from Chicago to New York City in 1999. He began recording almost exclusively with a loose collective of musicians and artists (dubbed the "
Soulquarians
The Soulquarians were a rotating collective of experimental Black music artists active during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Members of the collective included singer and multi-instrumentalist D'Angelo, drummer and producer Ahmir "Questlove" Th ...
" by central figure
Questlove) throughout 1999, and made a few sporadic guest appearances on
The Roots' ''
Things Fall Apart
''Things Fall Apart'' is the debut novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, first published in 1958. It depicts pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the invasion by Europeans during the late 19th century. It is seen as the ...
'', and the
Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records was an American hip hop record label known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop, drum and bass and fun-dustrial (Dystopia One).
Label heads Brian Brater and Jarret Myer then si ...
compilation, ''
Soundbombing 2
''Soundbombing II'' is the second installment in Rawkus Records' ''Soundbombing'' compilation series.
Track listing
Album chart positions
Singles chart positions
References
Hip hop compilation albums
Albums produced by Da Beatmi ...
''.
In 2000, his fourth album, ''
Like Water for Chocolate'', was released to mass critical acclaim.
Executive produced
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights o ...
by Questlove and featuring significant contributions by
J Dilla
J, or j, is the tenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its usual name in English is ''jay'' (pronounced ), with a now-uncommon vari ...
, (who helmed many tracks except – "Cold Blooded", "Geto Heaven Part II", "A Song For Assata", "Pop's Rap Part 3...All My Children" & the
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin (born March 21, 1966), known professionally as DJ Premier (also known as Preemo), is an American record producer and DJ. He is considered one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time. He was half of the hip hop du ...
-produced track "
The 6th Sense"), ''Like Water for Chocolate'' transpired to be a considerable commercial breakthrough for Common, earning the rapper his first
gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile me ...
record, and greatly expanding his fanbase among critics and listeners alike.
With both artists hailing from the
Great Lakes region
The Great Lakes region of North America is a binational Canadian–American region that includes portions of the eight U.S. states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin along with the Canadian p ...
of the United States (Chicago and Detroit, respectively), Common and
J Dilla
J, or j, is the tenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its usual name in English is ''jay'' (pronounced ), with a now-uncommon vari ...
established their chemistry early on. Both became members of the
Soulquarians
The Soulquarians were a rotating collective of experimental Black music artists active during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Members of the collective included singer and multi-instrumentalist D'Angelo, drummer and producer Ahmir "Questlove" Th ...
collective, and collaborated on numerous projects together, even placing one song, "Thelonius", on both the
Slum Village album ''
Fantastic, Vol. 2'', and Common's ''
Like Water for Chocolate''. As Dilla's health began to decline from the effects of
Lupus Nephritis
Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidneys caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease. It is a type of glomerulonephritis in which the glomeruli become inflamed. Since it is a result of SLE, this type of glomerulo ...
, he relocated to Los Angeles, and asked Common to make the move with him as a roommate (Dilla would later lose his battle with the rare disease).
This album saw Common exploring themes (musically and lyrically), which were uncommon for a hip-hop record, as he does on the song "Time Travelin' (A Tribute To Fela)"; a homage to
Nigerian
Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...
music legend, and political activist
Fela Kuti. The most popular single from the album "
The Light" was nominated for a
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...
.
In 2002, Common released his fifth album, ''
Electric Circus
''Electric Circus '' (also known as ''EC'') was a Canadian live dance music television program that aired on MuchMusic and Citytv from September 16, 1988 to December 12, 2003. The name originated from a nightclub that once existed at Citytv's fir ...
''. The album was highly anticipated and praised by many critics for its ambitious vision. However, it was not as commercially successful as his previous album, ''Like Water for Chocolate'', selling under 300,000 copies. An eclectic album, ''Electric Circus'' featured fusions of several genres such as hip hop, pop, rock, electronic, and neo-soul. The album's style tended to divide critics; some praised its ambitious vision while others criticized it for the same reason. Most of the criticism tended to revolve around the album's experimental nature; some felt Common had strayed too far from his previous sound. This was Common's second and last album for MCA, and the label's final release prior to its absorption into Geffen Records.
Around this time, Common appeared as a guest performer on singer and fellow Soulquarian
Bilal __NOTOC__
Bilal may refer to:
People
* Bilal (name) (a list of people with the name)
* Bilal ibn Rabah, a companion of Muhammad
* Bilal (American singer)
* Bilal (Lebanese singer)
Places
*Bilal Colony, a neighbourhood of Korangi Town in Karachi, ...
's ''
Love for Sale'' album, recording a remake of the 1977
Fela Kuti song "
Sorrow, Tears & Blood". Bilal also featured on ''Electric Circus'', the first of many future collaborations with Common.
2004–2011: GOOD Music era
In early 2004, Common made an appearance on fellow Chicagoan Kanye West's multi-platinum debut album, ''
The College Dropout
''The College Dropout'' is the debut studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released on February 10, 2004, by Def Jam Recordings and Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records. In the years leading up to release, West had received pr ...
'' (on the song "Get Em High"), and announced his signing to West's then-newfound label
GOOD Music. West had been a longtime fan of Common and the two even participated in a friendly on-air MC battle, where West took jabs at his lyrical idol for "going soft" and wearing crochet pants (as he does for his appearance in the video for the
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...
song "
Dance for Me"). The pair worked together on Common's next album, ''
Be'', almost entirely produced by Kanye West, with some help from Common's longtime collaborator
James Yancey (J Dilla) – also a favorite of West. The album was released in May 2005, and performed very well, boosted by Kanye's involvement and the singles "
The Corner
''The Corner'' is a 2000 HBO drama television miniseries based on the nonfiction book '' The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood'' (1997) by David Simon and Ed Burns, and adapted for television by David Simon and David Mi ...
", and "
Go". ''
Be'' earned Common the second gold record of his career, with sales topping out at around 800,000 copies. ''
The Source
''The Source'' is an American hip hop and entertainment website, and a magazine that publishes annually or . It is the world's longest-running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988 by Jonathan Shecter. David Mays was the ma ...
'' magazine gave it a near-perfect 4.5 mic rating, ''
XXL'' magazine gave it their highest rating of "XXL", and AllHipHop gave the album 4 stars. The album was also nominated for four Grammy Awards in 2006.
Following the release of ''
Be'' in 2005, several mixed-race artists from the UK hip-hop scene took exception to Common's comments about interracial relationships on the song "Real People."
Yungun
Yungun (a.k.a. Essa) is a British hip hop artist. He released his debut album ''The Essance'' on Janomi Records in 2004. He was born in North London where he currently works and resides.
Bio
He was educated at Eton College.
He began his musi ...
,
Doc Brown and Rising Son recorded a track over an instrumental version of "The Corner" named "Dear Common (The Corner Dub)." Common states that he has heard of the track but never actually taken the time to listen to it, and has not retaliated in song.
![Common in Copenhagen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Common_in_Copenhagen.jpg)
Common's seventh LP titled ''
Finding Forever
''Finding Forever'' is the seventh studio album by Common, released on July 31, 2007, on GOOD Music and Geffen Records. Like Common's previous album, '' Be'' (2005), ''Finding Forever'' is primarily produced by Kanye West. The album debuted at th ...
'' was released on July 31, 2007. For this album, he continued his work with
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
, as well as other producers such as
will.i.am
William James Adams Jr. (born March 15, 1975), known professionally as will.i.am (pronounced "Will-I-am"), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is the founding and lead member of the musical group Black Eyed Peas.
...
,
Devo Springsteen
DeVon "Devo" Harris (born December 9, 1977), also known as Devo Springsteen, is an American producer and songwriter. Harris launched the career of EGOT winner John Legend by signing him to Kanye West’s GOOD Music in 2003. Harris produced and c ...
,
Derrick Hodge
Derrick Hodge (born July 5, 1979) is a composer, musical director, bandleader, producer bassist and advocate. To date he has been awarded two Grammys, named a Sundance Composer Fellow, received a Motif Award; one of world's highest honors for ...
, and
Karriem Riggins
Karriem Riggins is an American jazz drummer, hip hop producer, DJ and songwriter.
Biography
Riggins was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States, son of keyboardist Emmanuel Riggins. As a child, he would often watch his father perform with G ...
, as well as the only
J Dilla
J, or j, is the tenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its usual name in English is ''jay'' (pronounced ), with a now-uncommon vari ...
-produced track, "So Far To Go". The album features guest spots from artists such as
Dwele
Andwele Gardner (born February 14, 1978), better known by his stage name Dwele, is an American R&B singer, rapper, songwriter and record producer from Detroit, Michigan.
Biography
Gardner was raised on the west side of Detroit in a musical fam ...
,
Bilal __NOTOC__
Bilal may refer to:
People
* Bilal (name) (a list of people with the name)
* Bilal ibn Rabah, a companion of Muhammad
* Bilal (American singer)
* Bilal (Lebanese singer)
Places
*Bilal Colony, a neighbourhood of Korangi Town in Karachi, ...
,
D'Angelo, and UK pop starlet
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Allen (born 2 May 1985) is an English singer-songwriter and actress. She is the daughter of actor Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. Her music career began in 2005 when she made some of her vocal recordings public ...
. The first single from the album was "
The People
The ''Sunday People'' is a British tabloid Sunday newspaper. It was founded as ''The People'' on 16 October 1881.
At one point owned by Odhams Press, The ''People'' was acquired along with Odhams by the Mirror Group in 1961, along with the ...
" b/w "
The Game". West predicted that ''Finding Forever'' would win the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. The album was nominated for Best Rap Album, but did not win, losing to West's ''Graduation''; however, Common did win his second Grammy for "Southside," which won the 2008 Grammy for Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group.
On July 31, 2007, Common performed a free concert in Santa Monica, California, on the 3rd Street Promenade to promote the release of ''Finding Forever''. Common explained to the audience that the title "Finding Forever" represented his quest to find an eternal place in hip-hop and also his wishes to be an artist for the rest of his life. The album debuted at #1 on the national
''Billboard'' 200 charts.
In an August 2007 interview with ''XXL'', rapper
Q-Tip of the group
A Tribe Called Quest stated that he and Common were forming a group called The Standard, and were planning to record an album to be produced by Q-Tip; however, this never came to fruition.
Common was instrumental in bridging the trans-Atlantic gap by signing UK's Mr. Wong and J2K to Kanye West's Getting Out Our Dreams recording outfit. Common met the pair during his tour in the UK earlier on in the year. It is speculated that the deal is not only to bring the UK and US hip hop genres together but that to rival Syco Music's cross-Atlantic success with Leona Lewis. He also has a deal with Zune mp3 players. In 2008 Common made an estimated 12 million dollars, making him equal in earnings to
Eminem and
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam (; born April 16, 1973), known mononymously as Akon, is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of " Locked Up" (featuring Styles P ...
, tied for the 13th highest grossing Hip-Hop artist.
The eighth album from Chicago hip-hop artist Common was originally scheduled to be released on June 24, 2008, under the name ''Invincible Summer'', but he announced at a
Temple University
Temple University (Temple or TU) is a public state-related research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1884 by the Baptist minister Russell Conwell and his congregation Grace Baptist Church of Philadelphia then calle ...
concert that he would change it to ''
Universal Mind Control
''Universal Mind Control'' is the eighth studio album by American rapper Common. Originally scheduled to be released on June 24, 2008 under the name ''Invincible Summer'', the release date was pushed back to September 30, 2008 due to Common's ac ...
''. The release date was pushed back to September 30, 2008, due to Common filming ''
Wanted
Wanted may refer to:
Law enforcement
* Fugitive, a person wanted by the authorities
* Wanted poster, a poster put up to inform the public of one or more criminals whom authorities wish to apprehend
Film
* ''Wanted!'', a 1937 British comedy film
...
''. The release date was set for November 11, 2008, however, it was once again pushed back to December 9, 2008.
The album's
eponymous
An eponym is a person, a place, or a thing after whom or which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. The adjectives which are derived from the word eponym include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''.
Usage of the word
The term ''epon ...
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
"
Universal Mind Control
''Universal Mind Control'' is the eighth studio album by American rapper Common. Originally scheduled to be released on June 24, 2008 under the name ''Invincible Summer'', the release date was pushed back to September 30, 2008 due to Common's ac ...
", was officially released on July 1, 2008, via the US iTunes Store as part of ''The Announcement EP'' (sold as ''Universal Mind Control EP'' in the UK). The song features Pharrell, who also produced the track. ''The Announcement EP'' included an additional track titled "Announcement", also featuring Pharrell. The video for the lead single was filmed in September by director Hype Williams. In 2009, Common was prominently featured throughout his GOOD Music label-mate
Kid Cudi's debut album ''
Man on the Moon: The End of Day'', as a narrator and featured artist. In late 2009, it was revealed Common was nominated for two
Grammys
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
at the
52nd Annual Grammy Awards, including
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "
Make Her Say", alongside Kid Cudi and Kanye West, as well as
Best Rap Album
The Grammy Award for Best Rap Album is an award presented to recording artists for quality albums with rapping at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in several categories ...
for ''Universal Mind Control''.
2011–present: Think Common Ent.
''The Dreamer/The Believer'' and feud with Drake
American producer
No I.D.
Ernest Dion Wilson (born June 23, 1971), professionally known as No I.D. (formerly Immenslope), is an American hip hop and R&B producer from Chicago, Illinois. Wilson is also a disc jockey (DJ), music arranger and former rapper, having relea ...
, stated that he and
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
would be producing Common's album ''The Dreamer/The Believer''. In July 2011, it was announced that No I.D. would be the album's sole producer. Common made an appearance on
The Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers () are an American pop rock band. Formed in 2005, they gained popularity from their appearances on the Disney Channel television network. They consist of three brothers: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas. Raised in ...
' most recent album, ''
Lines, Vines and Trying Times
''Lines, Vines and Trying Times'' is the fourth studio album by the Jonas Brothers. It was released June 16, 2009, in the US. The album received mixed reviews from critics and fans. In its first week, the album sold 247,000 copies, debuting at num ...
'' as a guest rapper for the group's 2009 song, "Don't Charge Me for the Crime."
On July 6, 2011, Common released his first single, titled "
Ghetto Dreams
"Ghetto Dreams'" is the first single from the Common album, ''The Dreamer/The Believer''. The song is produced by No I.D. and features Nas. It was released on iTunes July 6, 2011. The song is featured on the Madden NFL 12 soundtrack.
Music v ...
", from his next album. A second single, "Blue Sky", was released on October 4, 2011. On December 20, 2011, Common released his ninth solo album, titled ''
The Dreamer, The Believer
''The Dreamer/The Believer'' is the ninth studio album by American rapper Common (rapper), Common. It was released in the UK on December 19, 2011 and in the US on December 20 through Warner Bros. Records alongside Common's newly launched Think Com ...
''. Although he left GOOD Music in 2011, Common was featured on the label's first compilation album, 2012's ''
Cruel Summer''. Common released a song entitled "Sweet", from ''The Dreamer/The Believer'', which included lyrics critical of rappers who sing, although this criticism was not aimed specifically at Canadian recording artist
Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
. Drake took offense and responded by releasing "
Stay Schemin'
"Stay Schemin'" is a single by American rapper Rick Ross featuring Drake and French Montana. It was released on his 2012 mixtape '' Rich Forever''. The track was released as a digital download from iTunes on April 17, 2012. It is a hip hop song th ...
", a song with
Rick Ross and
French Montana. Common fans only had to wait two-and-a-half days for him to respond to Drake's
diss track
A diss track, diss record or diss song (diss – abbr. from ''disrespect'') is a song whose primary purpose is to verbally attack someone else, usually another artist. Diss tracks are often the result of an existing, escalating feud between the ...
. On February 13, 2012, Common commented on the feud by saying "It's over. But it was all in the art of hip hop. He said some things to me so I had to say some things back...I wouldn't say
e started itbut I know I heard something that I felt was directed to me so I addressed it. That's all. But you know, thank God we were able to move forward from it and all is good."
Artium Recordings and ''Nobody's Smiling''
After a quiet 2012, Common announced he would release an
extended play
An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. (EP) in January 2013, and his first
mixtape in April.
[Horowitz, Steven ]
Common To Release An EP, Album & Mixtape In 2013 , Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales
. HipHop DX. Retrieved on February 13, 2013. In February 2013, Common announced his tenth solo studio album would be released in September 2013 and will feature
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
and production from Kanye West and
No I.D.
Ernest Dion Wilson (born June 23, 1971), professionally known as No I.D. (formerly Immenslope), is an American hip hop and R&B producer from Chicago, Illinois. Wilson is also a disc jockey (DJ), music arranger and former rapper, having relea ...
Later on September 8, 2013, he gave an update to his projects saying the previously announced EP would be released soon, and would feature a song with new Def Jam signee
Vince Staples
Vincent Jamal Staples (born July 2, 1993) is an American rapper and singer. Staples was once a close associate of Odd Future, Mike G and Earl Sweatshirt in particular. He is currently signed to Motown and Blacksmith Records.
Staples rose to ...
. He also told HipHopDX, his tenth solo studio album would be released in early 2014.
On January 6, 2014, Common announced his tenth studio album to be titled ''
Nobody's Smiling
''Nobody's Smiling'' is the tenth studio album by American hip hop recording artist Common. It was released on July 22, 2014, by Def Jam Recordings and No I.D.'s label ARTium Records. Following the release of his 2011's album ''The Dreamer/The ...
'' and would be produced entirely by longtime collaborator No I.D.. The album, which Common revealed was originally going to be an EP, is set to feature
Vince Staples
Vincent Jamal Staples (born July 2, 1993) is an American rapper and singer. Staples was once a close associate of Odd Future, Mike G and Earl Sweatshirt in particular. He is currently signed to Motown and Blacksmith Records.
Staples rose to ...
,
James Fauntleroy
James Edward Fauntleroy II (born May 16, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Inglewood, California. He is best known for writing credits on tracks by high-profile artists such as Travis Scott, Frank Ocean, Kendrick ...
and "some new artists from Chicago." The concept of the album was inspired by his troubled hometown of Chicago: "We came up with this concept 'nobody's smiling.' It was really a thought that came about because of all the violence in Chicago," he says. "It happens in Chicago, but it's happening around the world in many ways." He continues, "We was talking about the conditions of what's happening, when I say 'nobody's smiling.' But it's really a call to action."
["Common Announces New Album 'Nobody Smiling'"](_blank)
Rap-Up.com. Retrieved February 17, 2014.[Kennedy, John (January 7, 2014)]
"Watch: Common Reveals Guests On 'Nobody Smiling' LP"
''Vibe
''Vibe'' is an American music and entertainment magazine founded by producers David Salzman and Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down producti ...
''.[Ortiz, Edwin (January 6, 2014)]
"Common to Release New Album 'Nobody Smiling' In 2014, Entirely Produced by No I.D."
''Complex
Complex commonly refers to:
* Complexity, the behaviour of a system whose components interact in multiple ways so possible interactions are difficult to describe
** Complex system, a system composed of many components which may interact with each ...
''. On June 4, 2014, it was announced Common signed a recording contract with
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
The l ...
and No I.D.'s Artium Records.
It was also announced ''Nobody's Smiling'' would be released July 22, 2014.
Lonnie "Pops" Lynn was to be featured on this album as well but the recording fell through as Lonnie's health declined. A recording was indeed made and is in process of being released on Dirty Laboratory Productions featuring production by
AwareNess
Awareness is the state of being conscious of something. More specifically, it is the ability to directly know and perceive, to feel, or to be cognizant of events. Another definition describes it as a state wherein a subject is aware of some infor ...
.
In 2016 Common released his eleventh studio album titled
Black America Again under
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
The l ...
, the album featured guest appearances by
Stevie Wonder,
Bilal __NOTOC__
Bilal may refer to:
People
* Bilal (name) (a list of people with the name)
* Bilal ibn Rabah, a companion of Muhammad
* Bilal (American singer)
* Bilal (Lebanese singer)
Places
*Bilal Colony, a neighbourhood of Korangi Town in Karachi, ...
,
Marsha Ambrosius
Marsha Ambrosius-Billups (born 8 August 1977) is an English singer and songwriter from Liverpool, England. She embarked on her musical career as a member of Floetry. Ambrosius released her debut solo album '' Late Nights & Early Mornings'' in M ...
,
BJ The Chicago Kid,
John Legend
John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and record producer. He began his musical career by working behind the scenes, playing piano on Lauryn Hill's " Eve ...
,
PJ, Syd, Elena &
Tasha Cobbs
Natasha Tameika Cobbs Leonard (born July 7, 1981) is an American gospel musician and songwriter. She released the extended play ''Grace'' in 2013 with the hit lead single " Break Every Chain". The EP reached No. 61 on the ''Billboard'' charts. ...
. The album was primarily produced by
Karriem Riggins
Karriem Riggins is an American jazz drummer, hip hop producer, DJ and songwriter.
Biography
Riggins was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States, son of keyboardist Emmanuel Riggins. As a child, he would often watch his father perform with G ...
alongside many other contributors including
Robert Glasper
Robert Andre Glasper (born April 6, 1978) is an American pianist, record producer, songwriter, and musical arranger with a career that bridges several different musical and artistic genres, mostly centered on jazz. To date, Glasper has won fou ...
.
In 2018, Common also announced he would be forming a
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
group called
August Greene with
Karriem Riggins
Karriem Riggins is an American jazz drummer, hip hop producer, DJ and songwriter.
Biography
Riggins was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States, son of keyboardist Emmanuel Riggins. As a child, he would often watch his father perform with G ...
&
Robert Glasper
Robert Andre Glasper (born April 6, 1978) is an American pianist, record producer, songwriter, and musical arranger with a career that bridges several different musical and artistic genres, mostly centered on jazz. To date, Glasper has won fou ...
, shortly after this announcement an
August Greene album was released through a partnership with
Amazon Music
Amazon Music (previously Amazon MP3) is a music streaming platform and online music store operated by Amazon. Launched in public beta on September 25, 2007, in January 2008 it became the first music store to sell music without digital rights ...
. The album featured guest vocals (credited and uncredited) by male singer
Samora Pinderhughes
Samora is a unisex given name and a surname. People with the name include:
Given name
* Samora Fihlani (born 1985), South African rugby union player
* Samora Goodson (born 1984), American football player
* Samora Khulu (died 2008), South Afric ...
and featured award-winning singer
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), better known by her mononym Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and model. She is known for her distinctive sound, characterized by her peculiar timbre, voice-layer ...
on two songs titled "Optimistic" and "Time" respectively. On August 30, 2019, Common released his twelfth solo studio album titled
Let Love, the album was released by
Loma Vista Recordings
Loma Vista Recordings is a record label founded by Tom Whalley, former chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Records and Executive of A&R at Interscope Records. The label was initially a joint venture with Republic Records and is based in Beverly Hi ...
and
Concord Records
Concord Records is an American record label owned by Concord and based in Los Angeles, California. Concord Records was launched in 1995 as an imprint designed to reach beyond the company's foundational Concord Jazz label. The label's artists have ...
. The album features guest appearances from
Samora Pinderhughes
Samora is a unisex given name and a surname. People with the name include:
Given name
* Samora Fihlani (born 1985), South African rugby union player
* Samora Goodson (born 1984), American football player
* Samora Khulu (died 2008), South Afric ...
,
Daniel Caesar
Ashton Dumar Norwill Simmonds (born April 5, 1995), known professionally as Daniel Caesar, is a Canadian singer and songwriter. After independently building a following through the release of two critically acclaimed EPs, ''Praise Break'' (201 ...
,
Swizz Beatz
Kasseem Daoud Dean (born September 13, 1978), known professionally as Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, rapper, disc jockey (DJ) and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, Dean embarked on his musical career as a DJ. At the ag ...
,
Leikeli47
Leikeli47 (or Leikeli) is an American rapper signed to RCA Records. In 2018, she released her second full-length album, ''Acrylic.'' She is known for concealing her face with a bandana or balaclava at all performances and professional appearan ...
,
BJ the Chicago Kid,
A-Trak
Alain Macklovitch (born March 30, 1982), known by his stage name A-Trak, is a Canadian DJ, record producer, and record executive. He came to prominence in the late 2000s as an international club DJ and remix artist, known for incorporating highly ...
,
Jill Scott,
Leon Bridges
Todd Michael "Leon" Bridges (born July 13, 1989) is an American soul singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for his 2015 song " Coming Home", which received regular airplay and was also a Top 10 Most Viral Track on Spotify. Brid ...
and
Jonathan McReynolds
Jonathan Caleb McReynolds (born September 17, 1989) is a Grammy-winning American gospel musician. He began his music career in 2012 with the release of ''Life Music'' via Entertainment One Music. He has had two No. 1 ''Billboard'' Gospel Albums ...
and production of the album was primarily handled by
Karriem Riggins
Karriem Riggins is an American jazz drummer, hip hop producer, DJ and songwriter.
Biography
Riggins was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States, son of keyboardist Emmanuel Riggins. As a child, he would often watch his father perform with G ...
and the song titled "HER Love (feat.
Daniel Caesar
Ashton Dumar Norwill Simmonds (born April 5, 1995), known professionally as Daniel Caesar, is a Canadian singer and songwriter. After independently building a following through the release of two critically acclaimed EPs, ''Praise Break'' (201 ...
was produced by
J. Dilla.
In 2020 Common released a nine-track album titled ''
A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 1''. The album features female singer PJ on seven tracks and also features guest vocals from
Black Thought
Tariq Luqmaan Trotter (born October 3, 1973), better known as Black Thought, is an American rapper, actor and the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group the Roots, which he co-founded with drummer Questlove (Ahmir Thompson). Regarded a ...
and
Lenny Kravitz. In 2021 he released a sequel album, ''
A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2
''A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2'' is the fourteenth studio album by American rapper Common. It was released on September 10, 2021 through Loma Vista Recordings, making it his third project released for the label. It serves as a sequel to his 2020 a ...
'', which features guest vocals from
Jessica Care Moore
Jessica Care Moore (born October 28, 1971) is an American poet. She is the CEO of Moore Black Press, executive producer of BLACK WOMEN ROCK!, and founder of the literacy-driven jess Care moore Foundation. An internationally renowned poet, playwri ...
, PJ, Black Thought,
Seun Kuti
Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti (born 11 January 1983), who is called by the name Seun Kuti, is a Nigerian musician, singer and the youngest son of the famous Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Kuti. Seun leads his father's former band Egypt 80.
Biography
The y ...
,
Marcus King
Marcus King (born March 11, 1996) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as the frontman, lead singer and guitarist for The Marcus King Band.
His 2020 album ''El Dorado'' received a nomination for Grammy Aw ...
,
Isaiah Sharkey
Isaiah Sharkey (born July 14, 1989) is an American guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer. He played guitar as a member of the Vanguard on D'Angelo's 2014 album '' Black Messiah'', which won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. He is also a ...
,
Brittany Howard
Brittany Amber Howard (born October 2, 1988) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter known for being the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter of rock bands Alabama Shakes, Thunderbitch, and Bermuda Triangle. Her work wi ...
, and
Morgan Parker. Production of both albums was handled primarily by long-time collaborator
Karriem Riggins
Karriem Riggins is an American jazz drummer, hip hop producer, DJ and songwriter.
Biography
Riggins was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States, son of keyboardist Emmanuel Riggins. As a child, he would often watch his father perform with G ...
, with various other producers credited as session musicians.
Other work
Acting
In 2003, Common appeared on the American
UPN
The United Paramount Network (UPN) was an American broadcast television network that launched on January 16, 1995. It was originally owned by Chris-Craft Industries' United Television. Viacom (through its Paramount Television unit, which pr ...
sitcom ''
Girlfriends''. In the episode "Take This Poem and Call Me in the Morning", he appeared as Omar, a
slam poet
A poetry slam is a competitive art event in which poets perform spoken word poetry before a live audience and a panel of judges. While formats can vary, slams are often loud and lively, with audience participation, cheering and dramatic delivery ...
who competes with fellow poet Sivad (played by
Saul Williams) for the affection of Lynn Searcy (played by
Persia White
Persia Jessica White (born October 25, 1972) is a Bahamas-born American actress, singer and musician. White is known for her role as Denise Williams on the short-lived television series ''Breaker High'' and as Lynn Searcy on the UPN/ CW sitcom '' ...
). He also had a cameo appearance on an episode of UPN's ''
One on One'', where he played a drama class instructor named Darius. He also made an appearance on the ABC show ''
Scrubs''. In 2007, Common appeared with
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Rodney Reynolds (born October 23, 1976) is a Canadian-American actor. He is one of the highest-grossing film actors of all time, with a worldwide box-office gross of over billion.
He began his career starring in the Canadian teen ...
,
Jeremy Piven
Jeremy Samuel Piven (born July 26, 1965) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Ari Gold in the comedy series '' Entourage'', for which he won a Golden Globe Award and three consecutive Emmy Awards. He also starred in the Britis ...
, and
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Col ...
in the crime film ''
Smokin' Aces
''Smokin' Aces'' is a 2006 American action comedy film written and directed by Joe Carnahan. The film centers on the chase for Las Vegas magician turned mafia informant Robert 'Buddy Aces' Israel ( Jeremy Piven), on whom a one-million-dollar boun ...
'', making his big screen debut as villainous
Mob
Mob or MOB may refer to:
Behavioral phenomena
* Crowd
* Smart mob, a temporary self-structuring social organization, coordinated through telecommunication
Crime and law enforcement
* American Mafia, also known as the Mob
* Irish Mob, a US crimin ...
enforcer
Enforcer or enforcers may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Comics
* Enforcer (comics), a Marvel Comics character
* Enforcers (comics), a Marvel Comics team
* New Enforcers, another Marvel Comics team
Film and television
* ''The Enforcer ...
Sir Ivy. He appeared alongside
Denzel Washington,
Russell Crowe,
The RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs (born July 5, 1969), better known by his stage name the RZA ( ), is an American rapper, actor, filmmaker, and record producer. He is the ''de facto'' leader of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, having produced most albums ...
and
T.I. in the 2007 crime thriller ''
American Gangster''. On January 20, 2007, one week before the opening of ''Smokin Aces'', he appeared in a ''
Saturday Night Live
''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock (streaming service), Peacock. ...
'' sketch as himself. The show's host was Piven, his ''Aces'' co-star.
In 2007, Common played the role of ''Smokin' Aces'' co-star
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Col ...
's boyfriend in the music video "
Like You'll Never See Me Again
"Like You'll Never See Me Again" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Alicia Keys for her third studio album '' As I Am'' (2007). Written and produced by Keys and Kerry Brothers Jr., it was first heard on October 25, 2007, on Atlanta' ...
".
In 2008, he had a supporting role in the film adaptation of the comic book ''
Wanted
Wanted may refer to:
Law enforcement
* Fugitive, a person wanted by the authorities
* Wanted poster, a poster put up to inform the public of one or more criminals whom authorities wish to apprehend
Film
* ''Wanted!'', a 1937 British comedy film
...
'' alongside
Morgan Freeman and
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie (; born Angelina Jolie Voight; June 4, 1975) is an American actress, filmmaker, humanitarian and former Special Envoy to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award ...
. Common also appeared in the movie ''
Street Kings'' with
Keanu Reeves,
Hugh Laurie
James Hugh Calum Laurie (; born 11 June 1959) is an English actor, comedian, writer, and musician. He first gained recognition for his work as one half of the comedy double act Fry and Laurie with Stephen Fry. The two men acted together in ...
,
The Game, and
Forest Whitaker
Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor. He is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.
After making his f ...
. Common also starred in the 2010 movie ''
Just Wright
''Just Wright'' is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Sanaa Hamri, starring Queen Latifah and Common. The film tells the story of a physical therapist, Leslie Wright, who falls in love with a professional basketball player, Scott McK ...
'' as a basketball player who falls in love with his physical therapist
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970), known professionally as Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, actress, and singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989 and released her debut album '' All Hail the Qu ...
. He appeared in the 2009 film ''
Terminator Salvation
''Terminator Salvation'' is a 2009 American military science fiction action film directed by McG and written by John Brancato and Michael Ferris. It is the fourth installment of the ''Terminator'' franchise and serves as a sequel to '' Termi ...
'' as
John Connor
John Connor is a fictional character in the ''Terminator'' franchise. Created by writer and director James Cameron, the character is first referred to in the 1984 film ''The Terminator'' and first appears in its 1991 sequel '' Terminator 2: Jud ...
's lieutenant Barnes.
In 2009, Common was cast as
John Stewart/Green Lantern in the unproduced film ''Justice League: Mortal''.
Common starred as a corrupt cop in the 2010 comedy ''
Date Night'' with
Steve Carell
Steven John Carell (; born August 16, 1962) is an American actor and comedian. He played Michael Scott in ''The Office'' (2005–2011; 2013), NBC’s adaptation of the British series created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, where Ca ...
and
Tina Fey
Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey (; born May 18, 1970) is an American actress, comedian, writer, producer, and playwright. She is best known for her work on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' (1997–2006) and for creating the ...
. He was also featured in the role of deployed soldier Chino in 2011's ''
New Year's Eve
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the last day of the year, on 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly referred to ...
'', the husband of
Halle Berry's character, Nurse Aimee.
He was part of the
ensemble cast of AMC's ''
Hell on Wheels
Hell on Wheels was the itinerant collection of flimsily assembled gambling houses, dance halls, saloons, and brothels that followed the army of Union Pacific railroad workers westward as they constructed the First transcontinental railroad in 186 ...
'', as one of the lead characters, Elam Ferguson, a recently freed slave trying to find his place in the world.
In 2013, Common played the role of Agent Evans, an FBI agent in ''
Now You See Me'' along with Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco. In the 2014 film ''
Selma'', for which he also co-wrote the Oscar-winning song "
Glory", Common co-starred as
1960s civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a nonviolent social and political movement and campaign from 1954 to 1968 in the United States to abolish legalized institutional Racial segregation in the United States, racial segregation, Racial discrimination ...
leader
James Bevel
James Luther Bevel (October 19, 1936 – December 19, 2008) was a minister and leader of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement in the United States. As a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and then as its Director of Direct ...
. In 2015, he played a hitman in ''
Run All Night''.
Common appeared as a gangster in the 2016 film ''
Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad is an antihero/supervillain team appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The first version of the Suicide Squad debuted in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #25 (September 1959) and the second and modern version, cre ...
'', directed by
David Ayer
David Ayer (born January 18 , 1968) is an American filmmaker known for making crime films that are set in Los Angeles and deal with gangs and police corruption. His screenplays include ''Training Day'' (2001), ''The Fast and the Furious'' (2001 ...
and part of the
DC Extended Universe
The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films and television series produced by DC Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on characters that ...
.
In December 2015, Common appeared in the
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
TV special ''
The Wiz Live!
''The Wiz Live!'' is an American television special that aired live on NBC on December 3, 2015. Produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, it is a performance of a new adaptation of the 1975 Broadway musical ''The Wiz'', a soul/ R&B reinterpretation ...
'', as the
Bouncer
A bouncer (also known as a doorman or door supervisor) is a type of security guard, employed at venues such as bars, nightclubs, cabaret clubs, stripclubs, casinos, hotels, billiard halls, restaurants, sporting events, schools, concerts, or ...
guarding the
Emerald City
The Emerald City (sometimes called the City of Emeralds) is the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books, first described in ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900).
Fictional description
Located in the center of the L ...
.
In 2016, he co-starred in the film ''
Barbershop: The Next Cut'', alongside former rival
Ice Cube.
In February 2017, he appeared alongside Keanu Reeves again, this time as professional hitman/bodyguard Cassian in ''
John Wick: Chapter 2''.
In August 2017, Common began voicing Kiburi the crocodile in
Disney Junior
Disney Junior is an American pay television network owned by the Walt Disney Television (part of Disney General Entertainment Content) unit of The Walt Disney Company through Disney Branded Television. Aimed mainly at children two to seven y ...
's ''
The Lion Guard
''The Lion Guard'' is an American animated television series developed by Ford Riley and based on Disney's 1994 film ''The Lion King''. The series was first broadcast with a television film titled ''The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar'' on Disney ...
''.
Common played opposite
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (born November 28, 1984) is an American actress and singer. Her first significant role was that of Jessica Bennett on the NBC soap opera ''Passions'' (1999–2000). She went on to appear in series such as ''Tru Calling' ...
in
Eva Vives
Eva Vives (born 9 January 1976) is a Spanish screenwriter, director and producer. She directed '' All About Nina'', her first feature, in 2017.
Early life and education
Vives was born in Madrid and raised in Barcelona, where she lived until sh ...
's debut feature, ''
All About Nina'', which had its world premiere at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. It was a major, breakout role for which he has received much critical acclaim (
''Variety'''s Peter Debruge calling his performance "easily the strongest of the half-dozen supporting roles he's had this year"). That same year, he appeared as Rear Admiral John Fisk in the
action thriller
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include lif ...
film ''
Hunter Killer''.
In 2018, Common starred in the
film adaptation of ''
The Hate U Give
''The Hate U Give'' is a 2017 young adult novel by Angie Thomas. It is Thomas's debut novel, expanded from a short story she wrote in college in reaction to the police shooting of Oscar Grant. The book is narrated by Starr Carter, a 16-ye ...
'', playing Starr's uncle Carlos, a black police officer that is forced to defend his colleague that is involved in the shooting of a black teen.
In September 2022, it was announced that Common would make his Broadway debut in Second Stage Theater’s Between Riverside and Crazy in the winter of 2022.
Film production
On October 27, 2015, Common inked a two-year deal with
HBO that allowed to start his own film production company, Freedom Road Productions. He stated in an interview in February 2012 that one of his big career goals was to start his own film production company.
In 2016 Common also worked with
Amazon Studios
Amazon Studios is an American television and film producer and distributor that is a subsidiary of Amazon. It specializes in developing television series and distributing and producing films. It was started in late 2010. Content is distributed th ...
and
American Girl, serving as an executive producer for the
direct-to-video
Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy wa ...
feature ''
An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win''.
Modeling and clothing
![Common-08-mika](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Common-08-mika.jpg)
In 2006, Common was a model for photos of
The Gap's fall season collection, appearing on posters in stores. Later that year, he performed in The Gap's "Holiday in Your Hood" themed ''Peace Love Gap.'' In February 2007, Common signed a deal with New Era to promote their new line of Layers fitted caps. Common also stars in a television commercial for the 2008 Lincoln Navigator. He appears in NBA 2K8 in NBA Blacktop mode. In the fall of 2008, Common appeared in an ad for Microsoft's
Zune
Zune is a discontinued line of digital media products and services marketed by Microsoft from November 2006 until its discontinuation in June 2012. Zune consisted of a line of portable media players, digital media player software for Windows Per ...
, comparing his new song, "
Universal Mind Control
''Universal Mind Control'' is the eighth studio album by American rapper Common. Originally scheduled to be released on June 24, 2008 under the name ''Invincible Summer'', the release date was pushed back to September 30, 2008 due to Common's ac ...
", to "
Planet Rock", a song from hip-hop pioneer
Afrika Bambaataa. Also, he featured in the
Diesel
Diesel may refer to:
* Diesel engine, an internal combustion engine where ignition is caused by compression
* Diesel fuel, a liquid fuel used in diesel engines
* Diesel locomotive, a railway locomotive in which the prime mover is a diesel engin ...
campaign for a new fragrance called "Only The Brave". His song "Be (intro)" is featured in a commercial for
BlackBerry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by many species in the genus ''Rubus'' in the family Rosaceae, hybrids among these species within the subgenus ''Rubus'', and hybrids between the subgenera ''Rubus'' and ''Idaeobatus''. The taxonomy ...
.
In December 2008, Common launched a new clothing line in partnership with Microsoft titled "Softwear", based on 1980s computing.
Writing
Common was invited by First Lady
Michelle Obama to appear at a poetry reading on May 11, 2011, at the
White House
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...
. His poetry was found to be greatly influenced by
Maya Angelou's works. This invitation caused furor with the
New Jersey State Police and their union, who cited some of Common's previous lyrical content, most notably the song "A Song For Assata" about
Assata Shakur
Assata Olugbala Shakur (born JoAnne Deborah Byron; July 16, 1947; also married name, JoAnne Chesimard) is an American political activist who was a member of the Black Liberation Army (BLA). In 1977, she was convicted in the first-degree murder ...
, a member of the
Black Liberation Army
The Black Liberation Army (BLA) was a far-left, black nationalist, underground Black Power revolutionary paramilitary organization that operated in the United States from 1970 to 1981. Composed of former Black Panthers (BPP) and Republic ...
(and step-aunt of deceased rapper
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur ( ; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the b ...
) who was convicted in 1977 of the first-degree murder of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster. At another poetry reading, Common had stated, "flyers say 'free Mumia' on my freezer", a reference to
Mumia Abu-Jamal
Mumia Abu-Jamal (born Wesley Cook; April 24, 1954) is an American political activist and journalist who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1982 for the 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. While on death ...
, who was controversially convicted of killing Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981.
Jay Carney
James Ferguson 'Jay' Carney (born May 22, 1965) is an American public relations officer, political advisor and journalist who has served as Amazon's Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs from 2015 to 2022, and the United States Whit ...
, the
White House Press Secretary at the time, stated that President Obama opposed these particular lyrics, but supported what Common stood for more broadly.
[Dirner, Cullen]
"White House Condemns Some of Common's Lyrics but Praises his Larger Body of Work"
ABC News. May 11, 2011 Common responded by saying: "I guess Sarah Palin and Fox News doesn't like me."
On
acebook, he also stated, "The one thing that shouldn't be questioned is my support for the police officers and troops that protect us every day." Common later discussed the matter with
Jon Stewart during a September 14, 2011 appearance on Comedy Central's ''
The Daily Show
''The Daily Show'' is an American late-night talk and satirical news television program. It airs each Monday through Thursday on Comedy Central with release shortly after on Paramount+. ''The Daily Show'' draws its comedy and satire form from ...
''.
![9](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/9.13.11CommonDrHinesByLuigiNovi2.jpg)
In September 2011, Common published his memoir, ''One Day It'll All Make Sense'', through Atria Books. As the book details how his close relationship with his mother influenced his life, it is partially narrated by her.
Common released his second memoir, ''Let Love Have The Last Word'', in May 2019. The book highlights his relationship with his daughter Omoye, romantic relationships, his parents, and his struggle to cement his perspective in the concept of love.
Activism
Common is a
vegan
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan. ...
and he is a supporter of
animal rights
Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all Animal consciousness, sentient animals have moral worth that is independent of their Utilitarianism, utility for humans, and that their most basic interests—such as avoiding s ...
and
PETA. He appeared in a print advertisement for PETA titled "Think Before You Eat,"
and in a documentary titled ''Holistic Wellness for the Hip-Hop Generation'' where he promoted vegetarianism.
Common is also part of the "Knowing Is Beautiful" movement, which supports
HIV/AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...
awareness.
He is featured in the video for "
Yes We Can," a song in support of the candidacy of
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
, which made its debut on the internet on February 2, 2008. Common has pledged to stop using
anti-gay lyrics in his music.
Common is the founder of the Common Ground Foundation, a non-profit that seeks to empower underprivileged youth to be contributing citizens and strong leaders in the world. The foundation includes programs dedicated to leadership development & empowerment, educational development, creative expression, as well as a book club. In 2014, Common Ground inaugurated the AAHH! Fest music festival in Chicago's
Union Park. After a one-year hiatus, AAHH! Fest returned in 2016,
but was canceled one week before showtime in 2017.
An official announcement stated the fest would return September 15, 2018.
[Ariel Cheung]
Common's AAHH! Fest Gets Canceled Just One Week Before Showtime
''DNAinfo
''DNAinfo'' was an online newspaper that focused on neighborhood news in New York City and Chicago. It was closed down by CEO and owner Joe Ricketts in November 2017 after writers in its New York branch voted to unionize, a move to which Rickett ...
'', September 14, 2017
In 2017, Common performed concerts in several California prisons, as well as on the grounds of the California State Capitol. This concert tour inspired him to found Imagine Justice, another non-profit organization, devoted to empowering communities and fighting injustice. The organization intends to address mental health and wellness, civic engagement, and leveraging the power of art to inspire and spark change; it plans to execute high impact initiatives.
In May 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Common launched a social media campaign through Imagine Justice, dubbed #WeMatterToo, with dozens of advocacy and activist groups calling attention to the threat that the pandemic poses for incarcerated men and women and intended to create greater public awareness about conditions facing incarcerated populations. The campaign includes the production of short films that will include recordings of inmates expressing their concern about the coronavirus spreading inside prisons.
Along with other rappers and activists, Common appeared in the award-winning documentary short film
''#Bars4Justice'', which was shot in
Ferguson, Missouri
Ferguson is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. It is part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area. Per the 2020 census, the population was 18,527.
History
What is now the city of Ferguson was founded in 1855, when William ...
and produced by ''
Nation19
''Nation19'' is a magazine that blends hip-hop culture, photojournalism, activism, and anthropology. The printed and digital magazine is produced and published by multimedia activists, visual anthropologists, and film directors Queen Muhammad Ali a ...
'' Magazine. Common performed with
Andra Day
Andra may refer to:
People
* Andra (singer) (born 1986), Romanian singer
* Andra (musician), Zimbabwean-American musician
* Andra Karpin (born 1979), Estonian footballer
* Andra Neiburga (1957–2019), Latvian writer
* Andra Day (born 1984), Am ...
in the opening musical performance for the
March for Our Lives
March for Our Lives (MFOL) was a student-led demonstration in support of gun control legislation. It took place in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2018, with over 880 sibling events throughout the United States and around the world, and wa ...
anti-gun violence rally in Washington, D.C. on March 24, 2018. He also performed at the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's death in Memphis, at an event co-hosted by the labor union
UNITE HERE
UNITE HERE is a labor union in the United States and Canada with roughly 300,000 active members. The union's members work predominantly in the hotel, food service, laundry, warehouse, and casino gaming industries. The union was formed in 2004 by ...
. Common was later accused of joining anti-union efforts by crossing a UNITE HERE picket line in Boston.
Personal life
Common is a
pescatarian
Pescetarianism (; sometimes spelled pescatarianism) is the practice of incorporating seafood into an otherwise vegetarian diet. Pescetarians may or may not consume other animal products such as eggs and dairy products. Approximately 3% of adul ...
. He is a lifelong fan of the
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded on January ...
and
Chicago Bears. He is a
Christian, attending
Trinity United Church of Christ
Trinity United Church of Christ is a predominantly African-American church with more than 8,500 members. It is located in the Washington Heights community on the South Side of Chicago. It is the largest church affiliated with the United Church ...
in Chicago. On May 4, 2019, Common served as spring commencement speaker at the
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), commonly known as Florida A&M, is a public historically black land-grant university in Tallahassee, Florida. Founded in 1887, It is the third largest historically black university in the Un ...
(FAMU) and after his address, was awarded an honorary
DFA degree. While at FAMU, he studied in the School of Business and Industry.
Common was in a relationship with comedian and actress
Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Sara Cornilia Haddish (born December 3, 1979) is an American stand-up comedian and actress. After guest-starring on several television series and lead role on a cable drama, Haddish gained prominence for her role as Nekeisha Williams on ...
from mid-2020 to November 2021.
He has one daughter, Omoye, born in 1997.
Discography
;Studio albums
* ''
Can I Borrow a Dollar?
''Can I Borrow a Dollar?'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Common Sense. It was released on October 6, 1992, by Relativity Records. The album was entirely produced by No I.D. (then called Immenslope) and The Twilite Tone, with addit ...
'' (1992)
* ''
Resurrection
Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and is resurrected. Reincarnation is a similar process hypothesized by other religions, whic ...
'' (1994)
* ''
One Day It'll All Make Sense
''One Day It'll All Make Sense'' is the third studio album by rapper Common, released on September 30, 1997, on Relativity Records. It was the follow-up to his critically acclaimed album ''Resurrection'' and the last Common album to feature prod ...
'' (1997)
* ''
Like Water for Chocolate'' (2000)
* ''
Electric Circus
''Electric Circus '' (also known as ''EC'') was a Canadian live dance music television program that aired on MuchMusic and Citytv from September 16, 1988 to December 12, 2003. The name originated from a nightclub that once existed at Citytv's fir ...
'' (2002)
* ''
Be'' (2005)
* ''
Finding Forever
''Finding Forever'' is the seventh studio album by Common, released on July 31, 2007, on GOOD Music and Geffen Records. Like Common's previous album, '' Be'' (2005), ''Finding Forever'' is primarily produced by Kanye West. The album debuted at th ...
'' (2007)
* ''
Universal Mind Control
''Universal Mind Control'' is the eighth studio album by American rapper Common. Originally scheduled to be released on June 24, 2008 under the name ''Invincible Summer'', the release date was pushed back to September 30, 2008 due to Common's ac ...
'' (2008)
* ''
The Dreamer/The Believer
''The Dreamer/The Believer'' is the ninth studio album by American rapper Common. It was released in the UK on December 19, 2011 and in the US on December 20 through Warner Bros. Records alongside Common's newly launched Think Common Music Inc. C ...
'' (2011)
* ''
Nobody's Smiling
''Nobody's Smiling'' is the tenth studio album by American hip hop recording artist Common. It was released on July 22, 2014, by Def Jam Recordings and No I.D.'s label ARTium Records. Following the release of his 2011's album ''The Dreamer/The ...
'' (2014)
* ''
Black America Again'' (2016)
* ''
Let Love'' (2019)
* ''
A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 1)'' (2020)
* ''
A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 2)'' (2021)
Filmography
Film
Television
Video games
Awards and nominations
References
External links
*
Common: Geffen Records Site*
*
Commonon
Democracy Now!
''Democracy Now!'' is an hour-long American TV, radio, and Internet news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman (who also acts as the show's executive producer), Juan González, and Nermeen Shaikh. The show, which airs live each weekday at ...
– video interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Common
1972 births
21st-century American male actors
African-American male rappers
African-American male actors
African-American non-fiction writers
American non-fiction writers
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male video game actors
American male voice actors
American memoirists
Best Original Song Academy Award-winning songwriters
Florida A&M University alumni
Def Jam Recordings artists
Golden Globe Award-winning musicians
Grammy Award winners for rap music
Hip hop activists
Living people
Male actors from Chicago
Midwest hip hop musicians
Native Tongues Posse
Primetime Emmy Award winners
Rappers from Chicago
Songwriters from Illinois
Warner Records artists
Writers from Chicago
21st-century American rappers
August Greene members
African-American songwriters
Soulquarians members
Cocaine 80s members