Common
Common at the 2006 Men's Health magazine party in New York City.
Background information
Birth name	Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr.
Also known as	Common Sense
Born	March 13, 1972 (1972-03-13) (age 36)
Origin	Chicago, Illinois
Genre(s)	Hip hop music Conscious hip hop Alternative hip hop Underground hip hopMidwest Hip-Hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper, Actor
Years active	1991-present
Label(s)	Relativity, MCA, G.O.O.D. Music, Geffen
Associated acts	Soulquarians, Kanye West, J Dilla, Native Tongues, No I.D., will.i.am
Website	common-music.com

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known by his stage name Common (and previously known as Common Sense), is an American hip hop artist and actor. Common debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow A Dollar?, and maintained a significant underground following into the late 90s, after which he gained notable mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians. His first major label album, Like Water for Chocolate, received widespread critical acclaim and moderate commercial success. Its popularity was matched by 2005's Be, which was nominated in the 2006 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album.^[1] His best-of album Thisisme Then was released on November 27, 2007. Common recently started a burgeoning film career, starting with a roles in Smokin' Aces, Street Kings, and American Gangster. is the 72nd day of the year (73rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... Conscious hip hop is a subgenre of alternative hip hop which focuses on social issues. ... Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a genre that is defined in greatly varying ways. ... Underground hip hop, underground rap, or undie (to draw comparison to indie or independent rock) is an umbrella term for hip-hop and rap music outside the general commercial cannon. ... Rap redirects here. ... For other uses, see Actor (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Relativity Records was a record label. ... The Music Corporation of America was a United States based corporation in the music business. ... GOOD Music is a Hip Hop and R&B record label founded by music producer and rapper Kanye West. ... Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMGs Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group. ... Soulquarians (common misspelling: Soul Aquarians) was a neo soul-informed hip hop musical collective with members from Philadelphia, Detroit, Richmond and Chicago. ... Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kÉ‘njÉ›j/) (born June 8, 1977) is an American record producer and rapper who rose to fame in the mid 2000s. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: J Dilla James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974–February 10, 2006), better known as J Dilla, or Jay Dee, was an American hip hop producer and MC, who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. ... The Native Tongues Posse is a group of late 1980s and early 1990s black nationalist hip hop artists known for their positive Afrocentric lyrics and jazzy beats. ... No I.D, formerly known as Immenslope and also known as Ernest Wilson (born Dion Wilson in Chicago, Illinois), is a hip hop and R&B record producer, best known for his early work with Chicago rapper, and life long friend, Common (formerly Common Sense) and is known as The... For other persons named William Adams, see William Adams (disambiguation). ... is the 72nd day of the year (73rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A stage name, also called a screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, comedians, musicians, djs, clowns, and professional wrestlers. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... For other uses, see Actor (disambiguation). ... Can I Borrow a Dollar? is the 1992 debut album by Chicago rapper Common, then known as Common Sense. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Soulquarians (common misspelling: Soul Aquarians) was a neo soul-informed hip hop musical collective with members from Philadelphia, Detroit, Richmond and Chicago. ... Like Water for Chocolate is an album by rapper Common, released in March 2000. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Be is a 2005 album by rapper Common, produced by Kanye West and J Dilla. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Smokin Aces is an action film, written and directed by Joe Carnahan, set in Lake Tahoe, and primarily shot at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa (renamed the Nomad Casino in the film). ... American Gangster is an Academy Award-nominated 2007 crime film written by Steven Zaillian and directed by Ridley Scott. ...

Biography

Early life

Common was born in Chicago, where he was raised, the son of educator Ann Hines and former ABA basketball player turned youth counselor Lonnie Lynn. Common's parents divorced when he was six years old, resulting in his father moving to Denver, Colorado.^[2] This left Common to be raised by his mother, but his father remained active in his life and even landed Common a job with the Chicago Bulls during his teen years.^[3] While in high school, Common also formed C.D.R., a rap trio that opened for acts such as N.W.A. and Big Daddy Kane.^[3] Common later left this group when he attended Florida A&M University to study business administration.^[3] Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ... This article is about the sport. ... Lonnie Lynn (born May 24, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois) is a former basketball player in the ABA. He played one season for the Pittsburgh Pipers (1969-70 season). ... Nickname: Location of Denver in the State of Colorado Location of Colorado in the United States Coordinates: , Country United States State State of Colorado City and County Denver[1] Founded 1858-11-22, as Denver City, K.T.[2] Incorporated 1861-11-07, as Denver City, C.T.[3] Consolidated... The Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... Trio is generally used in any of the following ways: Three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument. ... This article is about the hip-hop group. ... Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is a record producer/rapper from the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, New York. ... Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU (pronounced fam-you), is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, the state capital, and is one of eleven institutions in Floridas State University System. ... This article is about business administration. ...

Early career

Common dropped out of Florida A&M University and was featured in the Unsigned Hype column of The Source magazine after a friend sent in a tape of Common rapping. Under the stage name Common Sense, he debuted in 1992 with the single "Take It EZ" followed by the album, Can I Borrow a Dollar?. Unsigned Hype is a column in the hip-hop magazine The Source devoted to identifying promising new rappers who do not have record deals. ... The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. ... Take It EZ is the first single from rapper Commons debut album Can I Borrow a Dollar?. Categories: | | ... Can I Borrow a Dollar? is the 1992 debut album by Chicago rapper Common, then known as Common Sense. ...

With the 1994 release of Resurrection, Common achieved a much larger degree of critical acclaim, which extended beyond Chicago natives. The album sold relatively well and received a strong positive reaction among alternative and underground hip-hop fans at the time. Resurrection was Common's last album produced almost entirely by his long-time production partner, No I.D., who was also the then-mentor of a young Kanye West. Resurrection is the 2nd album by American rapper Common. ... Alternative hip hop (Bohemian hip hop) is a style of hip hop distinguished by socio-political lyrics, sparse beats that sample few and/or unusual sources (see jazz rap) and uniquely positive rhymes. ... Alternative hip hop (Bohemian hip hop) is a style of hip hop distinguished by socio-political lyrics, sparse beats that sample few and/or unusual sources (see jazz rap) and uniquely positive rhymes. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... No I.D, formerly known as Immenslope and also known as Ernest Wilson (born Dion Wilson in Chicago, Illinois), is a hip hop and R&B record producer, best known for his early work with Chicago rapper, and life long friend, Common (formerly Common Sense) and is known as The... Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kɑnjɛj/) (born June 8, 1977) is an American record producer and rapper who rose to fame in the mid 2000s. ...

Feud with Ice Cube

The song "I Used to Love H.E.R." from Resurrection ignited a feud with West Coast rapper Ice Cube. The lyrics of the song criticized the path hip-hop music was taking and was interpreted by some as directing blame towards the popularity of West Coast Gangsta rap. Ice Cube first responded with the 1995 song Westside Slaughterhouse, with the lyrics "Used to love H.E.R. mad cause I fucked her". Along with his group Westside Connection, Ice Cube recorded tracks venting their issues with rival East Coast rappers (see East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry). Westside Slaughterhouse also mentioned Common by name, prompting the rapper to respond with the scathing Pete Rock-produced attack song "The Bitch in Yoo". Common and Ice Cube continued to insult each other back and forth before finally meeting with Louis Farrakhan and setting aside their dispute. Following the popularity of Resurrection, Common Sense was sued by a Los Angeles-based reggae band with the same name, and was forced to shorten his moniker to simply "Common".^[4] I Used to Love H.E.R. is a hip hop song by the Chicago-born rapper Common. ... West Coast hip hop, also known as West Coast rap or California hip hop, is a style of hip hop music that originated in California in the early 1980s. ... OShea Jackson (born June 15, 1969), better known by his stage name, Ice Cube, is an American rapper, actor and film director. ... For the Ice T album, see Gangsta Rap (album). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Notorious B.I.G. and Puff Daddy on the cover of Vibe Magazine, September 1996 The East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry was an on-going dispute in the early-mid 1990s between artists and fans of the East Coast and West Coast hip-hop scenes. ... Pete Rock (born Peter Phillips, June 21, 1970[1] in Bronx, New York) is an American hip hop DJ, producer and rapper. ... The Bitch in Yoo is a single and diss song released by rapper Common in 1996. ... Louis Farrakhan (born Louis Eugene Walcott, May 11, 1933), is the acting head of the Nation of Islam (NOI) as the National Representative of Elijah Muhammad. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... Reggae is a music genre developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. ...

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, in September 1997. The album took a total of two years to complete and included collaborations with artists such as Lauryn Hill, Q-Tip, Canibus, Black Thought, Chantay Savage, and ?uestlove - a future fellow member of the Soulquarians 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. In addition to releasing One Day, Common's first child, daughter Omoye Assata Lynn, was born shortly after the release of the album. Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... One Day Itll All Make Sense is an album from Chicago based rapper Common. ... 1997(MCMXCVII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lauryn Noel Hill (born May 25, 1975) is an American singer, rapper, musician, record producer and film actress. ... Q-Tip (born Jonathan Davis in Brooklyn, New York), USA, is a North American hip-hop emcee, actor, and hip hop producer who was the leader of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest. ... Germaine Williams (born December 9, 1974), better known as Canibus and also as Can-I-Bus and Rip the Jacker, is a Jamaican-born American MC and rapper. ... Image of artist Black Thought (born Tariq Trotter) is the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group The Roots. ... Chantay Savage Chantay Savage is an R&B/dance singer who found success in the 90s with singles like Dont Let It Go to Your Head, and I Will Survive, in which she reworked the Gloria Gaynor disco anthem. ... Ahmir Khalib Thompson (born on January 20, 1971), known professionally as ?uestlove or Questlove, is an American drummer, DJ, music journalist and record producer. ... Soulquarians (common misspelling: Soul Aquarians) was a neo soul-informed hip hop musical collective with members from Philadelphia, Detroit, Richmond and Chicago. ... The following is a partial list of record labels, both past and present. ... The Music Corporation of America was a United States based corporation in the music business. ...

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: For other uses, see Journalist (disambiguation). ...

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 favourite cut on One Day... that offers a male slant on abortion. "Retrospect for Life", produced by James Poyser, and No I.D. featuring Lauryn Hill (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 Corinthians 13:12, which summarizes the path to manhood: Retrospect for Life is the first single from rapper Commons third album One Day Itll All Make Sense. ... James Poyser is an English1 (though he moved to America when he was 8) songwriter, record producer, and keyboardist based in Philadelphia, known for his hip-hop and R&B productions. ... No I.D, formerly known as Immenslope and also known as Ernest Wilson (born Dion Wilson in Chicago, Illinois), is a hip hop and R&B record producer, best known for his early work with Chicago rapper, and life long friend, Common (formerly Common Sense) and is known as The... Lauryn Noel Hill (born May 25, 1975) is an American singer, rapper, musician, record producer and film actress. ... The First Epistle to the Corinthians is a book of the Bible in the New Testament. ...

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Soulquarians era

Following One Day..., Common signed a major label record deal with MCA Records 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" by central figure ?uestlove) throughout 1999, and made a few sporadic guest appearances on The Roots' Things Fall Apart, and the Rawkus Records compilation, Soundbombing 2. MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Soulquarians (common misspelling: Soul Aquarians) was a neo soul-informed hip hop musical collective with members from Philadelphia, Detroit, Richmond and Chicago. ... Ahmir Khalib Thompson (born on January 20, 1971), known professionally as ?uestlove or Questlove, is an American drummer, DJ, music journalist and record producer. ... The Roots, also variously known as The Legendary Roots Crew, The Fifth Dynasty, The Square Roots and The Foundation, are an influential, Grammy-winning hip-hop band based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, famed for a heavily jazzy sound and live instrumentation. ... Things Fall Apart released in 1999 is a hip hop album by the Philadelphia based group The Roots. ... Rawkus Records is an American hip hop record label, known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ...

In 2000, his fourth album, Like Water for Chocolate, was released to mass critical acclaim. Executive produced by ?uestlove and featuring significant contributions by J Dilla, (who helmed all but one track - the DJ Premier-produced track "The 6th Sense"), Like Water for Chocolate transpired to be a considerable commercial breakthrough for Common, earning the rapper his first gold record, and greatly expanding his fanbase among critics and listeners alike. Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Like Water for Chocolate is an album by rapper Common, released in March 2000. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: J Dilla James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974–February 10, 2006), better known as J Dilla, or Jay Dee, was an American hip hop producer and MC, who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. ... This biographical article or section needs additional references for verification. ... For the 1999 M. Night Shyamalan film, see The Sixth Sense. ... In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. ...

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 music legend, and political activist Fela Kuti. The most popular single from the album, "The Light", was nominated for a Grammy Award. Around this time, Common began dating fellow Soulquarian Erykah Badu. The Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country in West Africa and, by far, the most populated nation in Africa. ... Activism, in a general sense, can be described as involvement in action to bring about change, be it social, political, environmental, or other change. ... Fela Anikulapo Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, October 15, 1938 - August 2, 1997), or simply Fela, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, pioneer of Afrobeat music, human rights activist, and political maverick. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Erykah Badu (born Erica Abi Wright, February 26, 1971, in Dallas, Texas) is an American neo-soul, R&B/hip hop artist whose work crosses over into jazz. ...

The rapper's next album, Electric Circus, featured more experimental work with the Soulquarians, as well as contributions from The Neptunes and Prince. The album was something of a departure from Common's previous releases (and indeed from Hip hop music in general), and featured Common rapping over electric rock music, and electronica-influenced tracks. It received polarizing reviews, with many critics praising it as a musical tour de force and a visionary expansion of the Hip hop template, while others criticized it for veering too far from accessibility and viewing Common's role as secondary to the musicianship of the Soulquarians (it should be noted that Common has himself stated that it was his intention at the time to make an atypical Hip hop record). This article is about a music album. ... The Neptunes is the name for the record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who created the sound for some very successful Hip Hop, R&B and Pop artists in the late-90s and 2000s. ... Rap redirects here. ... This article is about the genre. ... Electronica refers to a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; but unlike electronic dance music, is not specifically focused on the dance floor. ...

Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the album did not sell as well as Like Water For Chocolate, with many longtime fans being turned off by its eclectic sound, and the album suffering from a lack of promotion due to MCA's absorption under Geffen Records. In 2003, Common won his first Grammy for his appearance on Erykah Badu's "Love of My life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)", a song he performed with Badu for the soundtrack to the movie Brown Sugar. His romantic relationship with Badu, however, ended that same year. Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as one third of UMGs Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group. ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music... Erykah Badu (born Erica Abi Wright, February 26, 1971, in Dallas, Texas) is an American neo-soul, R&B/hip hop artist whose work crosses over into jazz. ... Brown Sugar is a 2002 romantic drama film, written by Michael Elliott and Rick Famuyiwa, and directed by Rick Famuyiwa. ...

G.O.O.D. Music Era

Music sample:

"Go!" excerpt Image File history File links Common_-_Go. ...

From the album Be

Problems listening to the file? See media help.

In early 2004, Common made an appearance on fellow Chicagoan Kanye West's multi-platinum debut album, The College Dropout (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's 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 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 the late James Yancey (J Dilla) - also a favorite of West's. The album was released in May 2005, and performed very well, boosted by Kanye's involvement and the singles "The Corner", and "Go". Be earned Common the second gold record of his career, with sales topping out at around 800,000. The Source magazine gave it a near perfect 4.5 mic rating, XXL magazine gave it their highest rating of "XXL", and AllHipHop gave the album 5 stars. The album was also nominated for four Grammy Awards in 2006. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Singles from The College Dropout Released: September 30, 2003 Released: February 24, 2004 Released: May 25, 2004 Released: Aug 31, 2004 The College Dropout is the debut album by rapper Kanye West, released in 2004. ... GOOD Music is a hip hop and R&B record label founded by music producer and rapper Kanye West. ... Mary Jane Blige (born January 11, 1971) is an American R&B, soul, and hip hop soul singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, record producer, actress, and hip hop icon who has sold more than 40 million records and over 10 million singles worldwide. ... Dance For Me is a 2001 hit single by Mary J. Blige, taken from her seventh album No More Drama and performed with singer/rapper Common. ... Be is a 2005 album by rapper Common, produced by Kanye West and J Dilla. ... 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Wikimedia Commons has media related to: May 2005 Deaths in May May 26: Eddie Albert May 25: Ismail Merchant May 25: Sunil Dutt May 25: Graham Kennedy May 22: Thurl Ravenscroft May 21: Howard Morris May 21... The Corner is the first single released by Common on his sixth album, Be. ... Go! is the second single from Commons album Be. ... The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. ... A 2005 cover of XXL, featuring Snoop Dogg and The Game. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Common's seventh and most recent, LP is titled Finding Forever. For this album, he continued his work with Kanye West, as well as other producers such as will.i.am, Devo Springsteen and Karriem Riggins, as well as the only J. Dilla-produced track, "So Far To Go". The album features guest spots from artists such as Dwele, Bilal, D'Angelo, and UK pop starlet Lily Allen. The album was released on July 31st. The first single from the album was "The People" b/w "The Game". West has already predicted that Finding Forever will win the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.^[5] 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. Finding Forever is the seventh album by Common, released on July 31, 2007 on G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen Records. ... Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kɑnjɛj/) (born June 8, 1977) is an American record producer and rapper who rose to fame in the mid 2000s. ... For other persons named William Adams, see William Adams (disambiguation). ... Devo Springsteen (born Devon Harris on December 9, 1977 in Columbus, GA) is a Grammy Award winning producer and songwriter. ... Karriem Riggins (born August 25, 1975) is a jazz musician and a former member of the Ray Brown Trio (which is no longer in existence), who hails from Detroit, Michigan. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: J Dilla James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974–February 10, 2006), better known as J Dilla or Jay Dee, was an American hip hop producer and MC, who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. ... Dwele (born Andwele Gardner) is an R&B and soul singer, songwriter and record producer from Detroit, Michigan. ... Bilal (born Bilal Sayeed Oliver on August 23, 1979, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) is a neo soul musician and member of the musical collective known as Soulquarians. ... DAngelo (born Michaela Eugene Archer on February 11, 1974 in Richmond, Virginia) is a Grammy Award winning American soul singer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... Lily Rose Beatrice Allen (born May 2, 1985) is a British singer-songwriter best known for songs such as Smile and LDN. She is the daughter of actor/musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. ... The People is the first single from rapper Commons 2007 album Finding Forever. ... This is the first single from Commons album Finding Forever. ... is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. ...

In a recent interview (circa August 30, 2007) with XXL, rapper Q-Tip of the group A Tribe Called Quest stated that he and Common were forming a group called The Standard. He says the group will head into the studio in a few weeks to record an album. Q-Tip himself will handle the majority of the production on the album but it will also feature some productions by Kanye West.^[6] is the 242nd day of the year (243rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Q-Tip (born Jonathan Davis in Brooklyn, New York), USA, is a North American hip-hop emcee, actor, and hip hop producer who was the leader of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest. ... A Tribe Called Quest is a critically acclaimed and highly-influential American hip-hop group, formed in 1988. ... Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kɑnjɛj/) (born June 8, 1977) is an American record producer and rapper who rose to fame in the mid 2000s. ...

Common's 8th studio album will be titled Invincible Summer and will be released June 24, 2008. ^[7]

Personal life

Common is father to 10 year old Omoye Assata Lynn (named after exiled ,and former Black Panther Party member, Assata Shakur). He dated Erykah Badu from 2000 - around 2003. Common has found himself in many dating rumors. Aside from Alicia Keys he's also been linked to Serena Williams and actress Taraji P. Henson who played along side Common and Alicia Keys in Smokin' Aces. Common played the role of Alicia Keys's boyfriend in the music video "Like You'll Never See Me Again", making speculations even stronger. The Black Panther Party (originally called the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense) was an African American organization founded to promote civil rights and self-defense. ... Assata Shakur[1] (born July 16, 1947, as Joanne Deborah Byron Chesimard[2]) is an African-American activist who was a member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army. ... Erykah Badu (born Erica Abi Wright, February 26, 1971, in Dallas, Texas) is an American neo-soul, R&B/hip hop artist whose work crosses over into jazz. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Alexis is Alicias #1 fan. ... Serena Jameka Williams, (born September 26, 1981) is an American former World No. ... Henson with Terrence Howard in Hustle & Flow (2005) Taraji Penda Henson (born September 11, 1970 in Washington, DC) is an American actress and singer. ... Alexis is Alicias #1 fan. ... Alexis is Alicias #1 fan. ...

With both artists hailing from the Great Lakes region of the United States (Chicago and Detroit, respectively), Common and J Dilla established their chemistry early on. Both became members of the Soulquarians 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, he relocated to Los Angeles for treatment, and asked Common to make the move with him as a roommate.^[8] Dilla would lose his battle with the rare disease, but his asking of Common to move in with him during his darkest hour is testament of a friendship between the two that transcended rap music, or the music industry. As a result, Common is a friend of the Yancey Family, particularly with J Dilla's mother, Maureen Yancey. The Great Lakes states of the U.S. are colored red in this map. ... Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes - this motto was adopted after the disastrous 1805 fire that devastated the city) Nickname: The Motor City and Motown Location in Wayne County, Michigan Founded Incorporated July 24, 1701 1815  County Wayne County Mayor... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: J Dilla James Dewitt Yancey (February 7, 1974–February 10, 2006), better known as J Dilla, or Jay Dee, was an American hip hop producer and MC, who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip-hop scene in Detroit, Michigan. ... Soulquarians (common misspelling: Soul Aquarians) was a neo soul-informed hip hop musical collective with members from Philadelphia, Detroit, Richmond and Chicago. ... Slum Village circa 2000 Slum Village is the name of a hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. ... Fantastic, Vol. ... Like Water for Chocolate is an album by rapper Common, released in March 2000. ... Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of the immune system. ... Flag Seal Nickname: City of Angels Location Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates , Government State County California Los Angeles County Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,290. ... The music industry is the industry that creates, performs, promotes, and preserves music. ...

Advertising

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 2k7 in Streetball mode. Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gap, Incorporated (NYSE: GPS) is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California and founded in 1969 by Donald Fisher and Doris Fisher. ... February 2007 is the second month of the year. ... NBA 2K is a basketball video game series that was initially exclusive for the Sega Dreamcast starting in 1999. ...

Activism

Common maintains a vegan diet^[9] and is a supporter of animal rights and PETA. He recently appeared in a print advertisement for PETA titled "Think Before You Eat".^[10] Common is also part of the "Knowing Is Beautiful" movement which supports HIV/AIDS awareness.^[11] He is featured in the video for "Yes We Can," a song in support of the candidacy of Barack Obama, which made its debut on the internet on February 2nd, 2008. Common is no longer a Vegan, he spoke in a recent interview that has began eating fish again and that the PETA people will be mad at him. This would constitute him as a pescetarian. Animal liberation redirects here. ... People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals logo People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an animal rights organization based in the United States. ... Species Human immunodeficiency virus 1 Human immunodeficiency virus 2 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections). ... For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ... Pescetarianism is a dietary choice, in which a person — known as a pescetarian — will not eat the flesh of any animals other than fish or other types of seafood. ...

Controversy

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", and in an interview. The situation started out with an article from UK's Touch magazine, in which he stated "When you see dreadlocked dudes with white girls that’s like they going against what the dreadlock’s purpose was."^[12] Seeing a personal insult in the remarks, Yungun, 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.^[13] Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Yungun (a. ... Doc Brown (real name Ben Smith) is an underground British rapper. ... Rising Son is a UK hip-hop artist, best known for appearing on the track Thiefs Theme on the UK version of Nass double album Streets Disciple. He won the opportunity to do this after winning a competition held by Sony Records, beating off over 5000 other...

Acting career

In 2003, Common appeared on the popular American UPN sitcom Girlfriends. In the episode "Take This Poem and Call Me In The Morning", he appeared as Omar, a slam poet who competes with fellow poet Sivad (played by Saul Williams) for the affection of Lynn Searcy (played by Persia White). 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 NBC show "Scrubs". He is shown MC'ing in a club. In 2007, Common appeared alongside Ben Affleck, Jeremy Piven, and Alicia Keys in the crime film Smokin' Aces. He made his big screen debut as villainous Mob enforcer Sir Ivy. He appeared alongside Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, The RZA and T.I. in the 2007 crime thriller American Gangster. On 20 January 2007, one week before the opening of Smokin Aces, he appeared in a Saturday Night Live sketch as himself. The show's host was Piven, his Aces co-star. It has been announced that in 2008, he will star in the film adaptation of the comic book Wanted, alongside Morgan Freeman, and Angelina Jolie, and as the Green Lantern/John Stewart in the 2009 live adaptaton of The Justice League. Common will also appear in the movie Street Kings alongside Keanu Reeves, Hugh Laurie, The Game, and Forrest Whitaker. .^[14] UPN (which originally stood for the United Paramount Network) was a television network in over 200 markets in the United States. ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... For other uses, see Girlfriend (disambiguation). ... Slam poetry is a form of performance poetry that occurs within a competitive poetry event, called a slam, at which poets perform their own poems (or, in rare cases, those of others) that are judged on a numeric scale by randomly picked members of the audience. ... Saul Stacey Williams (born February 29, 1972) is most known for his blend of poetry and hip-hop. ... Persia Jessica White (born October 25, 1976 in Miami, Florida) is an American actress and musician. ... One on One is an American sitcom originally based in Baltimore and later based in Los Angeles. ... Scrubs is an Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning American situation comedy/comedy-drama that premiered on October 2, 2001 on NBC. It was created by Bill Lawrence and is produced by Touchstone Television. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... For the American cement businessman, see B. F. Affleck. ... Jeremy Samuel Piven (born July 26, 1965)[1] is a two-time Emmy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated American actor. ... Alexis is Alicias #1 fan. ... Smokin Aces is an action film, written and directed by Joe Carnahan, set in Lake Tahoe, and primarily shot at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa (renamed the Nomad Casino in the film). ... This article is about the organized crime groups. ... A hitman (alternately, hit man), also referred to as a contract killer, is a hired assassin, usually in the employ of organized crime. ... Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. ... Russell Ira Crowe (born April 7, 1964) is a New Zealand-Australian[1] actor. ... The RZA at The New Yorker festival on September 24, 2005. ... This article is about the musician. ... American Gangster is an Academy Award-nominated 2007 crime film written by Steven Zaillian and directed by Ridley Scott. ... is the 20th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... This article is about the American television series. ... Dawsons Creek director, see Morgan J. Freeman. ... Angelina Jolie (born Angelina Jolie Voight on June 4, 1975) is an American film actor, a former fashion model, and a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. ... The Green Lantern redirects here. ... 2009 (MMIX) will be a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Justice League, sometimes called the Justice League of America or JLA for short, is a fictional DC Universe superhero team. ... Keanu Charles Reeves (pronounced ; born September 2, 1964) is a Canadian actor. ... James Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE (born 11 June 1959) is an English actor, comedian, writer, and musician. ... Jayceon Terell Taylor (born November 27, 1979 in Los Angeles,[1] California), better known by his stage name The Game, is a multi-platinum American rapper signed to Interscope Records. ... Whitaker in the movie Panic Room, 2002 Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor (film, stage and television), producer and director. ...

Discography

Main article: Common discography

• 1992: Can I Borrow a Dollar?
• 1994: Resurrection
• 1997: One Day It'll All Make Sense
• 2000: Like Water for Chocolate
• 2002: Electric Circus
• 2005: Be
• 2007: Finding Forever
• 2007: Thisisme Then: The Best of Common
• 2008: Invincible Summer ^[15]
• 2008: The Believer

This is the discography documenting albums and singles released by rapper Common. ... Can I Borrow a Dollar? is the 1992 debut album by Chicago rapper Common, then known as Common Sense. ... Resurrection is the 2nd album by American rapper Common. ... One Day Itll All Make Sense is an album from Chicago based rapper Common. ... Like Water for Chocolate is an album by rapper Common, released in March 2000. ... This article is about a music album. ... Be is a 2005 album by rapper Common, produced by Kanye West and J Dilla. ... Finding Forever is the seventh album by Common, released on July 31, 2007 on G.O.O.D. Music/Geffen Records. ...

Filmography

Brown Sugar is a 2002 romantic drama film, written by Michael Elliott and Rick Famuyiwa, and directed by Rick Famuyiwa. ... The Broken Angel House, the site of the documentary, in May, 2007. ... Smokin Aces is an action film, written and directed by Joe Carnahan, set in Lake Tahoe, and primarily shot at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa (renamed the Nomad Casino in the film). ... American Gangster is an Academy Award-nominated 2007 crime film written by Steven Zaillian and directed by Ridley Scott. ... Justice League of America is a 1997 unsuccessful TV-pilot directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá, based on a team of fictional DC Superheroes from the comic of the same name. ...

Awards

• BET Awards
  • 2006: Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Nominated
  • 2003: Video of the Year ("Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)"), Won
  • 2003: Viewer's Choice ("Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)"), Nominated
  • 2003: Best Collaboration ("Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)"), Nominated

• BET Hip Hop Awards
  • 2006: Element Award- Lyricist of the Year, Won
  • 2006: Hip-Hop Video of the Year ("Testify"), Nominated
  • 2007: Lyricist of the Year, Won
  • 2007: CD of the Year: "Finding Forever", Won
  • 2007: Best Hip Hop Video: "The People", Nominated
  • 2007: Best Live Performance, Nominated
  • 2007: MVP Of The Year, Nominated

• Black Reel Awards
  • 2003: Best Film Song ("Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)"), Won

• Grammy Awards
  • 2008: Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group ("Southside"), Won
  • 2008: Best Rap Album (Finding Forever), Nominated
  • 2008: Best Rap Solo Performance ("The People"), Nominated
  • 2006: Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group ("The Corner"), Nominated
  • 2006: Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ("They Say"), Nominated
  • 2006: Best Rap Album (Be), Nominated
  • 2006: Best Rap Solo Performance ("Testify"), Nominated
  • 2003: Best Song Written for a Motion Picture/Television Movie ("Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)"), Nominated
  • 2003: Best R&B Song ("Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)"), Won
  • 2003: Best Urban/Alternative Performance ("Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)"), Nominated
  • 2001: Best Rap Solo Performance ("The Light"), Nominated

• Image Awards
  • 2006: Outstanding Music Video ("Testify"), Nominated
  • 2006: Outstanding Male Artist, Nominated
  • 2003: Outstanding Duo or Group ("Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)"), Nominated
  • 2003: Outstanding Song ("Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)"), Nominated
  • 2003: Outstanding Music Video ("Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop)"), Nominated

• MTV Video Music Awards
  • 2006: Best Hip-Hop Video ("Testify"), Nominated
  • 2005: Best Hip-Hop Video ("Go"), Nominated
  • 2003: MTV2 Award ("Come Close"), Nominated
  • 2001: Best Hip-Hop Video ("Geto Heaven Remix T.S.O.I. (The Sound of Illadelph)"), Nominated

• Soul Train Awards
  • 2006: Best R&B/Soul Single by a Duo or Group ("Supastar"), Nominated
  • 2006: Best Music Video ("Testify"), Nominated

• Vibe Awards
  • 2005: Reelest Video ("The Corner"), Nominated

The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, shooting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. ... The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, hosted by BET, for hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. ... Testify is the third single from rapper Commons 2005 album Be. ... The Black Reel Awards began in 2000 and were designed to annually recognize and celebrate the achievements of African-Americans in feature, independent and television films. ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music... The People is the first single from rapper Commons 2007 album Finding Forever. ... The Corner is the first single released by Common on his sixth album, Be. ... Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop) is the title of a 2002 single by singer Erykah Badu and rapper Common. ... Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop) is the title of a 2002 single by singer Erykah Badu and rapper Common. ... Also see The Light (disambiguation). ... The NAACP Image Award is an award presented annually by the NAACP to honor the top African-Americans in film, television, music and literature. ... The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ... Go! is the second single from Commons album Be. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Geto Heaven Remix T.S.O.I. (The Sound of Illadelph) is the third single from rapper Commons 2000 album Like Water for Chocolate. ... The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show aired on various television networks in national syndication that honors the best in Black music and entertainment. ... Janet Jackson on the cover of Vibe in 1998. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 109th day of the year (110th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 24th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 340th day of the year (341st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 341st day of the year (342nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Common (rapper)

• Common: Official Site
• Common’s “The People” revives the true essence of Hip-Hop
• Interview with Common - from Synthesis Magazine and Synthesis Network
• Common proves he can 'Be' with help of Kanye West
• Interview with Common at Prefix
• Common Not A Plain Rapper
• Vibe.com interview with Common
• Interview with Common
• Common Ventures Into Hat Fashion
• Common at the Internet Movie Database