Common
Rapper
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, known by his stage name Common, is an American rapper and actor. He debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow a Dollar?, and gained critical acclaim with his 1994 album Resurrection. He maintained an underground following into the late 1990s.
About
Common, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., is an American rapper, singer, and actor from Chicago, Illinois. He was born on March 13th 1972 to educator Mahalia Ann Hines and former ABA basketball player Lonnie Lynn Sr., who later became a CTA bus driver. Common's parents divorced when he was six years old, and his father moved to Denver, Colorado. Common then began living with his mother in the South Side of Chicago.
Common began rapping at the age of nine and released his debut album Can I Borrow A Dollar? in 1992. The album included collaborations with fellow Chicago rappers Immenslope and Twilite Tone of the production duo The Legendary Traxster. His second studio album Resurrection was released in 1994 to critical acclaim, earning him two Grammy Award nominations for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Solo Performance.
Common has since gone on to release eight more albums including One Day It’ll All Make Sense (1997), Like Water for Chocolate (2000), Finding Forever (2007) and Nobody’s Smiling (2014). He has also appeared in numerous films such as Just Wright (2010), Terminator Salvation (2009) and American Gangster (2007).
In addition to music and acting, Common is also an outspoken political activist, working closely with organizations such as the Dream Corps Green For All Program which focuses on uniting people from all walks of life around environmental justice. He is also a strong advocate for social change through education reform and economic development initiatives.
Life Timeline
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1972</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Common is Born</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">On March 13, 1972, Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., better known by his stage name Common, was born in Chicago, Illinois.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1992</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Releases Debut Album</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Released his debut album, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, which peaked at #67 on the U.S. R&B charts.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2000</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Wins Grammy Award</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for the song "Southside" with Kanye West.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2005</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Releases Be</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Released Be, his sixth studio album, which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2007</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Gets First Movie Role</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Gets his first movie role in American Gangster starring Denzel Washington.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2011</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Receives Hollywood Walk of Fame Star</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to music.</p></div>
<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2020</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Releases Twelfth Studio Album</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Released A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 1, his twelfth studio album and fourth consecutive release to top the US Billboard 200 chart.</p></div>
Why We Love Them
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">A.</span> He's a Storyteller</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Common is an incredibly talented storyteller. His music paints vivid pictures of life in the inner city and he conveys powerful messages through his lyrics. Common has a way of making complex topics accessible to listeners, while still delivering thought-provoking content.</p></div>
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">B.</span> He Inspires</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Common's music often serves as inspiration for people everywhere. His songs are meant to motivate and uplift, and have become anthems for many who have faced struggle and hardship. He is a true champion for social justice and uses his platform to spread awareness about important causes.</p></div>
<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">C.</span> He's Passionate About Hip Hop</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Common is passionate about hip hop and its culture. This passion is evident in his music, which often samples classic hip hop tracks and pays homage to some of the genre's greatest artists. He is also a strong advocate for preserving hip hop culture, as it has been instrumental in shaping many lives around the world.</p></div>
Interesting Facts
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">1.</span> First Rapper to Receive a Pulitzer Prize</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Common became the first rapper to receive a Pulitzer Prize for his album, “Black America Again”, in 2017.</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">2.</span> Worked as an English Teacher</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Before he was famous, Common worked as an English teacher at the Urban Prep Academy, an all boys charter school in Chicago.</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">3.</span> Appeared in Several Films</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Common has appeared in several films including “American Gangster” and “Terminator Salvation.” He also had a recurring role on the TV series “Hell on Wheels.”</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">4.</span> Won Two Grammy Awards</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Common has won two Grammy Awards: Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Southside” in 2006 and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “The People” in 2015.</p></div>
<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">5.</span> Spent Time with Oprah Winfrey</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">In 2011, Common spent time with Oprah Winfrey as part of her Master Class series. During this time, he talked about his struggles growing up and how they helped shape him into the man he is today.</p></div>
FAQs
