Common
Chicago poet of conscious hip-hop, known for "I Used to Love H.E.R.", Be and the Oscar-winning "Glory".
Who is Common?
Common (Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr.) is a rapper, actor and activist from Chicago, Illinois.
Known for
"I Used to Love H.E.R." from Resurrection (1994), the album Like Water for Chocolate (2000) with "The Light", and Be (2005), produced largely by Kanye West. With John Legend he wrote "Glory" for the film Selma, which won an Oscar and a Grammy.
Style
Thoughtful, poetic and warm. His lyrics deal with love, faith, Black identity and social justice, over soulful, jazzy beats from producers like J Dilla and Kanye West.
Impact
Common is one of the faces of conscious hip-hop and helped keep thoughtful, soulful rap visible in the 2000s. He also became one of the most successful rappers in film.
Influences
- KRS-One
- Rakim
- A Tribe Called Quest
