Common

Artist Image: Common
Attribution
Image Credit: Feast of Music from New York City, United States (Common at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn), CC BY 2.0

Biography

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known by his stage name Common (previously 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 1990s, 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 tremendous commercial success. His first Grammy award was in 2003 for Best R&B Song for "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" with Erykah Badu. Its popularity was matched by May 2005's Be, which was nominated in the 2006 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album. Common was awarded his second Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, for "Southside" (featuring Kanye West), from his July 2007 album Finding Forever. His best-of album, Thisisme Then: The Best of Common, was released on November 27, 2007. Common has also initiated a burgeoning acting career, starring significant roles in such films as Smokin' Aces, Street Kings, American Gangster, Wanted, Terminator Salvation, Date Night, Just Wright, Happy Feet Two, and New Year's Eve. He also narrated the award-winning documentary Bouncing Cats, about one man's efforts to improve the lives of children in Uganda through hip-hop/b-boy culture. Common currently appears in Hell on Wheels, a dramatic television series on AMC that debuted in November 2011.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1972
Number of Albums 39
Record Label Loma Vista Recordings
Website www.thinkcommon.com
Wikipedia Common on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

What was Common's rap trio called?

C.D.R.,

...y Award, and an Emmy Award. While in high school, he formed a rap trio, C.D.R., which eventually opened for such groups as N.W.A. After two years, how...
What was the name of his first two albums?

Can I Borrow a Dollar? Common

... stage name to Common. Common released his first two albums, Can I Borrow a Dollar? Common addressed similar themes in A Beautiful Revolution, Pt. Dur...
In what album did Common address similar themes?

A Beautiful Revolution, Pt

...ms, Can I Borrow a Dollar? Common addressed similar themes in A Beautiful Revolution, Pt . During this time he also cofounded the jazz group August Gre...
What jazz group did Common cofound?

August Greene

...ul Revolution, Pt. During this time he also cofounded the jazz group August Greene , which released a selftitled album in 2018. In the 2000s Common beg...
When did August Greene release a selftitled album?

2018

...unded the jazz group August Greene, which released a selftitled album in 2018 . In the 2000s Common began to land bit parts in television shows and mov...
In what decade did Common begin to land bit parts in television shows and movies?

2000s

...z group August Greene, which released a selftitled album in 2018. In the 2000s Common began to land bit parts in television shows and movies. His earl...
What was Common's first film?

American Gangster

...evision shows and movies. His early films included the crime drama American Gangster (2007), the scifi adventure Terminator Salvation (2009), and the ...
What was the name of the scifi adventure he starred in?

Terminator Salvation

...ed the crime drama American Gangster (2007), the scifi adventure Terminator Salvation (2009), and the comedy Date Night (2010). From 2011 to 2014 Comm...
What has threatened to obliterate the style's advancements?

commercial trends

...ted lyrical technique and flowing syncopations of jazzrap alive as commercial trends have threatened to obliterate the style's advancements. The Chica...
Common's outward looking rhymes and political consciousness haven't always fit the fashions of what?

rap trends

...rhymes and political consciousness haven't always fit the fashions of rap trends , but his albums have consistently hit the Top Ten of the R&Bhiphop ch...
What is Common's third Top Ten album?

Nobody's Smiling

...'t hindered the reception of his subsequent output, which includes Nobody's Smiling (2014) his third Top Ten album and the twopart A Beautiful Revolut...
When did he release his first single?

1992

...reak, winning The Source magazine's Unsigned Hype contest. He debuted in 1992 with the single Take It EZ, which appeared on his Relativityreleased deb...
What was the name of Common Sense's 1994 follow-up album?

Resurrection

...consequently wound up on the Relativity label for his 1994 followup, Resurrection , which crystallized his reputation as one of the underground's best ...
What label did common Sense end up on in 1994?

Relativity

...bum, Can I Borrow a Dollar? Common Sense consequently wound up on the Relativity label for his 1994 followup, Resurrection, which crystallized his rep...
What was the name of Common Sense's first album?

Can I Borrow a Dollar?

...ke It EZ, which appeared on his Relativityreleased debut album, Can I Borrow a Dollar? Common Sense consequently wound up on the Relativity label for ...
When did Common release his first album under his new name?

1997

...Chicago to Brooklyn. Common issued the first album under his new name in 1997 . The album was wellreceived in the press, and Common raised his profile ...
What is the name of the film Common starred in?

Selma

...th roles in projects like Just Wright, The Odd Life of Timothy Green and Selma . For the latter film, he and vocalistmusician John Legend have won a Go...
What was Common's first name?

Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr

... for the song Glory. Background and Early Career Common was born Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr . on March 13, 1972, in Chicago, Illinois to educator Mahalia An...
Where was Common born?

Chicago, Illinois

...areer Common was born Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr. on March 13, 1972, in Chicago, Illinois to educator Mahalia Ann Hines and basketball player Lonnie Lynn S...
What stage name did Common adopt?

Common Sense

...layer Lonnie Lynn Sr. The young Lynn went on to adopt the stage name Common Sense and became an underground rapper who garnered a reputation for relat...
In what year did Common win a Grammy for Love of My Life?

2003

...included contributions from Lauryn Hill and De La Soul, among others. In 2003 , Common won a Grammy for Best R&B Song for Love of My Life (An Ode to Hi...
In 1997, what song featured Lauryn Hill and De La Soul?

One Day Itll All Make Sense

...featured the single I Used to Love H.E.R. followed in 1997 by One Day Itll All Make Sense , which included contributions from Lauryn Hill and De La Sou...
What song did Badu collaborate with on the soundtrack Brown Sugar?

Love of My Life

...l, among others. In 2003, Common won a Grammy for Best R&B Song for Love of My Life (An Ode to HipHop), a collaboration with Badu that was featured on...
What album did Common release in 1992?

Can I Borrow a Dollar?,

...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 f...
What was Common's first majorlabel album?

Like Water for Chocolate

...is work with the Soulquarians. Common's first majorlabel album Like Water for Chocolate (2000), received commercial success. In 2003, he won the Gramm...
What was Common nominated for at the 2006 Grammy Awards?

Best Rap Album

...s 2005 album Be was also a commercial success and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2006 Grammy Awards. Common received his second Grammy Award ...
What did Common receive his second Grammy Award for?

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group

...mmy Awards. Common received his second Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for Southside (featuring Kanye West), from his 2007 alb...
When was Common's bestof album released?

late 2007

.... His bestof album, Thisisme Then: The Best of Common, was released in late 2007 . In 2011, Common launched Think Common Entertainment, his own record ...
When did Common launch Think Common Entertainment?

2011

... album, Thisisme Then: The Best of Common, was released in late 2007. In 2011 , Common launched Think Common Entertainment, his own record label imprin...
Who did he co-write and perform with for Glory from the 2014 film Selma?

John Legend

...rd for Best Original Song, for his song, cowritten and performed with John Legend , Glory from the 2014 film Selma, in which he costarred as Civil Righ...
From Los Angeles to Liverpool, what city has an artist's biography?

Trench Town, Jamaica

...eyond their immediate fanbase. From Los Angeles to Liverpool via Trench Town, Jamaica , below are 10 music biographies which much like the music of the...
How many music biographies are below?

10

...anbase. From Los Angeles to Liverpool via Trench Town, Jamaica, below are 10 music biographies which much like the music of their subjects, manage to ...
What will create the first impression of you to many of your website visitors?

A great musician bio

... A great musician bio will create the first impression of you to many of your website visitors, so make it a good one. It will help convert your visito...
A great musician bio will help convert your visitors into fans as well as give bloggers and media what?

a sense of who you are

...ert your visitors into fans, as well as give bloggers and media a sense of who you are . Wondering what should be included in a musician bio? Engaging ...
Write down what sounds like, as objectively as you can?

your music

...of paper to begin. Jot down your name, and where youre from. Add what your music sounds like, as objectively as you can, and then write down your infl...
What will help you shape a sentence or two as an introduction?

write down your influences

...t your music sounds like, as objectively as you can, and then write down your influences . This will help you shape a sentence or two as an introductio...
What should you keep in mind when introducing yourself to someone?

tone

...tion. Think about how you might quickly introduce yourself to someone who has never met you or heard your music before. Keep the tone in mind as well....
How many books have been written about Bob Dylan?

Thousands

...Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan (Simon and Schuster, 2004) Thousands of books have been written about Dylan so, to understand who he is, perhaps i...
How many pages is The Life & Times of Malcolm Mclaren by Paul Gorman?

800

.... The Life & Times of Malcolm McLaren by Paul Gorman (Constable, 2020) An 800 page doorstop devoted to the Sex Pistols manager, variously dubbed here a...
Who is the manager of Sex Pistols?

Malcolm McLaren

...rward to the creative doldrums of the late 80s. The Life & Times of Malcolm McLaren by Paul Gorman (Constable, 2020) An 800page doorstop devoted to th...
What is the name of the book that chronicles the relationship between Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe?

Just Kids by Patti Smith

...ex Pistols manager, variously dubbed here a genius and conman. Just Kids by Patti Smith (Bloomsbury, 2010) A tender, evocative chronicle of the poet a...
Who wrote Sing Backwards and Weep?

Mark Lanegan

...d an absolute hoot from beginning to end. Sing Backwards and Weep by Mark Lanegan (White Rabbit, 2020) Many rock memoirs come with a third act in whic...
What is the name of the book that Sylvie Simmons wrote about Leonard Cohen?

Im Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen

...creaming Trees days, with little in the way of regrets. Im Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen by Sylvie Simmons (Vintage, 2012) Simmonss weighty trea...
Where did Cohen live his early life?

Montreal

...ughing Len traces the poet, novelist and singer from his early life in Montreal to his periods in New York, Hydra and California. There are surprising...
What religion did Cohen flirt with?

Scientology

... There are surprising morsels here, among them Cohens flirtation with Scientology and his habit of stuffing tissues in his shoes to make himself talle...
How did Cohen make himself taller?

stuffing tissues in his shoes

...here are surprising morsels here, among them Cohens flirtation with Scientology and his habit of stuffing tissues in his shoes to make himself taller....
Who paints a complex portrait of Janis Joplin?

Holly GeorgeWarren

...Janis: Her Life and Music, Holly GeorgeWarren paints a complex portrait of singer Janis Joplin. Drawing on archival materials as well as interviews wi...
Where did Joplin grow up?

Port Arthur, Tex.,

...ren begins with Joplins life, stretching back to her childhood in Port Arthur, Tex., and continuing through her move to San Francisco and death in 197...
How many books does GeorgeWarren have?

16

...ough her move to San Francisco and death in 1970. GeorgeWarren, author of 16 books, including many music books, picks 10 of her favorite music biograp...
When was the first music biography I got my hands on?

Anthony Scadutos 1971 biography of Bob Dylan

...evoured the first music biography I got my hands on: Anthony Scadutos 1971 biography of Bob Dylan . Since then, Ive read too many music memoirs, as tol...
Who wrote the 1971 biography of Bob Dylan?

Anthony Scadutos

...k & roll and devoured the first music biography I got my hands on: Anthony Scadutos 1971 biography of Bob Dylan. Since then, Ive read too many music m...
Who wrote Lou Reed: A Life?

Anthony DeCurtis

...urvive and, of course, Patti Smiths Just Kids. Lou Reed: A Life by Anthony DeCurtis DeCurtiss astute analysis of Lou Reeds lengthy careerand his empat...
What was helpful in writing about Janis Joplin?

heroin addiction

...femakes this book a page turner. Reading DeCurtis account of Reeds heroin addiction was helpful as I tackled this subject when writing about Janis Jop...
Who wrote Hickory Wind: The Life & Times of Gram Parsons?

Ben FongTorres

...out Janis Joplin. Hickory Wind: The Life & Times of Gram Parsons by Ben FongTorres FongTorress detective work uncovered the real story of the cosmic c...