Common Bio

Common Bio: The True Renaissance Man of Hip-Hop

For over thirty years, musician and actor Common has been taking the entertainment industry by storm. With fourteen successful albums and dozens of successful television and movie roles under his belt, he is loved by hip-hop fans, movie buffs, and television lovers alike. From his initial success as an underground hip-hop artist to eventually becoming the first rapper to win a Grammy, Oscar, and Emmy Award, this star of this Common bio has had an impressive career in several areas of entertainment.

As a millennial, I have proudly watched Common go from a breakthrough hip-hop artist with his first few albums to a true legend in the world of music, all while proving to be a talented actor in TV and film as well as a philanthropist with the goal of making the world a better place. Unlike most in the hip-hop industry, he has never been afraid to take chances, whether it be with his music style, his business endeavors, or his activism, and Common will almost certainly strive to achieve even more in the coming years.

Early Life

 

 

Before dominating the worlds of hip-hop and Hollywood, Common was born on March 13, 1972, as Lonnie Lynn Jr. in Chicago’s Hyde Park area to Mahalia Ann Hines, an educator, and Lonnie Lynn (1943-2014), a former ABA basketball player.

Lynn was raised in the Calumet Heights area of Chicago’s South Side. When he was six, his parents divorced, and his father relocated to Denver, Colorado. Despite his parents’ divorce and his father’s move to Denver, Lynn Sr. remained active in his son’s life until his death from cancer in 2014.

Lynn Jr. was once an aspiring athlete, following in the footsteps of his father, even working with the Chicago Bulls for a short period of time as a teen. Prior to his career in the entertainment industry, Lynn Jr. attended Florida A&M University for two years, studying business administration.

Early Music Career: 1987-2003

Lynn Jr. attended Chicago’s Luther High School South; while a student there in the late 1980s, Lynn started showing an early love for music. As a chance to express themselves artistically and with the hope of making it big in the world of hip-hop, he and two friends formed a rap group named “C.D.R”.

The trio achieved relative success, opening for acts including Big Daddy Kane and NWA. By 1991, however, C.D.R. had broken up, and Lynn, under the stage name of Common Sense, would go on to catch his first big break, proving to be successful as a solo artist when he won The Source magazine’s Unsigned Hype music contest.

take it ez Common

In 1992, with Relativity Records, Lynn released his debut single “Take It EZ” as well Can I Borrow A Dollar?, his debut album. Can I Borrow A Dollar? featured singles that helped him to build a name for himself in the hip-hop underground, such as his hit “Breaker 1/9”. His 1994 follow-up album, Resurrection, would become the piece that allowed him to gain widespread acclaim beyond the hip-hop scene in Chicago.

The lyrics on the album’s single “I Used to Love H.E.R”‘ alluded to hip hop’s frequent discussion of sexual and violent subject matter, which earned Lynn a lot of respect as a lyricist. However, despite the success of his sophomore album, he ran into legal issues when a ska band also named Common Sense sued the rapper, after which Lynn changed his stage name from Common Sense to Common.

Lynn released his first album under the stage name of Common, One Day It’ll All Make Sense, in 1997, which featured musical guests including Erykah Badu, Cee-lo Green, Lauryn Hill, and Q-Tip. The album received positive reviews in the press, and although it never made it to the top of the charts, led him to a recording contract with MCA Records. Over the next few years, Common landed guest spots on several high-profile hip-hop albums, including The Roots’ “Things Fall Apart“.

In 2002, Common collaborated with singer Erykah Badu on the song “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)”; it was recorded for, and featured on, the soundtrack for the movie Brown Sugar, and Common went on to win his first Grammy for the track.

Music Career: 2004-2011

In 2004, Common and Kanye West collaborated on “Get ‘Em High”, a single from The College Dropout, West’s debut album. Common would go on to sign with G.O.O.D. Music, West’s record label; West and Common worked together on the creation of Be, Common’s sixth studio album, in 2005. Be was highly successful and would become Common’s second gold record (his first being Like Water for Chocolate). Additionally, Be received four Grammy Award nominations.

For his seventh album entitled Finding Forever in 2007, Common continued working with Kanye West, though Karriem Riggins, will.i.am, Derrick Hodge, and Devo Springsteen were also involved in producing the album. The album’s single “Southside” won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group; this became Common’s second Grammy win. During a free outdoor performance in Santa Monica, California in July 2007 to promote Finding Forever, Common revealed that the album’s name was inspired by his dreams of making music for the rest of his life as well as playing a special and unique role in the history of hip-hop.

Common’s eighth album, originally entitled Invincible Summer, had been scheduled for a July 2008 release. However, he announced while performing a concert at Temple University that the album’s name had been changed from Invincible Summer to Universal Mind Control. After several postponements, the highly anticipated Universal Mind Control was released on December 9, 2008.

Additionally, Common was heavily featured on the debut album of labelmate Kid Cudi, Man on the Moon: End of Day, in 2009. Common was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Make Her Say” (a single on which he and Kid Cudi collaborated), in addition to a nomination for Universal Mind Control for Best Rap Album.

Music Career: 2011- Present

Common’s ninth studio album, The Dreamer/The Believer, was produced by No I.D. (famous for producing many hits, such as G-Unit’s “Smile” and Kanye West’s “Heartless”) and was released in December 2011. The album’s song “Sweet” featured lyrics criticizing rappers who sing, though no specific names were mentioned; rapper/singer Drake took personal offense to this and released a diss track, “Stay Schemin'” in response. Like most hip-hop feuds, this feud was relatively short-lived, with Common stating on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards in early 2012 that “[the feud is] over”.

Nobody’s Smiling, Common’s tenth studio album, was released in July 2014. Like the majority of Common’s previous albums, its music addressed real-life events; Nobody’s Smiling was heavily inspired by the ongoing social problems in his hometown of Chicago, including black on black crime.

No I.D. was the producer of Nobody’s Smiling, and the album featured appearances by Vince Staples and James Fauntleroy, among others; the album was originally supposed to feature Common’s father, Lonnie Lynn Sr., as well, yet Lynn Sr.’s health was declining due to his cancer diagnosis, and he was therefore unable to contribute to the album. Lonnie Lynn Sr. unfortunately lost his battle to cancer later that same year.

In early June 2014, Common signed with record labels Def Jam and producer No I.D.’s label ARTium Records; Nobody’s Smiling became his first album under those labels.  In 2016, Common eleventh studio album (and second under Def Jam) was released, entitled Black America Again.

In August 2019, Common released Let Love, his twelfth studio album; however, this album was released with Loma Vista Recordings and Concord Records. Let Love featured appearances by Jill Scott, A-Trak, Swizz Beatz, and several other artists. The following year, he came out with another album entitled A Beautiful Revolution, Pt.1; like many of Common’s previous musical projects, the album touched on current social issues, including white supremacy, the police shooting of Breonna Taylor, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The follow-up to that album, A Beautiful Revolution, Pt. 2, was released in September 2021, and continued to discuss the challenging social and political issues facing America, as well as hope for better times ahead. A Beautiful Revolution, Pt. 1 and A Beautiful Revolution, Pt. 2 were both released under Loma Vista Records.

Acting Career

After a successful launch into the world of hip-hop, Common amped up his career by entering Hollywood as an actor- and has proven to be extremely talented in that art as well. Common made his acting debut on the television show Girlfriends in 2003, playing a slam poet named Omar who was the love interest of character Lynn Searcy. He made additional appearances on the television shows One on One and Scrubs.

Common made his film debut in 2007 alongside Ryan Reynolds, Alicia Keys, and Jeremy Piven in the film Smokin’ Aces as Sir Ivy, a Mob enforcer. That same year, Common appeared in American Gangster, a crime thriller also starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, and T.I.

In 2008, Common had supporting roles in Wanted (starring Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie) and Street Kings. The following year, he had a relatively small role in Terminator Salvation. Common had his first starring role opposite Queen Latifah in 2010’s Just Wright; that same year, he also played a corrupt police officer in Date Night, acting opposite Steve Carrell and Tina Fey.

Common continued to act in multiple films in the mid-2010s, including Now You See Me in 2013, Selma in 2014 (starring as civil rights leader James Bevel), and Run All Night in 2015. He co-wrote the song “Glory” for Selma, which earned him his first Academy Award.

Between 2016 and 2018, he made appearances in several more films, including Barbershop: The Next Cut, John Wick: Chapter 2, All About Nina (which received positive reviews at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival), and The Hate U Give.

Like most actors in Hollywood, Common has appeared in both highly acclaimed films as well as in films that received negative reviews. Most recently, Common appeared in the film Alice, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2022 and was released in theaters on March 18, 2022. The movie, also starring Keke Palmer and Jonny Lee Miller, earned slightly under $174,000 during its opening weekend; it also received poor reviews from film critics.

Film Production, Fashion, and Other Career Projects

 

In addition to his projects in the worlds of music, film, and television, Common has also endeavored in multiple aspects of the business world, including film production and fashion. In October 2015, Common started Freedom Road Productions, a film production company, with HBO; Common had previously stated that starting his own production company had been a lifelong dream of his. The following year, Common teamed up with American Girl and Amazon Studios to be the executive producer for An American Girl Story-Melody 1963: Love Has to Win, which was a direct-to-video film.

 

Common modeled for fashion company the Gap’s fall season collection in 2006. In partnership with Microsoft in 2008, he launched a clothing line based on 1980s computing entitled “Softwear” (a play on the computer term “software”). That same year, he appeared in ads for the 2008 Lincoln Navigator, Microsoft’s Zune digital media player, and Diesel’s campaign for their fragrance “Only the Brave”. Having had success in several different businesses over the years, the world can look forward to seeing what new industries Common intends to enter into in the future.

Personal Life and Activism

 

In the spring of 2019, Common gave the commencement speech at the graduation ceremony for Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU); he was granted an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) degree during the ceremony.

 

During his three decades in the spotlight, Common has had numerous relationships with famous women. In 2000, Common began dating singer and frequent collaborator Erykah Badu; their romantic relationship lasted about two years. In October 2005, he and actress Taraji B. Henson began a two-year-long relationship, though both Common and Henson were and have remained very private about that relationship.

Following his breakup with Henson, Common and tennis champion Serena Williams dated on and off between 2007 and 2010. Though they are no longer romantically involved, Common and Williams have remained on friendly terms.

In 2017, Common started dating social justice advocate and lawyer Angela Rye, yet broke up in March of 2018. In August 2019, Rye and Common rekindled their romance, yet ended the relationship within a few months after coming to the realization that they had very different goals in life. The star’s most recent, and perhaps most well-known, relationship was with actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish, which began in mid-2020 and ended in November 2021.

Additionally, Common is the father of a daughter, Omoye Assata Lynn; his only child was born to former girlfriend Kim Jones in 1997. Though he and Jones split when his daughter was still a baby, Common always tried to be present for Omoye. With his busy career, he admits that he and his daughter have had some issues over the years, with Omoye feeling abandoned due to Common’s frequent traveling, but with the help of therapy and time, have worked out their issues and have a great relationship today.

Not one to avoid discussing somewhat controversial social and political topics in his music, Common is also known for his activism, something that is not often seen with hip-hop artists. In 2012, Common, along with his mother, Dr. Mahalia Hines, founded the Common Ground Foundation.

The Common Ground Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to uplift and support young people in underserved urban communities. A few years later, he founded yet another nonprofit named Imagine Justice, focusing on issues facing impoverished areas and their citizens, including criminal justice reform and the assistance of communities that are often marginalized in American society.

The rapper has also continued his involvement in events focused on social justice, including performances at both the Global Citizen Festival and Global Citizen’s Earth Day Event in 2015. Common performed at the “One World: Together At Home” concert in 2020, which was organized by Global Citizen and the World Health Organization with the mission of supporting the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The concert raised millions of dollars for response efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Net Worth and Career Earnings

Image from Twitter

Although Common’s net worth varies by source, and the exact amount is not known to the public, it is speculated that Common has a net worth of $45 million resulting from his successful three-decade career. Common’s first few albums in the 1990s were not quite as lucrative as his later albums; his albums in the 2000s were more successful, with Like Water For Chocolate in 2000 making $748,000 in sales, 2005’s Be earning $800,000 and 2007’s Finding Forever making $500,000. Common’s net worth can largely be attributed to his acting career, as he has starred in many television shows and movies over the years that have contributed to his wealth.

Additionally, a rather large part of his net worth comes from his many endorsement deals and business ventures. Common also has many followers across multiple social media platforms, thus allowing him to engage in sponsored posts, which further adds to his income. With Common’s music and acting careers still going strong, along with his endorsement and business deals and money-making opportunities in the age of social media, Common’s already whopping $45 million net worth will undoubtedly continue to grow.

Real Estate and Residence History

The rapper and actor, known for his activism, has invested in several properties in the South Side area of his hometown of Chicago with the intention of upgrading them and improving the community. In 2019, Common invested in the development of a 415-acre vacant property on the South Side; the site is a former U.S. Steel Plant. He hopes to convert the land into a mixed-use development to include homes, stores, and entertainment facilities, including a movie production lot.

Common made headlines in 2012 when he faced foreclosure on two units, which he co-owned with his manager, in a condominium complex in Chicago; these were reportedly investment properties that Common himself never resided in. He had stopped making mortgage payments on these condo units for about four months, which amounted to almost $350,000. However, later that year, Common sold the condominium units for slightly more than what was owed to the lender, thereby avoiding foreclosure on those units.

Common is currently living in the Los Angeles area, though he frequently visits his hometown of Chicago, in addition to traveling around the world for work.

Upcoming Work and Legacy

Common does not have any known upcoming musical projects, though it is certain that Common’s musical journey is far from over. However, he does have several acting projects in the works. He is set to appear in a currently untitled film by Charlie Day (formerly called El Tonto) that is in the post-production phase; the yet-to-be-titled film also stars Kate Beckinsale, Jason Sudeikis, Ken Jeong, and many other well-known actors. Common is also set to appear in Wool, an upcoming science-fiction streaming television series on Apple TV+, though a premiere date has not yet been officially announced.

During his three-decade career in music, television, and film, Common has received an Academy Award, three Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, four BET Awards, and four BET Hip-Hop Awards, along with several other awards and countless award nominations.

As aforementioned, he holds the record of being the first rapper to ever win a Grammy, an Emmy, and an Oscar Award, proving the unprecedented place he holds in hip-hop and exemplifying how unlimited his artistic talents truly are, as shown not just by his musical work, but through his diverse acting roles in both television and film.

Common - 8.7.19 - WM-18 | The Come Up Show | Flickr

Common’s unique ability to combine meaningful lyrics touching on real-life social issues- something that many in hip-hop steer away from for fear of being criticized- with mesmerizing beats which combine multiple genres of music has made him a one-of-a-kind artist in the world of hip-hop. He is also one of the few rappers to make a true name for himself in the acting industry, taking on a wide range of role types, including dramatic roles (such as his great performance as real-life historical figure James Bevel in Selma) as well as comedic ones, such as his appearance on the sitcom Girlfriends.

Although Common has touched many fans through his music as well as through his acting appearances, myself included, the most impressive aspect of his career has not been the number of records he has sold or the awards he has won, but rather, the way in which he has remained not only humble but determined in his mission to make improvements in his hometown of Chicago and beyond.

Common is one of the few stars in hip-hop who realizes that great music can only help society to a certain extent, and that to truly make a difference, he has to use his voice and influence as a celebrity to take action to solve social issues. It is likely that his philanthropy, ranging from his nonprofit organizations to his involvement in developing the impoverished areas of Chicago, will make just as much, if not more, of an impact on the history of hip-hop and on the world alike as his music, acting, and business ventures.

Common’s impressive career in both the worlds of music and acting, along with his dream of improving the world, not just through the power of entertainment, but also through his activism and philanthropy, has granted Lonnie “Common” Lynn Jr. a one-of-a-kind place in the history of hip-hop that remains unparalleled.

Discography

Studio Albums

  • Can I Borrow a Dollar? (1992)
  • Resurrection (1994)
  • One Day It’ll All Make Sense (1997)
  • Like Water for Chocolate (2000)
  • Electric Circus (2002)
  • Be (2005)
  • Finding Forever (2007)
  • Universal Mind Control (2008)
  • The Dreamer/The Believer (2011)
  • Nobody’s Smiling (2014)
  • Black America Again (2016)
  • Let Love (2019)
  • A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 1) (2020)
  • A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 2) (2021)

Compilation Albums

  • Thisisme Then: The Best of Common (2007)
  • Go!- Common Classics (2010)

EPs

  • A Beautiful Revolution: Pt 1 (2020)
    A Beautiful Revolution: Pt 2 (2021)                   

FAQs

Question: Is the rapper Common religious?

Answer: Common is religious and is a Christian; he is a member of Chicago’s Trinity United Chruch of Christ.

Question: Who is Common’s wife?

Answer: Common has never been married, however, he has had several high-profile, long-term relationships. Past girlfriends include Erykah Badu, Taraji P. Henson, and Tiffany Haddish. He also has a daughter, Omoye Assata Lynn, by his ex-girlfriend Kim Jones. Omoye is 25 years old and maintains a close relationship with her famous father.

Question: What is Common’s astrological sign?

Answer: Having been born on March 13, 1972, Common is a Pisces. He was born during the Chinese Year of the Rat.

References

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top