Common
Common is a Chicago rapper, actor and author whose music connects personal stories, jazz and soul with questions of love, justice and community.
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Latest
Common’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Overview
- Name
- Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr.
- Born
- March 13, 1972 · Chicago, Illinois
- Started as
- Common Sense
- Debut album
- Can I Borrow a Dollar? · 1992
- Breakthrough
- Resurrection · 1994
- Work
- Rapper, actor, author and activist
Mini bio
How it started.
Common grew up in Chicago and began rapping in the late 1980s with two friends in the trio C.D.R. After the group split, he pursued a solo career as Common Sense, releasing “Take It EZ” and his debut album Can I Borrow a Dollar? in 1992.
Finding his voice.
His second album, Resurrection, brought him an audience beyond Chicago. Working with No I.D. and The Twilite Tone, he developed the reflective storytelling heard on “I Used to Love H.E.R.” He told Apple Music that listening to John Coltrane and seeking spiritual knowledge helped change the way he approached rhyming.
A wider stage.
Common found mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians and continued with albums including Be and Finding Forever. His work also moved into acting: he played civil rights leader James Bevel in Selma and co-wrote its song “Glory,” which won the 2015 Oscar for original song.
Still making connections.
He released his first full-length collaboration with Pete Rock, The Auditorium, Vol. 1, in July 2024. That year he also published And Then We Rise, sharing his approach to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. His work in television includes playing Sims in Silo and composing music for Mo.
Creditschronological, newest first
Music
- 2025VisionArtist with 9th Wonder; featuring PJ and Bilal
- 2025Victory (NBA on Prime Theme)Co-composer with Karriem Riggins and James Poyser
- 2024The Auditorium, Vol. 1Rapper; collaborative album with Pete Rock
- 2005BeRapper; album artist
- 1994ResurrectionRapper; album artist
Film & TV
- 2025Mo: Season 2Co-composer with Karriem Riggins and Patrick Warren
- 2023 onwardSiloActor · Robert Sims
- 2014SelmaActor · James Bevel; co-writer and performer of “Glory”
Books
Awards
- Artist Impact Award · 2026SAG-AFTRA and SoundExchange honored his work across music, film, television and media.
- Emmy · 2017Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “Letter to the Free” from 13th.
- Grammy · 2016Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Glory,” with Che Smith and John Legend.
- Academy Award · 2015Original Song for “Glory” from Selma, with John Stephens (John Legend).
- Grammy · 2008Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for “Southside,” featuring Kanye West.
- Grammy · 2003Best R&B Song as a co-writer of Erykah Badu’s “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop).”
Quotes
As artists, whether through comedy, acting, storytelling, music, songwriting, or playwriting, we bring light and joy into the world.Common, Artist Impact Award acceptance remarks, SoundExchange
He said this while accepting the award on September 24, 2026.
Trivia
- He used the name Common Sense until 1995.
- Before his music career, he was a Chicago Bulls ball boy.
- Listening to John Coltrane helped shape the way he approached Resurrection.
- He made his Broadway debut as Junior in Between Riverside and Crazy in winter 2022.
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