Biography
Common, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. on March 13, 1972, is a Grammy and Oscar-winning rapper and actor hailing from Chicago, Illinois. Known for his poetic flow and soulful hip-hop style, Common has solidified his place as one of the most respected artists in the industry.
Growing up, Common served as a ball boy for the Chicago Bulls before attending Florida A&M University to study business administration. However, his passion for music led him to drop out of school and pursue a career in rap. He gained national attention after being featured in The Source magazine's Unsigned Hype column in 1991.
Common released his debut album "Can I Borrow a Dollar?" in 1992, followed by his breakthrough second album "Resurrection" in 1994, which featured the classic single "I Used to Love H.E.R." As his career began to soar, he faced a lawsuit from the music group Common Sense over his name, leading him to drop the "Sense" and release his third album "One Day It'll All Make Sense" in 1997.
Throughout his career, Common has released several critically acclaimed albums, including "Like Water for Chocolate" (2000) and "Be" (2005), the latter being released under Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music imprint. In 2018, he formed the group August Greene with Karriem Riggins and Robert Glasper, releasing a self-titled album.
In addition to his music career, Common has made a name for himself in the acting world, appearing in various television shows and movies such as "American Gangster," "Selma," "Suicide Squad," and "The Chi." He won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for "Glory" from the film "Selma," as well as Grammy Awards for his collaborations with Erykah Badu and Kanye West.
With his unique blend of storytelling and social consciousness, Common continues to inspire and influence audiences worldwide through his music and acting endeavors.
