School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Common

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Common is the stage name of Lonnie Rashid Lynn, an American rapper, actor and activist, born in 1972 in Chicago. In the beginning he was called Common Sense. At the age of twenty he signed to the independent label Relativity Records, which released his first three albums: Can I Borrow a Dollar? in 1992, Resurrection in 1994 and One Day It'll All Make Sense in 1997. In those years he built up a loyal underground following.

Music and breakthrough

The breakthrough to a larger audience came through the collective Soulquarians, a group of Black musicians around neo-soul and hip-hop. On a major label came Like Water for Chocolate in 2000 and Electric Circus in 2002. In 2003 he sang and rapped on Erykah Badu's Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop), the song that gave him his highest placing in the American Hot 100 and won a Grammy. After that he signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music. There Be came out in 2005 and Finding Forever in 2007, the album with Southside. Later albums such as Nobody's Smiling in 2014 and Black America Again in 2016 deal with social themes in Black America.

Influence

His rap is thoughtful and narrative, with jazz and soul in the music beneath it. Common also worked with Karriem Riggins and Robert Glasper as August Greene, and with Pete Rock on The Auditorium Vol. 1 in 2024. Outside music he won an Oscar for Glory, the song he made with John Legend for the film Selma. He also acted in numerous films and series.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Southside from Finding Forever and notice the way Common delivers his lyrics calmly and narratively. Can you hear how Kanye West contrasts with him?

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists