Common
About Common
“Common went above and beyond with his keynote and with the meet and greet afterwards. He exceeded our expectations, and we’re so happy he was able to join us for the event.”
Speech topics
An UnCommon Journey
In this conversation, Grammy-winning rapper, actor, and activist Common explores his remarkable journey as shared in his candid memoir. From growing up on the South Side of Chicago to becoming a globally recognized artist, Common's path was never easy. He faced challenges, including doubts about his career after his first album’s lackluster sales, but his perseverance and deep connection to his roots fueled his rise to stardom. Central to his story is the powerful influence of his mother, who shaped his understanding of love, family, and the importance of staying true to oneself. Common reflects on how his journey—from struggling artist to conscious rapper and beloved public figure—serves as an inspiring testament to how resilience, love, and self-reflection can lead to a life of purpose, understanding, and success.
Speaking videos
Media coverage
Common: 'I wanted to be the dopest. Then I found a higher purpose'
He got his start in the era of gangsta rap and admits to a ‘bros before hoes’ attitude early in his career. So how did the Chicagoan become one of conscious rap’s strongest voices?
The inside story of how rapper Common replaced Satya Nadella as the voice of Microsoft’s ads
It was early October of 2014, and Microsoft was working hard to finish producing its first-ever Super Bowl commercial. The advertising team had strung together audio clips from CEO Satya Nadella’s recent speeches about empowerment, and overlaid video of kids using Microsoft technology to help improve their lives. Ultimately, it was rapper Common whose voice was heard by millions around the world during those Super Bowl commercials and in several follow-up spots thereafter.
Making Sense Of Common
At 48, he’s considered rap’s ambassador outside its borders. That doesn’t mean he wants to be seen as “safe.” Survey most hip-hop heads and they’d agree Common hit legend status more than a decade ago. He’s an icon of “conscious hip-hop” — the long misunderstood, often oversimplified subgenre that’s become shorthand for a willingness to lyrically speak to Black people’s fight for basic human rights, even the right to self-love.
For Common, Self Care Is The New Black
Meditation time! Find a comfy spot to stretch out, close your eyes, and breathe deeply, in and out. Good. Now imagine a beam of energy. Peaceful, right? And are you hearing that celestial music yet? What type of music is it? Is it . . . rap? Perhaps it is not. And perhaps that is why Lonnie Rashid Lynn, the rapper, actor, writer, and activist known as Common, based his new album, “Let Love,” on concepts of healing, therapy, and meditation.
'Hunter Killer' Trailer: Gerard Butler, Gary Oldman, Common Sub ...
Gerard Butler, Gary Oldman and Common climb aboard an arctic submarine in the first trailer for 'Hunter Killer,' released Thursday.
Books by Common
“And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self” (2024)
From the multi-award-winning performer, author, and activist, a comprehensive program for addressing mental and physical health—and encouraging communities to do the same.
“Let Love Have the Last Word: A Memoir” (2019)
Common believes that the phrase “let love have the last word” is not just a declaration; it is a statement of purpose, a daily promise. Love is the most powerful force on the planet and ultimately, the way you love determines who you are and how you experience life. Touching on God, self-love, partners, children, family, and community, Common explores the core tenets of love to help others understand what it means to receive and, most important, to give love. He moves from the personal—writing about his daughter, to whom he wants to be a better father—to the universal, where he observes that our society has become fractured under issues of race and politics. He knows there's no quick remedy for all of the hurt in the world, but love—for yourself and for others—is where the healing begins.
“One Day It'll All Make Sense” (2011)
From the hip hop icon, Hollywood star, and “a true artist and writer of deep talent” (James McBride, author of The Color of Water)—a candid, New York Times bestselling memoir ranging from his childhood on Chicago’s South side and his emergence as one of rap’s biggest names. Common has earned a reputation in the hip-hop world as a conscious artist by embracing themes of love and struggle in his songs. His journey toward understanding is rooted in his relationship with a remarkable woman, his mother. Common holds nothing back in this gripping memoir, both provocative and funny. He tells what it was like for a boy with big dreams growing up on the South Side of Chicago. He reveals how he almost quit rapping after his first album sold only two thousand copies. He recounts his rise to stardom and talks about the challenges of balancing fame, love, and family. Through it all, Common emerges as a man in full. Rapper. Actor. Activist. But also father, son, and friend. His story offers a living example of how, no matter what you’ve gone through, one day it’ll all make sense.
At a glanceCommon
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