Common
Born: 1972
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Genre: Hip Hop
Years Active: 1992 -
Real Name: Lonnie Lynn
Meaning of the Name: Changed from Common Sense after been sued by a reggae band of the same name.
Way of Working: Raps over a producers beats
Essential Releases
Resurrection (1994)
An album that solidified Common's introspective lyricism over jazzy beats
Like Water for
Chocolate (2000)
A critically acclaimed album that blends soulful production with conscious lyricism
The Auditorium
vol. 1 (2024)
Joined forces with fellow veteran Pete Rock.
Known in his early years for intricate rhymes and brutal punchlines, such as "a bitch n**** with an attitude named Cube", it was surprising that the Chicago-born rapper Common would contribute greatly to conscious hip hop in his mid to late career.
Debuting as Common Sense in 1992 with Can I Borrow A Dollar?, his initial sound embraced an 'iggity' style of rapping reminiscent of Das EFX. For example, on Take It EZ he says "yippidy yes" instead of yes. However, Common himself admits that Nas' Illmatic (1994) prompted him to elevate his craft, and on later releases he sounds like the rapper we're familiar with today.
Subsequently, he modified his hardcore persona with a purpose-driven social awareness that enhanced themes established in his earlier work such as I Used to Love H.E.R.. An example of the rapper's growth can be seen on his 2000 track The Light, that features the lyric "I never call you my bitch or even my boo", whereas in 1992, Heidi Hoe begins with "What up bitch?" and later "kill you hoe".
It should be noted that Common has since apologised for the language in his earlier work, and it's important to remember that his statements were made in a different time with different social norms.
My point is, however, not that Common used the word bitch, but that he used the word while being considered a conscious rapper. It seems that what is considered 'conscious', is relative and largely determined by time. Even his 2000 release Nag Champa features the lyric "It's rumors of gay emcees, just don't come 'round me with it", which would be considered homophobic by todays sensitive standards, but indicated a progressive attitude at the time.
Common is, at his core, a hardcore, lyrical emcee with razor-sharp bars that could cut a listener for hearing them. In addition, he displays an Afrocentric social awareness that adds depth to his lyrical content. He was ahead of many rappers when it came to social issues, but that isn't saying much.
Listening to Common is listening to the growth, and increasing maturity of a human being as the years roll by and the grey hairs get thicker. He realises his mistakes and is man enough to admit them. A peculiar yardstick of which era a particular Common album belongs to is its instances of the word "bitch". The declining frequency of the word is on a steady trajectory. His 2024 album, The Auditorium Vol. 1, for example, features not a single use (he employs "baby" as a placeholder).
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
65
Mental Impact
85
Originality
70
Artistry
65
Authenticity
70
Live
85
Production
85
Musicianship
80
Rapping
90
Songwriting
90
Danceability
60
Fun
50
Consistency
55
Range
65
Cool
85
Charisma
65
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards
Certifications >>>
- Like Water for Chocolate: Gold in USA
- Be: Platinum in USA; Silver in UK
- Finding Forever: Gold in USA
Charts >>>
- Like Water for Chocolate: #16 in USA
- Be: #2 in USA
- Finding Forever: #1 in USA
- Nobody's Smiling: #6 in USA
Critics >>>
- About.com: Resurrection - Greatest Hip Hop Albums of All Time: #22
- Billboard: Be - Best Albums of 2005: #5
CRITICISM
- Common can be preachy. People don't want sermons when unwinding with some rap music. Some people complain Common is too progressive, others that he's not progressive enough.
- In 2011, when Common was invited by Michelle Obama to perform in the White House, he was criticised for statements made in support of the militant Black Panthers. Critics suggested Common endorsed the violent insurrection of the US government, and therefore, shouldn't have been invited.
