Common (rapper)
A Chicago poet who evolved from underground hip-hop wordsmith to a Grammy and Oscar-winning artist and actor, weaving social consciousness into every verse.
Born 1972 (age 54)·American rapper and actor·Birthday: March 13·Generation X
Biography
Common began as Lonnie Lynn, a thoughtful young MC from Chicago's South Side who treated rap as a form of lyrical poetry. His early work on albums like 'Resurrection' established him as a leader of the 'conscious rap' movement, favoring intricate wordplay and positive messages over gangsta tropes. This intellectual approach earned him a devoted underground following but kept him somewhat outside the commercial mainstream. His artistic pivot came through collaboration, most significantly with the Soulquarians collective, which included D'Angelo and ?uestlove. This period yielded his critically adored album 'Like Water for Chocolate,' blending soulful production with his refined flow. From there, Common seamlessly expanded his canvas, becoming a respected actor in films like 'Selma' and an activist voice. His journey culminated in a rare EGOT trajectory, winning a Grammy, an Oscar for the song 'Glory' from 'Selma,' an Emmy, and a Golden Globe, proving that substance and artistry could achieve the highest recognition.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Common was born in 1972, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Common Was Born
The biggest hits of 1972
#1 Movie
The Godfather
Best Picture
The Godfather
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Common's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1972Born
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1977Started school
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1985Became a teenager
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Could drive
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1990Could vote
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Turned 21
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2002Turned 30
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2012Turned 40
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 50
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 54 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Glory' from the film 'Selma,' which he co-wrote and performed with John Legend.
- Has won three Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Song for 'Love of My Life' and Best Rap Performance for 'The Food.'
- Built a successful parallel career as an actor, with notable roles in films such as 'Selma,' 'John Wick: Chapter 2,' and the TV series 'The Chi.'
- Released the highly influential album 'Like Water for Chocolate' in 2000, a landmark of conscious hip-hop.
Did You Know?
He was a teenage basketball standout and even played for Florida A&M University on a scholarship.
Common was once in a relationship with singer and actress Erykah Badu, who inspired his album 'Like Water for Chocolate.'
He published a memoir, 'One Day It'll All Make Sense,' in 2011.
He is a vegan and has been an advocate for plant-based living.
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