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Common (rapper)

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Common (rapper) at Tufts University Spring Fling 2008

Common (formerly Common Sense, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. on March 13, 1972, in Chicago, Illinois) is a Chicago-based hip hop artist.

Albums

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  • My style is too developed to be arrested
    It's the freestyle, so now it's out on parole
    They tried to hold my soul in a holding cell so I would sell
    but I bonded with a break and had enough to make bail
    • "Resurrection" (Track 1)
  • But once the man got you well he altered the native
    Told her if she got an image and a gimmick
    That she could make money,
    and she did it like a dummy
    Now I see her in commercials, she's universal
    She used to only swing it with the inner-city circle
    Now she be in the burbs lickin' rock and dressin' hip
    And on some dumb shit
    • "I Used to Love H.E.R." (Track 2)
  • I fight, with myself in the ring of doubt and fear
    The rain ain't gone, but I can still see clear
    As a child, given religion with no answer to why
    Just told believe in Jesus cause for me he did die
    Curiosity killed the catechism
    Understanding and wisdom became the rhythm that I played to
    And became a slave to master self
    A rich man is one with knowledge, happiness and his health
    My mind had dealt with the books of Zen, Tao the lessons
    of the Koran and Bible,
    to me they all vital
    And got truth within 'em, gotta read them boys
    You just can't skim 'em, different branches of belief
    But one root that stem 'em, but people of the venom try to trim 'em
    And use religion as an emblem
    When it should be a natural way of life
    Who am I or they to say to whom you pray ain't right?
    That's who got you doin' right and got you this far
    Whether you say "in Jesus name" or "Al hum du'Allah"
    Long as you know it's a being that's supreme to you
    You let that show towards others in the things you do
    Cause when the trumpets blowin', 24 elders surround the throne
    Only 144,000 gon get home
    • "G.O.D. (Gaining One's Definition)" (Track 7)
  • Granted we known each other for some time
    but it don't take a whole day to recognize sunshine
    • "The Light" (Track 7)
  • The revolution will not be televised
    The revolution is here
    • "The 6th Sense" (Track 9)
  • The perseverence of a rebel, I drop heavier levels
    of unseen or heard, a king with words
    Can't knock the hustle, but I've seen street dreams deferred
    Dark spots in my mind where the scene occurred
    Some say I'm too deep, but I'm in too deep to sleep
    • "The 6th Sense" (Track 9)
  • I'm the truth, across the table from corporate lies
    Immortilized by the realness I bring to it
    If revolution had a movie I'd be theme music
    My music, you can either fight, fuck, or dream to it
    • "The 6th Sense" (Track 9)
  • This industry will make you lose intensity
    • "The 6th Sense" (Track 9)
  • Cause federal and state was built for a black fate
    Her emptiness was filled with beatings and court dates
    They fabricated cases, hoping one would stick
    And said she robbed places that didn't exist
    In the midst of threats on her life and being caged with Aryan whites
    Through dark halls of hate she carried the light
    • "A Song for Assata" (Track 15)

Be (2005)

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  • The chosen one from the land of the frozen sun, where drunk nights get remembered more than sober ones
    • "Be (Intro)" (Track 1)
  • Never looking back, or too far in front of me. The present is a gift, and I just wanna be.
    • "Be (Intro)" (Track 1)
  • We got arms but wont reach for the skies
    • "Be (Intro)" (Track 1)
  • Be the author of your own horoscope
    • "Be (Intro)" (Track 1)
  • We write songs about wrong cause its hard to see right
  • I look into my daughter's eyes. And realize that I'ma learn through her. The Messiah, might even return through her. If I'ma do it, I gotta change the world through her
    • "Be (Intro)" (Track 1)

Compilations, Singles, and Cameos

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  • Yo...on the amen, corner I stood lookin' at my former hood
    Felt the spirit in the wind, knew my friend was gone for good
    Threw dirt on the casket, the hurt, I couldn't mask it
    Mixin down emotions, struggle I hadn't mastered
    I choreographed seven steps to heaven
    and hell, waiting to exhale and make the bread leavened
    Veteran of a cold war its Chica-i-go for
    What I know or, whats known
  • Tried to call, or at least beep the lord, but didn't have a touch-tone
  • Let the truth be told from young souls that become old
    From days spent in the jungle, where must one go
    To find it, time is real, we can't rewind it
    Out of everybody I met, who told the truth?
    Time did
  • Took a picture of the truth and tried to develop it
    Had proof, but it was only recognized by the intelligent
    Took the negative and positive, cause niggas got to live
    Said I got to get more than I'm given
    Cause truth'll never be heard in religion
    After searching the world, on the inside what was hidden?
    It was the truth
  • This is street rad-i-o, For unsung hero,
    Driving in the regal, trying to stay legal,
    My daughter found Nemo, I found the new primo,
    Yeah, you know how we do, we do it for the people."
    • "The People", Finding Forever

Interviews

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  • I think and speak clearer since I cut the dairy out. I can breathe better and perform at a better rate, and my voice is clearer. I can explore different things with my voice that I couldn’t do because of my meat and dairy ingestion. I am proud and blessed to be a vegetarian, everything became clear.
  • I went to the movies — it was Kanye, myself and John Mayer, and we went to see "Ray." We were watching it, and I was just inspired by the movie, just as a musician and as an artist, I felt inspired. We left there and went straight to the studio. Kanye started cooking up this beat and started doing this chant, like, "Go, go, go," and while we were sitting there thinking what to write, John Mayer said, "You could write about your fantasy." And I was like, "Am I going to let John Mayer come up with the concept for this joint? This is hip-hop." But John Mayer is a very talented brother and you don't know where your blessings are going to come from. He was singing, and we made him a sample on it, going 'Go.' So it all came together and now we have the song 'Go!,' which is about going to my fantasy.
  • Recently, John and I got to go to Selma and perform “Glory” on the same bridge that Dr. King and the people of the civil rights movement marched on 50 years ago. This bridge was once a landmark of a divided nation, but now is a symbol for change. The spirit of this bridge transcends race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and social status. The spirit of this bridge connects the kid from the South Side of Chicago, dreaming of a better life, to those in France standing up for their freedom of expression, to the people in Hong Kong protesting for democracy. This bridge was built on hope, welded with compassion, and elevated by love for all human beings.
    • The 87th Oscars ceremony, 22 February, 2015.
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