Common Community Common Community ChangeChangeLonnie Rashid Lynn, JrBetter known as Common

BiographyBiographyBorn March 13, 1972Birthplace – ChicagoRapperActorModelPoetActivist

RapperRapper

Inspired in high schoolFirst song released 2nd

year of college – 20 yrs. old

Original stage name – Common Sense (changed due to a law suit)

5 BET awards, 2 Grammys, and 1 Black Reel Award

Most Award Winning Most Award Winning SongSong2003 - Love of My Life (Ode to Hip-Hop) 10 Nomination, 5 AwardsCollaboration with Hip-Hop singer and then girlfriend, Erykah Badu

I met him when I was a little girl, he gave me poetry and he was my first

But in my heart I knew I wasn't the only one ‘cause when the tables turned

He had to break up. Whenever I got lonely or needed some advice

He gave me his shoulder his words were very nice. But that is all behind me

'Cause now there is no other. My love is his and his is mine, a friend became the

Love of my life. You are my friend. Love of my life. I can depend. Love of my life

Without you, baby it feels like a simple true love. Hope this s*** ain't clear

Could it be that it was all just so simple then. A teenage lover who said he's just a

friend. He moved around and we kept in touch through his friend Mike

The world was young and he knew we couldn't rush but, whenever I got lonely

Or needed some advice. He gave me his shoulder. His words were very nice

But that is all behind me ‘cause now there is no other. My love is his and his is mine

A friend became the Love of my life. You are my friend. Love of my life

A dude I can depend. Love of my life. Feels like a simple true love, yeah

Hope this s*** ain't clear

Most Award Winning SongMost Award Winning Song(Common’s rap added to the song)

Y'all know how I met her We broke up and got back together

To get her back I had to sweat her

Thought she roll with bad boys forever in many ways

Them boys may be better, to I had to let her (Never)

She needed cheddar and I understood that

Lookin' for cheese, that don't make her a hood rat (Rat)

In fact she's a queen to me, her light beams on me

I love it when she sings to me

It's like that now. Love of my life

Love Of My Life Video

ActorActor

Began in 20021st role in Brown

Sugar15 films

◦ Including American Gangster w/Danzel Washington

MODELMODELSeveral companies has asked Common to model and lend his name to their brand.

PoetPoetMayo Angelou is

his mentor2011 Invited to

White House to recite poem

Appearance at the White House “Evening of Poetry” caused controversy.

Common Performs Poetry at White House

PoetPoetPoem that caused negative perception of Common

“A Letter To The Law”No looking back cos’ in back is what’s done

Tell the preacher, God got more than one sonTell the law, my Uzi weighs a ton

I walk like a warrior,from them I won’t run

I got the black strap to make the cops runThey watching me, I’m watching them

Them dick boys got a lock of c*** in themMy people on the block got a lot of pac in them

and when we roll togetherwe be rocking them to sleep

Burn a Bush cos’ for peace he no push no buttonKilling over oil and greaseno weapons of destruction

How can we follow a leader when this a corrupt oneThe government’s a g-unit and they might buck young black people

Black people In the urban area oneI hold up a peace sign, but I carry a gun.

Peace, ya’ll.

ActivistActivistAnimal RightsPeople for the Ethical Treatment

of Animals (PETA)◦Commercials◦Documentaries◦Vegetarian

HIV/Aids Awareness◦Spokesperson◦Ads

ActivistActivistPETA

◦PETA Ad CampaignHIV/Aids Ad Poem

◦ It’s a beautiful thing the way the two of them sang about knowing. It’s like freedom ring. Stronger the bond became and they both felt good about knowing. Somehow the love felt more pure. Like it was sure to endure. Now they were secure about knowing. It’s like a gift from the sky. Free they both can fly and look each other in the eye. Now knowing. Knowing is beautiful.HIV Awareness

Activist & FounderActivist & FounderCommon Ground Foundation

◦Non-profit◦Empowers underprivileged youth◦Scholarships◦Educations◦Leadership development