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Common

Real Name: Lonnie Rashid Lynn

Aliases: Common Sense

BIRTHDAY:
Mar 13, 1972
AGE:
51
NET WORTH:
$45 million
HEIGHT:
6'0

BIO

Common is a forefather of Chicago Hip Hop and one of the most acclaimed MCs in the game. He dropped his debut album Can I Borrow A Dollar? under the Common Sense moniker in 1992 with production from No I.D. His next album, Resurrection, dropped in 1994 and featured the classic single “I Used to Love H.E.R.” Resurrection was followed in 1997 by One Day It’ll All Make Sense, which included contributions from Lauryn Hill and De La Soul. Like Water For Chocolate, became his first commercial success while a member of the Soulquarians collective. That album featured production from the late, great J Dilla, who scored the single “The Light." In 2005, Common partnered with fellow Chicago native Kanye West and released Be, arguably his best work. Since then, he’s dropped several other critically acclaimed albums while becoming an author and in-demand actor.

PROPS

  • 2 Gold albums (Like Water For Chocolate + Be)
  • Won the 2003 Grammy for Best R&B Song for Erykah Badu's "Love of My Life"
  • His 2005 album Be received a perfect XXL rating in XXL magazine
  • Launched his own imprint, Think Common Entertainment, in 2011
  • Won a Golden Globe and Academy Award for “Glory" alongside John Legend
  • Awarded an honorary DFA degree at Florida A&M University in 2019

Top Common Questions

Does Common have children?

Common has one daughter, Omoye Assata Lynn (born in 1997). Her mother is Kim Jones.

Does Common have other siblings?

Yes. Common has six brothers and sisters.

Who is Common's dad?

Common's father is Lonnie Lynn Jr. He was a pro basketball player who played for the Denver Rockets and Pittsburgh Pipers in 1969 and 1970, respectively. He appeared as "Pops" on several of Common's albums, including Resurrection, Like Water For Chocolate and Be. He died in September 2014 at the age of 71.

What was Common’s first film?

Common made a cameo in 2002's Brown Sugar, but his first proper movie role was in 2006's Smokin' Aces.

What college did Common attend?

Common attended Florida A&M University for two years under a scholarship and majored in business administration.

What awards has Common won?

Common was won several awards including 3 Grammys, 1 Academy Award, 1 Emmy and 1 Golden Globe. He has also won 4 BET Hip Hop Awards, 1 Soul Train Music Award and 1 NAACP Image Award.