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Common Information
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'Common' (aka 'Common Sense', born 'Lonnie Rashied Lynn' on March 13th in 1972) is a Chicago-based hip hop artist known for lyrics that focus more on love and spirituality, and less on the usual hip hop trappings of money, power, and women. Many people can describe him as being a "true" hip-hop artist, who makes real songs that indeed send a message. Common debuted in 1992 (see 1992 in music) with the single "Take It EZ" and the LP Can I Borrow a Dollar?. Though popular success was virtually nonexistent, Common established a solid fanbase among alternative rap fans who consider him a socially conscious rapper.
With the 1994 (see 1994 in music), release of Resurrection, Common (known as Common Sense at the time), achieved a much larger degree of critical acclaim. The album sold well and received a strong positive reaction among alternative and underground hip-hop fans at the time. The album was also the last to be produced entirely with Common's long-time production partner, No ID. Strangely enough, the song I Used to Love H.E.R, sparked a fued with West Coast Rapper, Ice Cube. The lyrics on the song criticized the path Hip Hop music was taking, mainly the popularity of West Coast G-Funk rap. Ice Cube and Common finally squashed their beef. Following the popularity of this album, Common Sense was sued by a ska band with the same name, and was forced to change his call sign to simply "Common".
In 1997 (see 1997 in music), Common released One Day It'll All Make Sense, which included collaborations with artists like Lauryn Hill along with rappers like Q-Tip and Black Thought. The album was critically acclaimed and led to a major label contract with MCA Records.
With ?uestlove, Jay Dee, and DJ Premier producing, 2000's Like Water for Chocolate was almost a breakthrough success and greatly expanded Common's fanbase among critics and listeners. His next album, Electric Circus (2002, 2002 in music) featured Common rapping over electric rock music. This album gained mixed reviews and did not sell as well, with most fans rejecting Common's eclectic vision. Common's relationship with the singer Erykah Badu ended in April 2003.
His latest album, Be, was released in May of 2005, with most of the production handled by Kanye West, a fellow native of Chicago. He also collaborated with John Mayer on the tune Go!. According to magazines that review hip-hop music, Common's Be is one of the best albums to come out in a long time. The Source magazine has given it a near perfect 4.5 mic rating, XXL magazine has given it their highest rating of "XXL", and Allhiphop.com, an internet hip-hop website, has given it 5 stars. Common sees Be as a return to his roots. The album "Be" includes various hits, such as the "Be", "Go!", "Testify", "The Food", and many more.
Discography
Albums
* 1992: Can I Borrow a Dollar?
* 1994: Resurrection #179 US
* 1997: One Day It'll All Make Sense #62 US
* 2000: Like Water for Chocolate #16 US [Certified Gold]
* 2002: Electric Circus #47 US
* 2005: Be #2 US, #38 UK; [Certified Platinum]
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album |
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| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | US Rap | UK Singles Chart |
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| 2000 | "The Light" | #44 | - | - | - | Like Water for Chocolate | | 2002 | "Come Close" (feat. Mary J. Blige) | #65 | - | - | - | Electric Circus | | 2005 | "The Corner" (feat. The Last Poets) | - | - | - | - | Be | | 2005 | "Go | " | #79 | #31 | - | #79 | Be | | 2005 | "Testify" | - | #44 | - | - | Be |
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