Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr. — known to some as Grammy Award-winning rapper Common — is a man’s man. You can tell by the way he enters a room. He confidently strides in, quickly surveys the landscape, and respectfully greets the women in his vicinity before turning to acknowledge his male counterparts. All of this happens in the span of about 5-10 seconds, but it’s all that’s really needed to leave a lasting impression on the room.
Over the course of his career, Common has done more than just make positive impressions when entering rooms. As his credits and accolades continue to roll in, the rapper has slowly begun to transcend the music that provided his start. While his position as a pop culture fixture continues to be cemented with each accomplishment, the wisdom gained along the way has not been lost on the Chicago native. Every step of the way, Common has continued to embrace his evolution — whether as an artist, as a role model, or as a man.
Evolution as an Artist
The days of underground buzz and rap beefs with Westside Connection are all distant memories for Common. He now spends his time balancing his musical pursuits with national ad campaigns and major motion pictures. His personal charisma and natural screen presence have played a huge role in his evolution as an artist, and are currently on display in Just Wright, the basketball-centered romantic comedy co-starring Queen Latifah.
Throughout his preparation for the role, in which he plays basketball star Scott McKnight, Common found comfort in the parallels between sports and music. “I think that the drive is similar in both arenas,” he says. “You have to push yourself to be the best, and you have to push yourself to achieve more than you previously thought was possible. When I was preparing for the role, I had to work hard, but the harder that I worked, the more I found that I could accomplish. It’s the same with my music. When I start working on an album, I really have to push myself. The harder that I push myself in the studio, the more creativity is birthed as a result of it.”
That level of creative enlightenment doesn’t come easily, and it’s something that Common has never taken for granted. Similar to an athlete who lifts his hands to the sky as a sign of thanks after a touchdown or home run, Common remains humbled by every creative blessing that is bestowed upon him. “I understand that I have a talent that can be taken away at any moment,” he candidly shares. “So by working hard, I look at it as my way of showing that I am grateful for the gift. You honor your talents by working them, cultivating them, and growing them, and that’s why I strive to do [well] in all areas, whether it’s music or movies.”
Evolution as a Man
Common’s evolution runs deeper than just art, and a pivotal moment for his personal growth came during a 2007 appearance on “Oprah.” On the show, he and other hip-hop influencers were members of a town hall meeting held in response to the Don Imus controversy. During a commercial break, Common’s mother, Dr. Mahila Ann Hines, grabbed the microphone and spoke what she believed to be the unbridled truth about her child. “My son has always been respectful, and has never called a woman a b—- or a h-.”
As the audience applauded the good heartedness of her son, Common’s conscience began to tug at him a bit. While his mother’s words sounded great, he knew they weren’t exactly the truth. “When my mother said that on ‘Oprah,’ it kind of bothered me because I knew it wasn’t the truth,” he revealed. “I wasn’t always this guy that was 100 percent respectful to women. I used to party and call women b—-es, and do a whole lot of other things that I’m not necessarily proud of. But thankfully, I can look back on it all and realize that I have changed, and I have grown as a man. So even though it bothered me that my mom didn’t know the truth, I could still look at that moment and be proud that I had grown and no longer did those things.”
For Common, understanding the nature of evolution has gone a long way in encouraging his continued growth as a man. “I understand that I’m never going to stop growing,” he shares. “To me, that’s the beauty of life. The moment I stop growing is probably the moment that I’m not supposed to be here anymore. But until that time comes, I have to continue to work to be a better man. I see the progress of where I am now compared to where I used to be, but I still know that I have a long way to go.”
Knowing that the journey is far from complete has freed Common from the fear of making mistakes — something that hindered him in the early going. “I used to be afraid to mess up,” he confesses. “And I think that I ended up making more mistakes by living my life trying not to fail instead of living it to succeed. I had to grow out of that mentality, and I also grew out of the mentality of being hard on myself. We all make mistakes, but I think that I used to really be hard on myself. The one thing that really saved me was [my self-knowledge] that deep down inside, I was a good dude. Even when I was out in the streets making mistakes, I always knew that I had a good heart … at the core, I knew right from wrong.”
Evolution as a Role Model
As the interview concluded, Common took a few moments to engage in a Web chat with a group of students aged 14–17 on Ustream. His message to them, though simple, revealed another layer of his evolution — his evolution as a role model.
“What’s up everyone out there,” he said to the students. “I just wanted to take the opportunity to encourage you to keep dreaming. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be something. If you continue to work hard and believe, then you can make all of your dreams come true. So stay positive, keep your faith in the Most High, and things will work out just fine for you.”
As he concluded, some of the bystanders in the room began to clap and say “Amen.” Common sheepishly smiled, and offered this, “Hey, I’ve got to help the kids … I’m always gonna make time to give them a few words.”
Common was right. The kids do need role models like him. But honestly, there are many adults who need one, too.
