Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., better known by his stage name Common, is an American rapper, actor, and activist from Chicago, Illinois.
His lyrics are full of wisdom and positivity, and he achieved mainstream success in the early 2000s. Common solidified his reputation as a talented rapper with the 1994 album Resurrection and the iconic single “I Used to Love HER”.
His career has expanded from music to acting and has won critical acclaim and prestigious awards including an Oscar, a Grammy and an Emmy.
His contributions to music and film, as well as his activism, have made him a versatile and influential figure in the entertainment industry.
contour
- Full name: Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr.
- Nickname: Ordinary
- Date of Birth: March 13, 1972
- Age: 52
- Gender: Male
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Country: United States
- Occupation: Rapper, actor, activist
- Height: Unknown
- Parents: Mahalia Ann Hines, Lonnie Lynn
- Brothers and sisters: None
- Spouse: No
- Children: Omoye Assata Lynn
- Relationship status: Single
- Religion: None
- Ethnicity: African American
- Net worth: $45 million
Early life and education
Common, 52, was born on March 13, 1972, at the Chicago Orthopedic Hospital in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.
He is the son of Mahalia Ann Hines, an educator and former principal, and Lonnie Lynn, a former ABA basketball player and current youth counselor.
His parents divorced when he was six, and his mother raised him primarily near Calumet Heights, but his father remained actively involved in his life.
Common attended South Lutheran High School and later received a scholarship to attend Florida A&M University, where he majored in business administration for two years before leaving to pursue his music career.
Personal life
He dated singer Erykah Badu from 2000 to 2002, and then dated actress Taraji P. Henson for two years starting in 2005. From 2007 to 2010, he dated tennis champion Serena Williams.
His relationship with social justice advocate Angela Rye began in 2017 but ended in 2018. They briefly rekindled their romance in 2019 before breaking up again.
His most recent relationship was with actress Tiffany Haddish from mid-2020 to November 2021. Common has a daughter, Omoye Assata Lynn, born in 1997 with his ex-girlfriend Kim Jones.
Profession
Common began his musical career in the late 1980s, forming the rap trio CDR while in high school. After the group disbanded, he began a solo career under the stage name Common Sense.
His debut album, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, was released in 1992. His second album, Resurrection (1994), was well received and included the hit single “I Used to Love Her”.
With albums like Like Water for Chocolate (2000) and Be (2005), Common continued to build his reputation and collaborate with artists like Kanye West, J Dilla and Questlove.
In addition to music, Common has also had a successful acting career. He made his screen debut in Smokin’ Aces (2007) and has appeared in films such as American Gangster (2007), Wanted (2008), Selma (2014) and John Wick (2017). He has also worked on television series, starring in the series Hell on Wheels from 2011 to 2014.
Common has won numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song “Glory” from the film “Selma,” multiple Grammy Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award for the song “Letter to the Free” from the documentary “13th Amendment.”
Awards
- Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (2003)
- Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (2008)
- Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media (2016)
- Oscar-winning song “Glory” (2015)
- Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song (Movie) (2015)
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics (2017)
net worth
Common’s net worth is estimated at $45 million.
His wealth is mainly derived from his successful music and acting career, various business ventures and endorsements.
dispute
Throughout his career, Common has been involved in a number of controversies. One notable example was his feud with the Westside Connection, which was sparked by his 1994 song “I Used to Love Her,” which criticized the direction of hip-hop music, particularly West Coast gangsta rap.
This led to the Westside Connection responding with the song “Westside Slaughterhouse”. The dispute was later resolved and Common became a respected figure in hip-hop.
Common sparked another controversy when he was invited to perform at the White House in 2011. Some conservative critics criticized the invitation, noting that he had sung lyrics about police officers and politicians in the past.
Despite the criticism, Common’s performances continue as planned, and he continues to be recognized for his contributions to music and culture.
Social Media
- Instagram: @common]
- Twitter: @common
Filmography
- Smoking Ace (2007)
- American Gangster (2007)
- Wanted (2008)
- Street Kings (2008)
- Terminator 2019 (2009)
- Just Wright (2010)
- Date Night (2010)
- Now You See Me(2013)
- Selma (2014)
- Running All Night(2015)
- John Wick (2017)
- The Hate U Give(2018)
- Alice (2022)
Discography
- Can You Lend Me a Dollar? (1992)
- Resurrection (1994)
- One Day Everything Will Be Alright (1997)
- Chocolate Love(2000)
- Electric Circus (2002)
- Yes (2005)
- Searching for Eternity (2007)
- Cosmic Mind Control (2008)
- Dreamer/Believer (2011)
- Nobody Smiles(2014)
- Black America Reappears (2016)
- Let Love(2019)
- Beauty Revolution Part 1 (2020)
- Beauty Revolution Part 2 (2021)
books
- One Day Everything Will Be Alright (2011)
- Let Love Say the Last Word(2019)
