Common, born in Chicago to Dr. Mahalia Ann Hines, an educator, and Lonnie Lynn, an ABA basketball player turned youth counselor, began his career as a rapper, becoming a prominent voice in hip-hop's new millennium renaissance.
On October 6, 1992, Common, then known as Common Sense, released his debut album "Can I Borrow A Dollar?", featuring tracks like "Charm's Alarm" and "Breaker 1-9", showcasing his lyrical wit, street-smarts, and extended similes. The album also included tracks like "Heidi Hoe", which touched on the theme of misogyny, an issue he would address more critically in later work.
In 1994, Common released "Resurrection", notable for the smooth production on the title track and "I Used To Love H.E.R.", an ode to hip-hop. This album further solidified his underground reputation, offering a new conscientious voice in a year that saw a surge in underground hip-hop talent, including Nas, Jeru the Damaja, and Digable Planet.
After a name change due to a lawsuit, Common reemerged in 1997 with "One Day It'll All Make Sense", featuring guests like Erykah Badu, Canibus, and De La Soul, and production from No I.D. and Dug Infinite. The album maintained an underground flair, with his mainstream breakthrough yet to come.
Common's appearance on The Roots' 1999 album "Things Fall Apart" marked a turning point, leading him to sign with MCA Records. He soon collaborated with the Okayplayer collective and Questlove, J Dilla, James Poyser, and others, releasing his fourth album "Like Water For Chocolate" in the spring of 2000. The album's varied sonic landscape, incorporating Afrobeat, funk, and old-school soul, was a departure from his previous work. The album's success was fueled by tracks like the DJ Premier-produced "The 6th Sense", becoming a worthy addition to "The Next Movement".
In 2003, Common released "Electric Circus", a hip-hop/funk/soul/rock/psychedelia hybrid that polarized hip-hop fans like no other album has in recent memory. He also chose to redefine himself, swearing off the vices he had once indulged in.
Common's transition into acting began in 2003 with a TV sitcom appearance, followed by a few minor roles between 2003 and 2004. He made his big screen debut in January 2007.
