Common, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn in 1972, is an acclaimed American rapper and actor. Rising from Chicago’s hip hop scene, he began his career with the albums Can I Borrow a Dollar, Resurrection, and One Day It’ll All Make Sense, earning an underground following. His collaboration with the Soulquarians collective brought him broader recognition, leading to acclaimed releases like Like Water for Chocolate and Electric Circus. Common achieved further success with Be and Finding Forever, both released under Kanye West’s GOOD Music and Geffen Records, earning Grammy nominations and producing hit singles. Over his career, he has used his music to address social issues and has received multiple awards, including three Grammys, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Primetime Emmy. In addition to music, Common has a versatile film and television career, with roles in movies such as Selma, where he also won an Oscar for the song Glory, as well as Smokin’ Aces, American Gangster, Wanted, and John Wick Chapter 2. On television, he starred in the series Hell on Wheels and joined the Apple TV Plus show Silo. Common also made his Broadway debut in Between Riverside and Crazy, further showcasing his range as an artist.