Editing Common (rapper)

{{Short description|American rapper and actor (born 1972)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Common
| image              = Common - 2018 (41963868844) (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Common performing in 2018
| birth_name         = Lonnie Rashid Lynn
| other_names        = {{hlist|Common Sense|Willie Stargell<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.discogs.com/artists/14014|title=Common|website=Discogs.com|access-date=August 31, 2019}}</ref>}}
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|1972|3|13}}
| birth_place        = [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| education          = [[Florida A&M University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| occupation         = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter|actor}}
| parents            = {{Plain list|
* [[Lonnie Lynn]] (father)
* Mahalia Ann Hines (mother)
}}
| children           = 1
| years_active       = 1991–present<ref>{{cite web|author=Natasha|url=https://thesource.com/2014/08/08/the-light-in-hip-hop-a-reflection-on-the-words-works-of-common/|title=The Light In Hip Hop: A Reflection On The Words & Works Of Common|website=[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]|date=August 8, 2014|access-date=October 30, 2019}}</ref>
| partner(s)         = [[Tiffany Haddish]] (2020–2021)<br> [[Jennifer Hudson]] (2022–present)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaur |first1=Brahmjot |title=Jennifer Hudson and Common Confirm Their Romance in the Most Heartwarming Way |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1393579/jennifer-hudson-and-common-confirm-their-romance-in-the-most-heartwarming-way |website=eonline.com |date=January 22, 2024 |publisher=E! News |access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref>
| works              = {{hlist|[[Common discography|Discography]]|[[#Filmography|filmography]]}}
| awards             = [[List of awards and nominations received by Common|Full list]]
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed           = yes
| instruments     = Vocals
| genre           = {{flatlist|
* [[Hip-Hop Music|Hip-hop]]
* [[neo soul]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/11/common-%E2%80%98vile%E2%80%99-or-mainstream/|title=Common: 'Vile' or mainstream?|website=[[CNN]]|access-date=November 1, 2020|date=May 11, 2011|author=Anon.|archive-date=December 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206012601/https://whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/11/common-%E2%80%98vile%E2%80%99-or-mainstream/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[progressive rap]]<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Connor|first=Christopher|date=March 29, 2000|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/820250/common-moves-toward-a-progressive-hip-hop/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715040610/http://www.mtv.com/news/820250/common-moves-toward-a-progressive-hip-hop/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2021|title=Common Moves Toward a Progressive Hip-Hop|website=[[MTV News]]|access-date=July 15, 2021}}</ref>
}}
| label           = {{flatlist|
* [[Loma Vista Recordings|Loma Vista]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lomavistarecordings.com/#home|title=Loma Vista – a recording company.|website=Lomavistarecordings.com|access-date=August 31, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Concord Records|Concord]]
* Think Common
* [[No I.D.#ARTium Recordings|ARTium]]
* [[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]]
* [[Virgin EMI Records|Virgin EMI]]
* [[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]]
* [[Geffen Records|Geffen]]
* [[GOOD Music|GOOD]]
* [[MCA Records|MCA]]
* [[Warlock Records|Warlock]]
* [[Rawkus Records|Rawkus]]
* [[Relativity Records|Relativity]]
}}
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[August Greene]]
* [[Cocaine 80s]]
* [[Soulquarians]]
}}
| website         = {{URL|www.thinkcommon.com}}
{{Infobox
| child=yes
| header          = Logo
| headerstyle     = background:#b0c4de
| data1 = }}
}}
| signature          = Common sig.svg
}}

'''Lonnie Rashid Lynn'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/common-finds-a-place-in-hollywood-supporting-strong-women-exclusive-103045|title=Common Finds a Happy Place in Hollywood Supporting Strong Women (Exclusive)|website=Entertainment Tonight|date=May 25, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestranger.com/books/2019/07/03/40643877/in-his-new-memoir-common-sheds-light-on-a-lifestyle-that-old-school-rappers-only-dreamed-about|title=In His New Memoir, Common Sheds Light on a Lifestyle That Old School Rappers Only Dreamed About|first=Charles|last=Mudede|website=Thestranger.com|access-date=August 31, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New music: Common – The Believer feat John Legend |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/dec/06/common-believer-john-legend | work=The Guardian |date=December 6, 2011 |last=Cragg |first=Michael |access-date=January 7, 2019}}</ref> (born March 13, 1972), known professionally as '''Common''' (formerly known as '''Common Sense'''), is an American rapper and actor. The recipient of three [[Grammy Award]]s, an [[Academy Award]], a [[Primetime Emmy Award]], and a [[Golden Globe Award]], he signed with the independent label [[Relativity Records]] at the age of 20. The label released his first three studio albums: ''[[Can I Borrow a Dollar?]]'' (1992), ''[[Resurrection (Common album)|Resurrection]]'' (1994) and ''[[One Day It'll All Make Sense]]'' (1997). He maintained an [[Underground hip hop|underground]] following into the late 1990s, and achieved mainstream success through his work with the [[Black music]] collective [[Soulquarians]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Video: Common Speaks on Soulquarians, No I.D. & Kanye + BTS Pics of "Blue Sky" Video | date=October 11, 2011 | url=http://www.okayplayer.com/news/video-common-speaks-on-soulquarians-no-i-d-kanye-bts-pics-of-blue-sky-video.html | website=okayplayer | access-date=October 12, 2011 | archive-date=December 13, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213173332/http://www.okayplayer.com/news/video-common-speaks-on-soulquarians-no-i-d-kanye-bts-pics-of-blue-sky-video.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

After attaining a [[major label]] record deal, he released his fourth and fifth albums, ''[[Like Water for Chocolate (album)|Like Water for Chocolate]]'' (2000) and ''[[Electric Circus (album)|Electric Circus]]'' (2002), to continued acclaim and modest commercial response.<ref>{{cite web|title=Common Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/common-mn0000115253/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=October 30, 2018}}</ref> He guest performed on fellow Soulquarian, [[Erykah Badu]]'s 2003 single, "[[Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)]]", which yielded his highest entry — at number nine — on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and won [[Grammy Award for Best R&B Song|Best R&B Song]] at the [[45th Annual Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |title = UMPG writers and artists receive best R&B Song of the Year Category at Grammy Awards |publisher = [[Universal Music Publishing Group]] |url = http://www.umusicpub.com/news_readmore.aspx?id=4770 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081026211844/http://www.umusicpub.com/news_readmore.aspx?id=4770 |archive-date = 2008-10-26}}</ref> He signed with fellow Chicago rapper [[Kanye West]]'s record label [[GOOD Music]], in a joint venture with [[Geffen Records]] to release his sixth and seventh albums ''[[Be (Common album)|Be]]'' (2005) and ''[[Finding Forever]]'' (2007); both were nominated for [[Best Rap Album]] Grammys, while the latter became his first to debut atop the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and contained the song "[[Southside (Common song)|Southside]]" (featuring Kanye West), the recipient of [[Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]] at the [[50th Annual Grammy Awards]]. His eighth album, ''[[Universal Mind Control]]'' (2008), was met with a critical decline and served as his final release with GOOD. Common's label imprint, Think Common Entertainment, was founded in 2011 and entered a joint venture with [[Warner Records|Warner Bros. Records]] to release his ninth album, ''[[The Dreamer/The Believer]]'' (2011), and later [[No I.D.]]'s [[ARTium Recordings]], an imprint of [[Def Jam Recordings]] to release his tenth album, ''[[Nobody's Smiling]]'' (2014). Both received critical praise and further discussed social issues in [[African-American middle class|Black America]]; his eleventh album, ''[[Black America Again]]'' (2016) saw widespread critical acclaim and served as his final release on a [[Record label#Major labels|major label]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.29923/title.common-explains-g-o-o-d-music-departure-kanye-wests-focus-being-elsewhere|title=Common Explains GOOD Music Departure, Kanye West's Focus Being Elsewhere|date=September 17, 2014|access-date=2024-05-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.vulture.com/2016/10/listen-to-commons-new-song-home.html|title=Listen to Common's New Song, "Home"|date=October 19, 2016|website=Vulture.com}}</ref>

Lynn won the [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]] for his song "[[Glory (Common and John Legend song)|Glory]]" (with [[John Legend]]), which he released for the film ''[[Selma (film)|Selma]]'' (2014), wherein he co-starred as [[civil rights movement|civil rights]] leader [[James Bevel]]. His other film roles include ''[[Smokin' Aces]]'' (2006), ''[[Street Kings]]'' (2008), ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]'' (2007), ''[[Wanted (2008 film)|Wanted]]'' (2008), ''[[Date Night]]'' (2010), ''[[Just Wright]]'' (2010), ''[[Happy Feet Two]]'' (2011), ''[[Run All Night (film)|Run All Night]]'' (2015), ''[[John Wick: Chapter 2]]'' (2017), and ''[[Smallfoot]]'' (2018). In television, he starred as Elam Ferguson in [[AMC (TV channel)|AMC]] [[Western (genre)|western]] series ''[[Hell on Wheels (TV series)|Hell on Wheels]]'' from 2011 to 2014, and has played a supporting role in the [[Apple TV+]] science fiction series [[Silo (TV series)|''Silo'']] since 2023. His song "Letter to the Free" was released for the [[Ava DuVernay]]-directed [[Netflix]] documentary ''[[13th (film)|13th]]'' (2017), for which he won the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics]]. He made his [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] acting debut on the play ''[[Between Riverside and Crazy]]'' (2023), which won a [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pulitzer.org/node/8501 |title=The Pulitzer Prizes - 2015 Pulitzer Winners will be announced April 20 |website=Pulitzer.org |date=2015-03-05 |access-date=2015-03-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150306193608/https://www.pulitzer.org/node/8501 |archive-date=2015-03-06}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Common was born on March 13, 1972, at the Chicago Osteopathic Hospital in Chicago's [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]] neighborhood. He is the son of educator and former principal of [[John Hope College Prep]]aratory High School, Mahalia Ann Hines, and former [[American Basketball Association|ABA]] basketball player turned youth counselor [[Lonnie Lynn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/sweethomecookcounty/documents/2007sweethome.pdf|title=Sweet Home Cook County|website=Cookcountyclerk.com|access-date=October 5, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528132937/http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/sweethomecookcounty/documents/2007sweethome.pdf|archive-date=May 28, 2016}}</ref> Lynn shares the same first name as his father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather.<ref name=jackson>{{cite web |last1=Jackson |first1=Steve |title=The Education of Lonnie Lynn |url=https://www.westword.com/news/the-education-of-lonnie-lynn-5057740 |website=Westword |access-date=November 5, 2024 |date=August 21, 1997}}</ref> He is known by his middle name, Rashid, to his family and friends.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bazer |first1=Mark |title=Common is Back in the Neighborhood |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/october-2014/common/ |website=Chicago Magazine |access-date=November 5, 2024 |date=September 17, 2014}}</ref> Lynn's godfather is basketball player [[Spencer Haywood]] who was a teammate of his father on the [[Denver Rockets]].<ref name=jackson/>

Lynn was raised in the [[Calumet Heights, Chicago|Calumet Heights]] neighborhood.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bazer|first1=Mark|title=Common is Back in the Neighborhood|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/October-2014/Common/|issue=October 2014|website=Chicago magazine|date=September 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Zegel|first=Maureen|date=March 27, 2012|title=Rapper Common to bring his message to UMSL|url=https://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2012/03/27/common/|access-date=January 10, 2023|publisher=[[University of Missouri–St. Louis]]|website=UMSL Daily}}</ref><ref>Williams, Thomas Chatterton (May 11, 2011). [http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/inviting-common-white-house-barack-michelle-obama-a-golden-opportunity-article-1.144238 "By inviting Common to the White House, Barack and Michelle Obama miss a golden opportunity"]. ''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]''.</ref><ref>[https://abc7chicago.com/archive/8618409/ "Common to throw White Sox 1st pitch"] . [[WLS-TV|ABC 7 Chicago]]. April 13, 2012.</ref> His father left the family because of his drug and alcohol addictions while Lynn was young.<ref name=jackson/> When he was aged two, Lynn's father attempted to take him and his mother to Seattle where he had arranged a tryout with the [[Seattle SuperSonics]].<ref name=jackson/> His father was arrested when the family stopped at a motel in Wisconsin and charged with false imprisonment.<ref>{{cite news |title=Basketball Player Jailed Here for Abducting Wife |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-capital-times-basketball-player-jail/158483087/ |access-date=November 5, 2024 |work=The Capital Times |date=June 25, 1974 |page=6 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Lynn's parents divorced when he was six years old, resulting in his father moving to [[Denver]], Colorado. This left Lynn to be raised by his mother; however, his father remained active in his life, and was able to get him a job with the [[Chicago Bulls]] as a teenager. Lynn attended [[Florida A&M University]] for two years under a scholarship and majored in [[business administration]].<ref name="Jet 2005">{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_26_107/ai_n27857531/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405204617/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_26_107/ai_n27857531/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 5, 2011|title=Hip-hop star Common talks about: new hit CD 'Be' being labeled a 'conscious rapper' his breakup with singer Erykah Badu who attracts him now|last=Yarborough|first=Marti|date=June 27, 2005|work=Jet|via=FindArticles.com|access-date=July 25, 2009}}</ref>

== Music career ==

=== 1987–1996: Career beginnings ===
Lynn began rapping in the late 1980s, while a student at [[Luther High School South]] in Chicago, when he, along with two of his friends, formed C.D.R., a rap trio that opened for acts such as [[N.W.A]] and [[Big Daddy Kane]].<ref name="AskMen">{{cite web|url=http://www.askmen.com/men/entertainment_200/219c_common.html |title=AskMen.com's Men of the Week: Entertainment – Common |access-date=June 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001002614/http://www.askmen.com/men/entertainment_200/219c_common.html |archive-date=October 1, 2007 }}</ref> When C.D.R dissolved by 1991, Lynn began a solo career under the stage name of '''Common Sense'''. After being featured in the [[Unsigned Hype]] column of ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' magazine, he debuted as a solo artist in 1992 with the single "[[Take It EZ]]", followed by the album ''[[Can I Borrow a Dollar?]]''.

With the 1994 release of ''[[Resurrection (Common album)|Resurrection]]'', Common Sense achieved a much larger degree of critical acclaim which extended beyond the Chicago music scene. The album sold relatively well and received a strong positive reaction among [[alternative hip hop|alternative]] and [[underground hip hop]] fans at the time. ''Resurrection'' was Common Sense's last album produced almost entirely by his long-time production partner, [[No I.D.]], who would later become a mentor to a young [[Kanye West]].

In 1996, Common Sense appeared on the [[Red Hot Organization]]'s compilation CD, [[America Is Dying Slowly]] (A.I.D.S.), alongside [[Biz Markie]], [[Wu-Tang Clan]], and [[Fat Joe]], among many other prominent hip hop artists. The CD, meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic among African American men, was heralded as "a masterpiece" by [[The Source (magazine)|The Source]] magazine. He would later also contribute to the [[Red Hot Organization]]'s [[Fela Kuti]] tribute album, [[Red Hot and Riot]] in 2002. He collaborated with [[Djelimady Tounkara]] on a remake of Kuti's track, "Years of Tears and Sorrow".

[[File:Common-Mos Def-10-mika.jpg|thumb|Common performing with [[Mos Def]] in 1999]]

The song "[[I Used to Love H.E.R.]]" from ''Resurrection'' ignited a [[hip hop feud|feud]] with [[West Coast hip hop|West Coast rap group]] [[Westside Connection]]. The lyrics of the song criticized the path hip hop music was taking, utilizing a metaphor of a woman to convey hip hop<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kelly|first=Lauren Leigh|date=2013|title=Hip-Hop Literature: The Politics, Poetics, and Power of Hip-Hop in the English Classroom|jstor=24484092|journal=The English Journal|volume=102|issue=5|pages=51–56|doi=10.58680/ej201323587 }}</ref> and were interpreted by some as directing blame towards the popularity of West Coast [[gangsta rap]]. Westside Connection first responded with the 1995 song "Westside Slaughterhouse," with the lyrics "Used to love H.E.R., mad cause I f*cked her". "Westside Slaughterhouse" also mentioned Common Sense by name, prompting the rapper to respond with the scathing [[Pete Rock]]-produced attack song "[[The Bitch in Yoo]]". Common Sense and Westside Connection continued to insult each other back and forth before finally meeting with [[Louis Farrakhan]] and setting aside their dispute. Following the popularity of ''Resurrection'', Common Sense was sued by an [[Orange County, California|Orange County]]-based [[reggae]] band with the [[Common Sense (band)|same name]], and was forced to shorten his moniker to simply Common.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|last=Huey|first=Steve|title=Common Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p276488|pure_url=yes}}|website=allmusic|date=July 31, 2007|access-date=September 9, 2008}}</ref>

=== 1996–1999: ''One Day It'll All Make Sense '' ===
Initially scheduled for an October 1996 release, Common released his third album, ''[[One Day It'll All Make Sense]]'', in September 1997. The album took a total of two years to complete and included collaborations with artists such as [[Lauryn Hill]], [[De La Soul]], [[Q-Tip (rapper)|Q-Tip]], [[Canibus]], [[Black Thought]], [[Chantay Savage]], and [[Questlove]] – a future fellow member of the [[Soulquarians]] outfit. The album, which made a point of eschewing any gangsterism (in response to questions about his musical integrity), was critically acclaimed and led to a [[major label]] contract with [[MCA Records]]. In addition to releasing ''One Day'', Common's first child, daughter Omoye Assata Lynn, was born shortly after the release of the album.

As documented by hip-hop journalist Raquel Cepeda, in the liner notes for the album, this event had a profound spiritual and mental effect on Common and enabled him to grow musically while becoming more responsible as an artist. She writes:

:Rashid found out that he was going to become a daddy in about 8 months. Stunned and confused, Rashid had life-altering decisions to make with his girlfriend, Kim Jones. The situation led to the composition of his favorite cut on ''One Day...'' that offers a male slant on abortion. "[[Retrospect for Life]]", produced by [[James Poyser]] and [[No I.D.]] featuring [[Lauryn Hill]] (who was due on the same day as Rashid's girlfriend), is the song that is the driving force behind the project. Rashid listens to "[[Retrospect for Life]]" today at the mastering session geeked as if it were for the first time. He tells me as we listen to L-Boogie wail the chorus, "''when I listen to the song now, I think about how precious her (Omoye's) life is''".

Common addresses family ethics several times on ''One Day...'', and the album sleeve is decorated with old family photos, illustrating the rapper's childhood, as well a quote from [[First Epistle to the Corinthians|1 Corinthians 13:11]], which summarizes the path to manhood:

{{blockquote|When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.}}

=== 1999–2003: Soulquarians era ===
[[File:Common-02.jpg|thumb|left|Common in New York City, 2003]]
Following ''One Day...'', Common signed a major label record deal with [[MCA Records]] and relocated from Chicago to New York City in 1999. He began recording almost exclusively with a loose collective of musicians and artists (dubbed the "[[Soulquarians]]" by central figure [[Questlove]]) throughout 1999, and made a few sporadic guest appearances on [[The Roots]]' ''[[Things Fall Apart (album)|Things Fall Apart]]'', and the [[Rawkus Records]] compilation, ''[[Soundbombing 2]]''.

In 2000, his fourth album, ''[[Like Water for Chocolate (album)|Like Water for Chocolate]]'', was released to mass critical acclaim. [[Executive producer|Executive produced]] by Questlove and featuring significant contributions by [[J Dilla]], (who helmed every track except – "Cold Blooded", "Geto Heaven Part II", "A Song For Assata", "Pop's Rap Part 3...All My Children" & the [[DJ Premier]]-produced track "[[The 6th Sense]]"), ''Like Water for Chocolate'' transpired to be a considerable commercial breakthrough for Common, earning the rapper his first [[RIAA Certification|gold]] record, and greatly expanding his fanbase among critics and listeners alike.

With both artists hailing from the [[Great Lakes region (North America)|Great Lakes region]] of the United States (Chicago and Detroit, respectively), Common and [[J Dilla]] established their chemistry early on. Both became members of the [[Soulquarians]] collective, and collaborated on numerous projects together, even placing one song, "Thelonius", on both the [[Slum Village]] album ''[[Fantastic, Vol. 2]]'', and Common's ''[[Like Water for Chocolate (album)|Like Water for Chocolate]]''. As Dilla's health began to decline from the effects of [[Lupus Nephritis]], he relocated to Los Angeles, and asked Common to make the move with him as a roommate (Dilla would later lose his battle with the rare disease).<ref>{{cite news|title=J Dilla's turn in spotlight comes after his death |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/j-dilla-s-turn-spotlight-comes-after-his-death-wbna14587861 |website=Today.com |date=August 31, 2006}}</ref>

This album saw Common exploring themes (musically and lyrically), which were uncommon for a hip-hop record, as he does on the song "Time Travelin' (A Tribute To Fela)"; a homage to [[Nigerian]] music legend, and political activist [[Fela Kuti]]. The most popular single from the album "[[The Light (Common song)|The Light]]" was nominated for a [[Grammy Award]].

In 2002, Common released his fifth album, ''[[Electric Circus (album)|Electric Circus]]''. The album was highly anticipated and praised by many critics for its ambitious vision. However, it was not as commercially successful as his previous album, ''Like Water for Chocolate'', selling under 300,000 copies. An eclectic album, ''Electric Circus'' featured fusions of several genres such as hip hop, pop, rock, electronic, and neo-soul. The album's style tended to divide critics; some praised its ambitious vision while others criticized it for the same reason. Most of the criticism tended to revolve around the album's experimental nature; some felt Common had strayed too far from his previous sound. This was Common's second and last album for MCA, and the label's final release prior to its absorption into Geffen Records.

Around this time, Common appeared as a guest performer on singer and fellow Soulquarian [[Bilal (American singer)|Bilal]]'s ''[[Love for Sale (Bilal album)|Love for Sale]]'' album, recording a remake of the 1977 [[Fela Kuti]] song "[[Sorrow Tears and Blood|Sorrow, Tears & Blood]]".<ref>{{cite interview|subject=Bilal|interviewer=Alex Nagshineh|date=May 9, 2011|url=http://www.bonafidemag.com/bilal-interview-bonafide-exclusive/|title=Bilal Interview – Bonafide Exclusive|magazine=Bonafide Magazine|access-date=August 5, 2020}}</ref> Bilal also featured on ''Electric Circus'', the first of many future collaborations with Common.<ref>{{cite web|author=Iai|date=September 20, 2010|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/39210/Bilal-Airtights-Revenge/|title=Bilal – Airtight's Revenge (album review)|website=Sputnikmusic|access-date=July 20, 2020}}</ref>

=== 2004–2011: GOOD Music era ===
{{listen|filename=Common - Go.ogg|title="Go!" excerpt|description=From the album ''Be''|format=[[Ogg]]}}

In early 2004, Common made an appearance on fellow Chicagoan Kanye West's multi-platinum debut album, ''[[The College Dropout]]'' (on the song "Get Em High"), and announced his signing to West's then-newfound label [[GOOD Music]]. West had been a longtime fan of Common and the two even participated in a friendly on-air MC battle, where West took jabs at his lyrical idol for "going soft" and wearing crochet pants (as he does for his appearance in the video for the [[Mary J. Blige]] song "[[Dance for Me (Mary J. Blige song)|Dance for Me]]"). The pair worked together on Common's next album, ''[[Be (Common album)|Be]]'', almost entirely produced by Kanye West, with some help from Common's longtime collaborator [[James Yancey]] (J Dilla) – also a favorite of West. The album was released in May 2005, and performed very well, boosted by Kanye's involvement and the singles "[[The Corner (song)|The Corner]]", and "[[Go (Common song)|Go]]". ''[[Be (Common album)|Be]]'' earned Common the second gold record of his career, with sales topping out at around 800,000 copies. ''[[The Source (magazine)|The Source]]'' magazine gave it a near-perfect 4.5 mic rating, ''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]'' magazine gave it their highest rating of "XXL", and AllHipHop gave the album 4 stars. The album was also nominated for four Grammy Awards in 2006.
[[File:Common.jpg|left|thumb|Common in 2006]]
Following the release of ''[[Be (Common album)|Be]]'' in 2005, several mixed-race artists from the UK hip-hop scene took exception to Common's comments about interracial relationships on the song "Real People." [[Yungun]], [[Doc Brown (rapper)|Doc Brown]] and Rising Son recorded a track over an instrumental version of "The Corner" named "Dear Common (The Corner Dub)." Common states that he has heard of the track but never actually taken the time to listen to it, and has not retaliated in song.<ref>[http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/8057 "Common Gets Thugged Out, Ghost Writing For Diddy Too] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060911075641/http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/8057 |date=September 11, 2006 }}". ''Sohh.com''. Retrieved December 7, 2006.</ref>

Common's seventh LP titled ''[[Finding Forever]]'' was released on July 31, 2007. For this album, he continued his work with [[Kanye West]], as well as other producers such as [[Will.i.am]], [[Devo Springsteen]], [[Derrick Hodge]], and [[Karriem Riggins]], as well as the only [[J Dilla]]-produced track, "So Far To Go". The album features guest spots from artists such as [[Dwele]], [[Bilal (musician)|Bilal]], [[D'Angelo]], and UK pop starlet [[Lily Allen]]. The first single from the album was "[[The People (Common song)|The People]]" b/w "[[The Game (Common song)|The Game]]". West predicted that ''Finding Forever'' would win the 2008 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.<ref>Reid, Shaheem (April 19, 2006). "[https://archive.today/20120903144013/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1528967/04182006/west_kanye.jhtml?headlines=true Kanye Says He Won't Do 'Fast-Food' Music — 'M:i:III' Track Took 50 Hours]". ''MTV News''. Retrieved December 6, 2006.</ref> The album was nominated for Best Rap Album, but did not win, losing to West's ''Graduation''; however, Common did win his second Grammy for "Southside," which won the 2008 Grammy for Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group.
On July 31, 2007, Common performed a free concert in Santa Monica, California, on the 3rd Street Promenade to promote the release of ''Finding Forever''. Common explained to the audience that the title "Finding Forever" represented his quest to find an eternal place in hip-hop and also his wishes to be an artist for the rest of his life. The album debuted at #1 on the national [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] charts.

In an August 2007 interview with ''XXL'', rapper [[Q-Tip (rapper)|Q-Tip]] of the group [[A Tribe Called Quest]] stated that he and Common were forming a group called 'The Standard', and were planning to record an album to be produced by Q-Tip; however, this never came to fruition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=13364 |title=Hip-Hop on a Higher Level &#124; " Q-Tip and Common Form New Group, The Standard |website=XXLmag.com |access-date=May 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412225147/http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=13364 |archive-date=April 12, 2009 }}</ref>

Common was instrumental in bridging the trans-Atlantic gap by signing UK's Mr. Wong and J2K to Kanye West's Getting Out Our Dreams recording outfit. Common met the pair during his tour in the UK earlier on in the year. It is speculated that the deal is not only to bring the UK and US hip hop genres together but that to rival Syco Music's cross-Atlantic success with Leona Lewis. He also has a deal with Zune mp3 players. In 2008 Common made an estimated 12 million dollars, making him equal in earnings to [[Eminem]] and [[Akon]], tied for the 13th highest grossing Hip-Hop artist.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}}

[[File:Common in Copenhagen.jpg|thumb|upright|Common performing at Store Vega in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2007]]

The eighth album from Chicago hip-hop artist Common was originally scheduled to be released on June 24, 2008, under the name ''Invincible Summer'', but he announced at a [[Temple University]] concert that he would change it to ''[[Universal Mind Control]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1045697/common-previews-invincible-new-album |title=Common Previews 'Invincible' New Album, 29 April 2k8 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref> The release date was pushed back to September 30, 2008, due to Common filming ''[[Wanted (2008 film)|Wanted]]''. The release date was set for November 11, 2008, however, it was once again pushed back to December 9, 2008.

The album's [[eponymous]] [[lead single]] "[[Universal Mind Control (song)|Universal Mind Control]]", was officially released on July 1, 2008, via the US iTunes Store as part of ''The Announcement EP'' (sold as ''Universal Mind Control EP'' in the UK). The song features Pharrell, who also produced the track. ''The Announcement EP'' included an additional track titled "Announcement", also featuring Pharrell. The video for the lead single was filmed in September by director Hype Williams. In 2009, Common was prominently featured throughout his GOOD Music label-mate [[Kid Cudi]]'s debut album ''[[Man on the Moon: The End of Day]]'', as a narrator and featured artist. In late 2009, it was revealed Common was nominated for two [[Grammy Awards|Grammys]] at the [[52nd Annual Grammy Awards]], including [[Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]] for "[[Make Her Say]]", alongside Kid Cudi and Kanye West, as well as [[Best Rap Album]] for ''Universal Mind Control''.

=== 2011–present: Think Common Ent. ===

==== ''The Dreamer/The Believer'' and feud with Drake ====
American producer [[No I.D.]], stated that he and [[Kanye West]] would be producing Common's album ''The Dreamer/The Believer''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nahright.com/news/2008/10/09/no-id-kanye-to-helm-next-common-album/ |title=No I.D. & Kanye To Helm Next Common Album |website=Nah Right |date=October 9, 2008 |access-date=February 20, 2011}}</ref> In July 2011, it was announced that No I.D. would be the album's sole producer.<ref>{{cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15831/title.no-id-to-produce-the-entirety-of-commons-the-dreamer-the-believer |title=No I.D. To Produce The Entirety of Common's "The Dreamer, The Believer" &#124; Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |website=HipHop DX |date=July 5, 2011 |access-date=October 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905182353/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15831/title.no-id-to-produce-the-entirety-of-commons-the-dreamer-the-believer |archive-date=September 5, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Common made an appearance on [[The Jonas Brothers]]' most recent album, ''[[Lines, Vines and Trying Times]]'' as a guest rapper for the group's 2009 song, "Don't Charge Me for the Crime."<ref name="commonjonas">{{cite web|url=http://www.idiomag.com/peek/83623/common#/83623/1/ |title=Common on Jonas Brothers New Album |website=IdioMag |access-date=June 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714184422/http://www.idiomag.com/peek/83623/common |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }}</ref>

On July 6, 2011, Common released his first single, titled "[[Ghetto Dreams]]", from his next album. A second single, "Blue Sky", was released on October 4, 2011. On December 20, 2011, Common released his ninth solo album, titled ''[[The Dreamer, The Believer]]''. Although he left GOOD Music in 2011, Common was featured on the label's first compilation album, 2012's ''[[Cruel Summer (GOOD Music album)|Cruel Summer]]''. Common released a song entitled "Sweet", from ''The Dreamer/The Believer'', which included lyrics critical of rappers who sing, although this criticism was not aimed specifically at Canadian recording artist [[Drake (rapper)|Drake]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rapradar.com/2011/12/20/common-responds-to-drake-shade-45/|title=Common Responds To Drake (Shade 45)|work=Rap Radar|date=December 20, 2011 |access-date=December 20, 2012}}</ref> Drake took offense and responded by releasing "[[Stay Schemin']]", a song with [[Rick Ross]] and [[French Montana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prefixmag.com/news/is-drake-dissing-common-on-rick-ross-stay-schemin-/60283/|title=Is Drake Dissing Common On Rick Ross' "Stay Schemin'"? |work=Prefixmag.com|access-date=May 28, 2012}}</ref> Common fans only had to wait two-and-a-half days for him to respond to Drake's [[diss track]]. On February 13, 2012, Common commented on the feud by saying "It's over. But it was all in the art of hip hop. He said some things to me so I had to say some things back...I wouldn't say [he started it] but I know I heard something that I felt was directed to me so I addressed it. That's all. But you know, thank God we were able to move forward from it and all is good."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.18651/title.common-confirms-drake-beef-is-over-sends-prayers-to-whitney-houstons-family|title=Common Confirms Drake Beef Is "Over," Sends Prayers To Whitney Houston's Family|work=HipHopDx|access-date=August 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417214029/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.18651/title.common-confirms-drake-beef-is-over-sends-prayers-to-whitney-houstons-family|archive-date=April 17, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Artium Recordings and further albums ====
After a quiet 2012, Common announced he would release an [[extended play]] (EP) in January 2013, and his first [[mixtape]] in April.<ref name="hiphopdx.com">{{Cite web |last = Horowitz |first = Steven J. |date = 2013-01-03 |title = Common To Release An EP, Album & Mixtape In 2013 |work = [[HipHopDX]] |url = https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.22416/title.common-to-release-an-ep-album-mixtape-in-2013 |access-date = January 10, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140403153106/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22416/title.common-to-release-an-ep-album-mixtape-in-2013 |archive-date = 2014-04-03 |url-status = live}}</ref> In February 2013, Common announced his tenth solo studio album would be released in September 2013 and will feature [[Kanye West]] and production from Kanye West and [[No I.D.]]<ref name="hiphopdx.com" /> Later on September 8, 2013, he gave an update to his projects saying the previously announced EP would be released soon, and would feature a song with new Def Jam signee [[Vince Staples]]. He also told HipHopDX, his tenth solo studio album would be released in early 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Bruce |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25365/title.common-promises-ep-details-vince-staples-collaboration |title=Common Promises EP & Details Vince Staples Collaboration &#124; Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |website=HipHop DX |date=September 8, 2013 |access-date=September 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912050546/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25365/title.common-promises-ep-details-vince-staples-collaboration |archive-date=September 12, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On January 6, 2014, Common announced his tenth studio album to be titled ''[[Nobody's Smiling]]'' and would be produced entirely by longtime collaborator 'No I.D.'. The album, which Common revealed was originally going to be an EP, is set to feature [[Vince Staples]], [[James Fauntleroy]] and "some new artists from Chicago." The concept of the album was inspired by his troubled hometown of Chicago: "We came up with this concept 'nobody's smiling.' It was really a thought that came about because of all the violence in Chicago," he says. "It happens in Chicago, but it's happening around the world in many ways." He continues, "We was talking about the conditions of what's happening, when I say 'nobody's smiling.' But it's really a call to action."<ref name="NS">{{Cite news|title=Common Announces New Album 'Nobody Smiling'|language=en-US|work=[[Rap-Up]]|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2014/01/06/common-announces-new-album-nobody-smiling/|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NS2">{{Cite web|last1=Kennedy|first1=John|date=January 7, 2014|title=Watch: Common Reveals Guests On 'Nobody Smiling' LP |work = [[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]] |url=https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/watch-common-reveals-guests-nobody-smiling-lp-201551/|access-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140112131337/http://www.vibe.com/web/20140112131337/http://www.vibe.com/article/watch-common-reveals-guests-nobody-smiling-lp |archive-date = 2014-01-12}}</ref><ref name="NS3">{{Cite web |last = Ortiz |first = Edwin |title=Common to Release New Album "Nobody Smiling" In 2014, Entirely Produced by No I.D. |work = [[Complex (magazine)|Complex]] |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2014/01/common-new-album-nobody-smiling-fully-produced-by-no-id|access-date=January 10, 2023}}</ref> On June 4, 2014, it was announced Common signed a recording contract with [[Def Jam Recordings]] and No I.D.'s Artium Records.<ref name="defjam">{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Grammy-Winner-COMMON-Signs-to-No-IDs-ArtiumDef-Jam-Recordings-20140604# |title=Grammy Winner COMMON Signs to No I.D.'s Artium/Def Jam Recordings – BWWMusicWorld |website=Broadway World |access-date=July 13, 2014}}</ref> It was also announced ''Nobody's Smiling'' would be released July 22, 2014.<ref name="defjam" /> Lonnie "Pops" Lynn was to be featured on this album as well but the recording fell through as Lonnie's health declined. A recording was indeed made and is in process of being released on Dirty Laboratory Productions featuring production by [[Calm (music group)|AwareNess]]. 
In 2016 Common released his eleventh studio album titled [[Black America Again]] under [[Def Jam Recordings]], the album featured guest appearances by [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Bilal (American singer)|Bilal]], [[Marsha Ambrosius]], [[BJ The Chicago Kid]], [[John Legend]], [[PJ (singer)|PJ]], Syd, Elena & [[Tasha Cobbs]]. The album was primarily produced by [[Karriem Riggins]] alongside many other contributors including [[Robert Glasper]].

In 2018, Common also announced he would be forming a [[jazz]] group called [[August Greene]] with [[Karriem Riggins]] & [[Robert Glasper]], shortly after this announcement an [[August Greene]] album was released through a partnership with [[Amazon Music]]. The album featured guest vocals (credited and uncredited) by male singer [[Samora Pinderhughes]] and featured award-winning singer [[Brandy Norwood]] on two songs titled "Optimistic" and "Time" respectively. On August 30, 2019, Common released his twelfth solo studio album titled [[Let Love]], the album was released by [[Loma Vista Recordings]] and [[Concord Records]]. The album features guest appearances from [[Samora Pinderhughes]], [[Daniel Caesar]], [[Swizz Beatz]], [[Leikeli47]], [[BJ the Chicago Kid]], [[A-Trak]], [[Jill Scott (singer)|Jill Scott]], [[Leon Bridges]] and [[Jonathan McReynolds]] and production of the album was primarily handled by [[Karriem Riggins]] and the song titled "HER Love" (feat. [[Daniel Caesar]]) was produced by [[J. Dilla]].

In 2020 Common released a nine-track album titled ''[[A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 1]]''. The album features female singer PJ on seven tracks and also features guest vocals from [[Black Thought]] and [[Lenny Kravitz]]. In 2021 he released a sequel album, ''[[A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2]]'', which features guest vocals from [[Jessica Care Moore]],  PJ, Black Thought, [[Seun Kuti]], [[Marcus King]], [[Isaiah Sharkey]], [[Brittany Howard]], and [[Morgan Parker (writer)|Morgan Parker]]. Production of both albums was handled primarily by long-time collaborator [[Karriem Riggins]], with various other producers credited as session musicians.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8094946/common-august-greene-optimistic|title=Common Teams Up With Longtime Producers to Form Supergroup August Greene: Listen to 'Optimistic' Single|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

On August 1 of 2023, Common was featured in [[Men's Health]]'s Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary edition alongside [[Method Man]], [[Wiz Khalifa]], [[Ludacris]], [[Busta Rhymes]], and [[50 Cent]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nelson |first1=Keith |title=Hip-Hop Is Life |url=https://www.menshealth.com/health/a44567421/hip-hop-50/ |website=[[Men's Health]] |date=August 2023 |access-date=August 1, 2023}}</ref>

In 2024, it was announced that Common would be releasing a collaborative album with [[Pete Rock]] titled ''[[The Auditorium Vol. 1]]'', and released the album's first single, "Wise Up".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Joe |title=Common & Pete Rock Kickstart New Album Rollout With First Single 'Wise Up' |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/common-pete-rock-wise-up |website=HipHopDX |date=May 22, 2024 |access-date=May 27, 2024}}</ref>

== Other work ==

=== Acting ===

In 2003, Common appeared on the American [[UPN]] sitcom ''[[Girlfriends (U.S. TV series)|Girlfriends]]''. In the episode "Take This Poem and Call Me in the Morning", he appeared as Omar, a [[slam poet]] who competes with fellow poet Sivad (played by [[Saul Williams]]) for the affection of Lynn Searcy (played by [[Persia White]]). He also had a cameo appearance on an episode of UPN's ''[[One on One (American TV series)|One on One]]'', where he played a drama class instructor named Darius. He also made an appearance on the ABC show ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]''. In 2007, Common appeared with [[Ryan Reynolds]], [[Jeremy Piven]], and [[Alicia Keys]] in the crime film ''[[Smokin' Aces]]'', making his big screen debut as villainous [[Sicilian Mafia|Mob]] [[hitman|enforcer]] Sir Ivy. He appeared alongside [[Denzel Washington]], [[Russell Crowe]], [[The RZA]] and [[T.I.]] in the 2007 crime thriller ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]''. On January 20, 2007, one week before the opening of ''Smokin Aces'', he appeared in a ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' sketch as himself. The show's host was Piven, his ''Aces'' co-star.

In 2007, Common played the role of ''Smokin' Aces'' co-star [[Alicia Keys]]'s boyfriend in the music video "[[Like You'll Never See Me Again]]".

In 2008, he had a supporting role in the film adaptation of the comic book ''[[Wanted (2008 film)|Wanted]]'' alongside [[Morgan Freeman]] and [[Angelina Jolie]]. Common also appeared in the movie ''[[Street Kings]]'' with [[Keanu Reeves]], [[Hugh Laurie]], [[The Game (rapper)|The Game]], and [[Forest Whitaker]]. Common also starred in the 2010 movie ''[[Just Wright]]'' as a basketball player who falls in love with his physical therapist [[Queen Latifah]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2007/11/17/four-justice-league-of-america-casting-confirmations-arrive-early |title=Four Justice League of America Casting Confirmations Arrive Early |website=Firstshowing.net |date=November 17, 2007 |access-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref> He appeared in the 2009 film ''[[Terminator Salvation]]'' as [[John Connor]]'s lieutenant Barnes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nme.com/news/nme/36455 |title=Common to appear in new 'Terminator' film &#124; News |website=Nme.com |date=May 7, 2008 |access-date=May 13, 2011 |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714194534/http://www.nme.com/news/nme/36455 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2009, Common was cast as [[John Stewart (comics)|John Stewart/Green Lantern]] in the unproduced film ''Justice League: Mortal''.

Common starred as a corrupt cop in the 2010 comedy ''[[Date Night]]'' with [[Steve Carell]] and [[Tina Fey]]. He was also featured in the role of deployed soldier Chino in 2011's ''[[New Year's Eve (2011 film)|New Year's Eve]]'', the husband of [[Halle Berry]]'s character, Nurse Aimee.

He was part of the [[ensemble cast]] of AMC's ''[[Hell on Wheels (TV series)|Hell on Wheels]]'', as one of the lead characters, Elam Ferguson, a recently freed slave trying to find his place in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.amctv.com/hell-on-wheels/2011/11/common-interview.php |title=Common Q&A |website=amctv.com |date=November 6, 2011 |access-date=November 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112061408/http://blogs.amctv.com/hell-on-wheels/2011/11/common-interview.php |archive-date=November 12, 2011 }}</ref>

In 2013, Common played the role of Agent Evans, an FBI agent in ''[[Now You See Me (film)|Now You See Me]]'' along with Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco. In the 2014 film ''[[Selma (film)|Selma]]'', for which he also co-wrote the Oscar-winning song "[[Glory (Common and John Legend song)|Glory]]", Common co-starred as [[1960s civil rights movement]] leader [[James Bevel]]. In 2015, he played a hitman in ''[[Run All Night (film)|Run All Night]]''.

Common appeared as a gangster in the 2016 film ''[[Suicide Squad (2016 film)|Suicide Squad]]'', directed by [[David Ayer]] and part of the [[DC Extended Universe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ballerstatus.com/2015/04/23/common-joins-suicide-squad-cast/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150423193557/http://www.ballerstatus.com/2015/04/23/common-joins-suicide-squad-cast/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 23, 2015|title=Common Joins "Suicide Squad" Cast|website=BallerStatus.com|date=April 23, 2015}}</ref>

In December 2015, Common appeared in the [[NBC]] TV special ''[[The Wiz Live!]]'', as the [[Bouncer (doorman)|Bouncer]] guarding the [[Emerald City]].

In 2016, he co-starred in the film ''[[Barbershop: The Next Cut]]'', alongside former rival [[Ice Cube]].

In February 2017, he appeared alongside Keanu Reeves again, this time as professional hitman/bodyguard Cassian in ''[[John Wick: Chapter 2]]''.

In August 2017, Common began voicing Kiburi the crocodile in [[Disney Junior]]'s ''[[The Lion Guard]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Scott|first=Sydney|title=Exclusive: Common Gets Shady In Disney Junior's 'The Lion Guard'|url=http://www.essence.com/entertainment/exclusive-common-disney-junior-lion-guard|website=Essence |access-date=August 12, 2017|date=August 10, 2017}}</ref>

Common played opposite [[Mary Elizabeth Winstead]] in [[Eva Vives]]'s debut feature, ''[[All About Nina]]'', which had its world premiere at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. It was a major, breakout role for which he has received much critical acclaim ([[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']]'s Peter Debruge calling his performance "easily the strongest of the half-dozen supporting roles he's had this year"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/all-about-nina-review-1202961009//|title=Film Review: "All About Nina"|website=Variety |access-date=October 5, 2018|date=September 28, 2018}}</ref>). That same year, he appeared as Rear Admiral John Fisk in the [[action thriller]] film ''[[Hunter Killer (film)|Hunter Killer]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Castillo |first=Monica |title=Hunter Killer movie review & film summary |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hunter-killer-2018 |access-date=July 10, 2022 |work=[[RogerEbert.com]] |date=October 26, 2018}}</ref>

In 2018, Common starred in the [[The Hate U Give (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[The Hate U Give]]'', playing Starr's uncle Carlos, a black police officer that is forced to defend his colleague that is involved in the shooting of a black teen.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|date=August 22, 2017|title=Common Joins Amandla Stenberg in YA Adaptation 'The Hate U Give' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/common-joins-ya-adaptation-hate-u-give-1031467/|access-date=May 22, 2021|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2022, it was announced that Common would make his Broadway debut in Second Stage Theater’s ''[[Between Riverside and Crazy]]'' in the winter of 2022.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=White|first=Abbey|title=Common to Make Broadway Debut in Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play 'Between Riverside and Crazy'|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/common-to-make-broadway-debut-in-pulitzer-prize-winning-play-between-riverside-crazy-1235140274/|date=September 16, 2022|access-date=September 16, 2022|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

=== Film production ===
On October 27, 2015, Common signed a two-year deal with [[HBO]] that allowed to start his own film production company, Freedom Road Productions.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6745073/common-hbo-deal-first-look | title=Common Signs Two-Year Deal With HBO | magazine=Billboard | date=October 27, 2015 | access-date=January 17, 2016 | author=Lynch, Joe}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/rapper-common-inks-two-year-production-deal-with-hbo/ | title=Hip hop artist/producer Common links two year deal with HBO | website=Digital Trends | date=October 28, 2015 | access-date=January 17, 2016 | author=Chris Leo Palermino}}</ref> He stated in an interview in February 2012 that one of his big career goals was to start his own film production company.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2012/02/common_interview_sundance_film_festival_2012.html | title=4 Questions With Common | website=The Root | date=February 2, 2012 | access-date=January 17, 2016 | author=Walker, Julie | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122020205/http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2012/02/common_interview_sundance_film_festival_2012.html | archive-date=January 22, 2016 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In 2016 Common also worked with [[Amazon Studios]] and [[American Girl]], serving as an executive producer for the [[direct-to-video]] feature ''[[An American Girl Story – Melody 1963: Love Has to Win]]''.<ref name="Kile">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbs8.com/story/33524580/exclusive-see-black-ish-star-marsai-martin-as-the-newest-american-girl-in-melody-1963-love-has-to-win|title=EXCLUSIVE: See 'Black-ish' Star Marsai Martin as the Newest American Girl in 'Melody 1963: Love Has to Win'|last=Kile|first=Meredith|publisher=KMFB Channel 8 |access-date=November 5, 2016}}</ref>

=== Modeling and clothing ===
In 2006, Common was a model for photos of [[Gap (clothing retailer)|The Gap's]] fall season collection, appearing on posters in stores. Later that year, he performed in The Gap's "Holiday in Your Hood" themed ''Peace Love Gap.'' In February 2007, Common signed a deal with New Era to promote their new line of Layers fitted caps. Common also stars in a television commercial for the 2008 Lincoln Navigator. He appears in NBA 2K8 in NBA Blacktop mode. In the fall of 2008, Common appeared in an ad for Microsoft's [[Zune]], comparing his new song, "[[Universal Mind Control (song)|Universal Mind Control]]", to "[[Planet Rock (song)|Planet Rock]]", a song from hip-hop pioneer [[Afrika Bambaataa]]. Also, he featured in the [[Diesel (brand)|Diesel]] campaign for a new fragrance called "Only The Brave". His song "Be (intro)" is featured in a commercial for [[BlackBerry]] {{as of|2011|January|lc=y}}.

In December 2008, Common launched a new clothing line in partnership with Microsoft titled "Softwear", based on 1980s computing.

=== Writing ===
Common was invited by First Lady [[Michelle Obama]] to appear at a poetry reading on May 11, 2011, at the [[White House]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Rapper Common performs at White House amid media controversy|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/rapper-common-performs-at-white-house-amid-media-controversy/2011/05/11/AFQHgcuG_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> His poetry was found to be greatly influenced by [[Maya Angelou]]'s works. This invitation caused furor with the [[New Jersey State Police]] and their union,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/05/common-controversy-comes-to-white-house-poetry-night-cops-conservatives-cry-foul-at-some-of-his-past-work.html |title=Common Controversy Comes to White House Poetry Night; Cops, Conservatives Cry Foul at Some of His Past Work (UPDATED) – Political Punch |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=May 2, 1973 |access-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref> who cited some of Common's previous lyrical content, most notably the song "A Song For Assata" about [[Assata Shakur]], a member of the [[Black Liberation Army]] (and step-aunt of deceased rapper [[Tupac Shakur]])<ref>{{cite web |title = Joanne Deborah Chesimard {{!}} FBI Most Wanted Terrorists |publisher = [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] |url = https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_terrorists/joanne-deborah-chesimard |access-date = 2023-06-11 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230611180222/https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_terrorists/joanne-deborah-chesimard |archive-date = 2023-06-11 |url-status = live}}</ref> who was convicted in 1977 of the first-degree murder of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster. At another poetry reading, Common had stated, "flyers say 'free Mumia' on my freezer", a reference to [[Mumia Abu-Jamal]], who murdered Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981.

[[Jay Carney]], the [[White House Press Secretary]] at the time, stated that President Obama opposed these particular lyrics, but supported what Common stood for more broadly.<ref name="blogs.abcnews.com">Dirner, Cullen. [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/05/white-house-condemns-some-of-commons-lyrics-but-praises-his-larger-body-of-work.html "White House Condemns Some of Common's Lyrics but Praises his Larger Body of Work"]. ABC News. May 11, 2011</ref> Common responded by saying: "I guess Sarah Palin and Fox News doesn't like me."<ref name="blogs.abcnews.com" /> On [[Facebook]], he also stated, "The one thing that shouldn't be questioned is my support for the police officers and troops that protect us every day." Common later discussed the matter with [[Jon Stewart]] during a September 14, 2011, appearance on Comedy Central's ''[[The Daily Show]]''.<ref>{{cite episode|series=[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]]|url=http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/ixbs5v/common|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324032501/http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/ixbs5v/common|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2014|title="Common"|airdate=September 14, 2011|network=[[Comedy Central]]}}</ref>

[[File:9.13.11CommonDrHinesByLuigiNovi2.jpg|thumb|Common and his mother, Dr. Mahalia Ann Hines, at a 2011 signing for his memoir at the [[Barnes & Noble]] in [[Tribeca]], Manhattan]]
In September 2011, Common published his memoir, ''One Day It'll All Make Sense'', through Atria Books. As the book details how his close relationship with his mother influenced his life, it is partially narrated by her.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/One-Day-Itll-Make-Sense/dp/1451625871/ ''One Day It'll All Make Sense'']. [[Amazon.com]]. accessed September 11, 2011.</ref>

Common released his second memoir, ''Let Love Have The Last Word'', in May 2019. The book highlights his relationship with his daughter Omoye, romantic relationships, his parents, and his struggle to cement his perspective in the concept of love.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Legaspi|first1=Althea|date=May 8, 2019|title=Common Talks Family and Relationships, Reveals He Was Abused in New Memoir|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/common-memoir-let-love-have-the-last-word-interview-watch-832699/|access-date=July 22, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Activism ===
Common is a [[Veganism|vegan]] and he is a supporter of [[animal rights]] and [[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals|PETA]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Why Common Makes Sure He Shows Up Early For His Broadway Gig | date=December 13, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-FBcKRMiak |language=en |access-date=December 14, 2022}}</ref> He appeared in a print advertisement for PETA titled "Think Before You Eat,"<ref name="looktothestars1">{{cite web |title=Common charity biography |date=n.d.|url=http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/1464-common |website=Look to the Stars |access-date=October 11, 2010}}</ref> and in a documentary titled ''Holistic Wellness for the Hip-Hop Generation'' where he promoted vegetarianism.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://allhiphop.com/2003/08/13/common-sticman-badu-featured-in-new-health-documentary/|first=Mike|last=Winslow|title=Common, Sticman, Badu Featured In New Health Documentary|website=[[AllHipHop]]|date=August 13, 2003|access-date=May 20, 2018}}</ref>

Common is also part of the "Knowing Is Beautiful" movement, which supports [[HIV/AIDS]] awareness.<ref name="looktothestars1" /> He is featured in the video for "[[Yes We Can (will.i.am song)|Yes We Can]]," a song in support of the candidacy of [[Barack Obama]], which made its debut on the internet on February 2, 2008. Common pledged to stop using [[Homophobia|anti-gay]] lyrics in his music.<ref>{{cite web |title=Common Pledges No More Anti-Gay Lyrics |date=September 6, 2007 |url=http://newnownext.com/common-pledges-no-more-anti-gay-lyrics/09/2007/ |website=NewNowNext.com |access-date=Feb 14, 2025 |archive-date=May 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516221423/http://newnownext.com/common-pledges-no-more-anti-gay-lyrics/09/2007/ |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref>ContactMusic.com. May 9, 2007. Retrieved June 24, 2008.</ref>

Common is the founder of the Common Ground Foundation,<ref>{{cite web|title=Mission Statement |date=n.d. |url=http://www.commongroundfoundation.org/newaboutus2.html |publisher=Common Ground Foundation |access-date=October 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005154609/http://www.commongroundfoundation.org/newaboutus2.html |archive-date=October 5, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hip Hop Humanitarians|url=https://issuu.com/radiobums/docs/nation19_2/15|access-date=November 30, 2011|work=Nation19}}</ref> a non-profit that seeks to empower underprivileged youth to be contributing citizens and strong leaders in the world. The foundation includes programs dedicated to leadership development & empowerment, educational development, creative expression, as well as a book club. In 2014, Common Ground inaugurated the AAHH! Fest music festival in Chicago's [[Union Park (Chicago)|Union Park]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mark|first1=Bazer|title=Common is Back in the Neighborhood|url=http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/October-2014/Common/|issue=October 2014|work=Chicago magazine|date=September 17, 2014}}</ref> After a one-year hiatus, AAHH! Fest returned in 2016,<ref name="Ariel Cheung" /> but was canceled one week before showtime in 2017.<ref name="Ariel Cheung" /> An official announcement stated the fest would return September 15, 2018.<ref name="Ariel Cheung">{{Cite news |last = Cheung |first = Ariel |date = 2017-09-14 |title = Common's AAHH! Fest Gets Canceled Just One Week Before Showtime |work = [[DNAinfo]] |url = https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170914/west-loop/commons-aahh-fest-gets-canceled-just-one-week-before-showtime |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170916054409/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20170914/west-loop/commons-aahh-fest-gets-canceled-just-one-week-before-showtime |archive-date = 2017-09-16 |url-status = live}}</ref>

In 2017, Common performed concerts in several California prisons, as well as on the grounds of the California State Capitol.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7905216/common-j-cole-free-community-concert-sacramento-justice-reform/|title=Common to Host Free Community Concert With J. Cole & More to Advocate For Criminal Justice Reform|magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref> This concert tour inspired him to found Imagine Justice, another non-profit organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mic.com/p/mic-partners-with-commons-imagine-justice-to-advocate-for-criminal-justice-reform-17987507/|title=Mic partners with Common's 'Imagine Justice' to advocate for criminal justice reform|website=Mic.com|date=June 8, 2019 |access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref>

In May 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Common launched a social media campaign through Imagine Justice, dubbed #WeMatterToo, with dozens of advocacy and activist groups calling attention to the threat that the pandemic poses for incarcerated men and women and intended to create greater public awareness about conditions facing incarcerated populations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/cb61acba37b83f9d8b30249bef950786|title=Common's #WeMatterToo push urges jail releases amid virus|date=May 13, 2020 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref> The campaign includes the production of short films that will include recordings of inmates expressing their concern about the coronavirus spreading inside prisons.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.papermag.com/common-we-matter-too-coronavirus-2646000096.html|title=Common Launches #WeMatterToo to Protect Incarcerated People|newspaper=Paper|date=May 14, 2020|access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref>

Along with other rappers and activists, Common appeared in the award-winning documentary short film [[Bars4justice|''#Bars4Justice'']], which was shot in [[Ferguson, Missouri]] and produced by ''[[Nation19]]'' Magazine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Filmmakers bring Ferguson to Phoenix's Hip Hop community… Sheriff Arpaio not invited|url=http://nation19.com/nation19s-new-short-film-filmed-in-ferguson-set-to-premier-in-phoenix/|website=[[Nation19]]|access-date=September 30, 2015|archive-date=June 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612203304/http://nation19.com/nation19s-new-short-film-filmed-in-ferguson-set-to-premier-in-phoenix/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Common performed with [[Andra Day]] in the opening musical performance for the [[March for Our Lives]] anti-gun violence rally in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2018.<ref>{{cite AV media |date = 2018-03-24 |title = Live Stream: March For Our Lives Rally |publisher = [[C-SPAN]] |url = https://www.c-span.org/video/?442255-1/march-lives-rally-coverage |access-date = 2023-06-11}}</ref> He also performed at the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's death<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/04/04/common-lin-manuel-miranda-commemorate-50th-anniversary-martin-luther-king-jr-s-death/485280002/|title=Common, Lin-Manuel Miranda commemorate 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s death|website=USA Today |access-date=July 16, 2019}}</ref> in Memphis, at an event co-hosted by the labor union [[UNITE HERE]]. Common was later accused of joining anti-union efforts by crossing a UNITE HERE picket line in Boston.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flipboard.com/article/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.masslive.com%2Fnews%2Findex.ssf%2F2018%2F10%2Frapper_common_crosses_picket_l.html%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0TZMxZjANeNkySA9-Wx1nH5kBAU-A0RlfSIcIq1Nf9f8uQ87HfIWqXoVU|title=Rapper, actor Common crosses picket line of striking Boston Marriott workers|website=Flipboard.com|language=en|access-date=July 16, 2019}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Common is a [[vegan]]. In February 2009 he stated he is a [[pescatarian]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://vegetarianstar.com/2009/02/03/rapper-common-has-common-ground-with-vegetarians/ |title=Vegetarian StarRapper Common Has Common Ground With Vegetarians |website=Vegetarian Star |date=February 3, 2009 |access-date=November 6, 2016}}</ref> and has returned  to veganism as of [[December 2024]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gq.com/story/real-life-diet-common |title=The Real Life Diet of Common, Who Needs Good Vegan Cheese on His Pizza |website=GQ |date=December 10, 2024 }}</ref> He is a lifelong fan of the [[Chicago Bulls]] and [[Chicago Bears]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/espn/page2/index/_/id/6588923 |title=Common talks about Bulls, hometown of Chicago |first=Adena|last=Andrews|publisher=[[ESPN]] |access-date=May 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tmz.com/2015/01/06/common-rex-ryan-coach-chicago-bears-dope-video |title=Common Bears Should Hire Rex Ryan |work=TMZ Sports |date=January 6, 2015 |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> He is a [[Christianity|Christian]], attending [[Trinity United Church of Christ]] in Chicago.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wtlcfm.com/454381/jesus-walks-rapper-common-talks-putting-faith-first/ |title=Jesus walks: Rapper Common talks putting faith first |date=August 3, 2010 |publisher=1067. WTLC |access-date=November 2, 2019}}</ref> On May 4, 2019, Common served as spring commencement speaker at the [[Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University]] (FAMU) and after his address, was awarded an honorary [[Doctor of Fine Arts|DFA]] degree.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wftv.com/news/local/uncommon-celebrity-sighting-common-presented-honorary-doctorate-from-famu/947528238/ |title=Uncommon celebrity sighting: Common presented honorary doctorate from FAMU |publisher=WFTV |date=May 8, 2019 |access-date=June 1, 2020 |author=Wilson, Sarah}}</ref> While at FAMU, he studied in the School of Business and Industry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.famunews.com/2019/05/famu-commencement-speakers-common-and-gillum-urged-graduates-to-serve-2/ |title=FAMU Commencement Speakers Common and Gillum Urged Graduates to Serve |publisher=FAMU News |date=May 17, 2019 |access-date=March 5, 2020 |author=Miles, Keith |archive-date=March 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306041305/http://www.famunews.com/2019/05/famu-commencement-speakers-common-and-gillum-urged-graduates-to-serve-2/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Common has a daughter named Omoye Assata Lynn (b. 1997) from a previous relationship with his ex-fiancé Kim Jones. Omoye graduated from [[Howard Law School]] in 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/common-daughter/ | title=Common's Daughter Graduated from Law School and He Couldn't be More Proud | date=May 10, 2022 }}</ref>

Common was in a relationship with comedian and actress [[Tiffany Haddish]] from mid-2020 to November 2021.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fernández|first1=Alexia|last2=Leonard|first2=Elizabeth|url=https://people.com/movies/tiffany-haddish-and-common-split/|title=Tiffany Haddish and Common Split After a Year Together: They're 'Too Busy for a Serious Relationship'|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|date=November 29, 2021|access-date=November 30, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130011106/https://people.com/movies/tiffany-haddish-and-common-split/|archive-date=November 30, 2021}}</ref>

In 2022, while working on the film [[Breathe (2024 film)|''Breathe'']], Common met and subsequently began dating singer and actress [[Jennifer Hudson]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaur |first1=Brahmjot |title=Jennifer Hudson and Common Confirm Their Romance in the Most Heartwarming Way |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1393579/jennifer-hudson-and-common-confirm-their-romance-in-the-most-heartwarming-way |website=eonline.com |date=January 22, 2024 |publisher=E! News |access-date=1 April 2024}}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{Main|Common discography|List of Common songs}}
;Studio albums
* ''[[Can I Borrow a Dollar?]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Resurrection (Common album)|Resurrection]]'' (1994)
* ''[[One Day It'll All Make Sense]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Like Water for Chocolate (album)|Like Water for Chocolate]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Electric Circus (album)|Electric Circus]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Be (Common album)|Be]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Finding Forever]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Universal Mind Control]]'' (2008)
* ''[[The Dreamer/The Believer]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Nobody's Smiling]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Black America Again]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Let Love]]'' (2019)
* ''[[A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 1|A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 1)]]'' (2020)
* ''[[A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2|A Beautiful Revolution (Pt. 2)]]'' (2021)

;Collaboration albums
* ''[[August Greene (album)|August Greene]]'' <small>(with [[Karriem Riggins]] & [[Robert Glasper]] as [[August Greene]])</small> (2018)
* ''[[The Auditorium Vol. 1]]'' <small>(with [[Pete Rock]])</small> (2024)

==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Brown Sugar (2002 film)|Brown Sugar]]''
| Himself
| 
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2006
| ''[[Dave Chappelle's Block Party]]''
| Corant Jaman Shuka
| 
|-
| ''[[Smokin' Aces]]''
| 'Sir Ivy'
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[American Gangster (film)|American Gangster]]''
| Turner Lucas
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2008
| ''[[Street Kings (film)|Street Kings]]''
| Imposter Coates
|
|-
| ''[[Wanted (2008 film)|Wanted]]''
| 'The Gunsmith'
|
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Terminator Salvation]]''
| Barnes
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2010
| ''[[Date Night]]''
| Detective Collins
|
|-
| ''[[Just Wright]]''
| Scott McKnight
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2011
| ''[[Happy Feet Two]]''
| Seymour (voice)
|
|-
| ''[[New Year's Eve (2011 film)|New Year's Eve]]''
| Chino
| 
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2012
| ''[[LUV (film)|LUV]]''
| Uncle Vincent
|
|-
| ''[[The Odd Life of Timothy Green]]''
| Coach Cal
|
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2013
| ''[[Movie 43]]''
| Bob Mone
| 
|-
| ''[[Pawn (2013 film)|Pawn]]''
| Officer Jeff Porter
|
|-
| ''[[Now You See Me (film)|Now You See Me]]''
| Agent Evans
|
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2014
| ''[[X/Y]]''
| Jason
|
|-
| ''[[Every Secret Thing (film)|Every Secret Thing]]''
| Devlin Hatch
|
|-
| ''[[Selma (film)|Selma]]''
| [[James Bevel]]
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2015
| ''[[Run All Night (film)|Run All Night]]''
| Andrew Price
|
|-
| ''[[Entourage (film)|Entourage]]''
| Himself
| Cameo
|-
| ''[[Being Charlie]]''
| Travis
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2016
| ''[[Barbershop: The Next Cut]]''
| Rashad
|
|-
| ''[[Suicide Squad (2016 film)|Suicide Squad]]''
| 'Monster T'
|
|-
| rowspan=5 | 2017
| ''[[John Wick: Chapter 2]]''
| Cassian
|
|-
| ''[[Megan Leavey (film)|Megan Leavey]]''
| 'Gunny' Martin
|
|-
| ''[[A Happening of Monumental Proportions]]''
| Daniel Crawford
|
|-
| ''[[Girls Trip]]''
| Himself
|
|-
| ''[[Love Beats Rhymes]]''
| Coltrane
|
|-
| rowspan=8 | 2018
| ''[[The Tale]]''
| Martin
|
|-
| ''[[Hunter Killer (film)|Hunter Killer]]''
| Rear Admiral John Fisk
|
|-
| ''[[Here and Now (2018 film)|Here and Now]]''
| Ben
|
|-
| ''[[All About Nina]]''
| Rafe Hines
|
|-
| ''[[Ocean's 8]]''
| Himself
|
|-
| ''[[The Hate U Give (film)|The Hate U Give]]''
| Carlos Carter
|
|-
| ''[[Smallfoot]]''
| Stonekeeper (voice)
|
|-
| ''[[Saint Judy]]''
| Benjamin Adebayo
|
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2019
| ''[[The Kitchen (2019 film)|The Kitchen]]''
| FBI Agent Gary Silvers
|
|-
| ''[[The Informer (2019 film)|The Informer]]''
| Edward Grens
|
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Ava (2020 film)|Ava]]''
| Michael
|
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Alice (2022 film)|Alice]]''
| Frank
|
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Fool's Paradise (2023 film)|Fool's Paradise]]''
| The Dagger
| 
|-
| 2024
|  ''[[Breathe (2024 film)|Breathe]]'' 
| Darius
| <ref>{{Cite web |last=Lodderhose |first=Diana |date=May 10, 2022 |title=Sam Worthington, Jennifer Hudson, Milla Jovovich, Quvenzhané Wallis & Common Set For Stefon Bristol's Action-Thriller 'Breathe' From Thunder Road & Capstone – Cannes Market |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/jennifer-hudson-milla-jovovich-quvenzhane-common-stefon-briston-breath-capstone-studios-thunder-road-sam-worthington-cannes-1235020352/ |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Crook & Chase]]''
| rowspan="3" | Himself
| Episode: "George Segal"
|-
| 2000
| ''[[The Lyricist Lounge Show]]''
| TV series
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Soul Train]]''
| Episode: "Common & Macy Gray/Transitions/Olivia"
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Girlfriends (U.S. TV series)|Girlfriends]]''
| Omar
| Episode: "Take This Poem and Call Me in the Morning"
|-
| 2003–05
| ''[[Def Poetry Jam]]''
| Himself
| Recurring cast
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2004
| ''[[Chappelle's Show]]''
| Himself/Musical Guest
| Episode: "World Series Of Dice & Mooney On Movies"
|-
| ''[[Game Over (TV series)|Game Over]]''
| Himself (voice)
| Episode: "Into the Woods"
|-
| ''[[One on One (American TV series)|One on One]]''
| Darius
| Episode: "Cabin Fever"
|-
| ''[[Scrubs (TV Series)|Scrubs]]''
| rowspan="10" | Himself
| Episode: "Her Story"
|-
| rowspan=6 | 2005
| ''Black in the 80s''
| 3 episodes
|-
| ''[[MTV Unplugged]]''
| Episode: "Alicia Keys"
|-
| ''[[Wild 'n Out]]''
| Episode: "Christina Milian/Common"
|-
| ''VH1 News Presents''
| Episode: "Hip Hop Videos: Sexploitation on the Set"
|-
| ''Driven''
| Episode: "Kanye West"
|-
| ''$2 Bill''
| Episode: "Kanye West"
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| Episode: "Jeremy Piven/AFI"
|-
| 2009–10
| ''[[The Electric Company (2009 TV series)|The Electric Company]]''
| Episode: "Lights, Camera, Beetles!" & "Jules Quest"
|-
| 2010
| ''[[American Idol]]''
| Episode: "Idol Gives Back/Top Seven Results"
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Single Ladies (TV series)|Single Ladies]]''
| Mayor Howard
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| 2011–14
| ''[[Hell on Wheels (TV series)|Hell on Wheels]]''
| Elam Ferguson
| Main cast (season 1–4)
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2012
| ''[[Bizarre Foods America]]''
| rowspan="3" | Himself
| Episode: "Las Vegas"
|-
| ''[[Sesame Street]]''
| Episode: "Practice Makes Proud"
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2013
| ''[[Real Husbands of Hollywood]]''
| Episode: "Thicke and Tired"
|-
| ''[[The Mindy Project]]''
| Security Guard
| Episode: "Harry & Mindy"
|-
| rowspan=5 | 2015
| ''[[Lip Sync Battle]]''
| Himself/Competitor
| Episode: "Common vs. John Legend"
|-
| ''[[Knock Knock Live]]''
| rowspan="3" | Himself
| Episode: "Episode One"
|-
| ''David's Vlog''
| Episode: "Smoking with Snoop Dogg!!?"
|-
| ''In Their Own Words''
| Episode: "Muhammad Ali"
|-
| ''[[The Wiz Live!]]''
| The Bouncer
| TV special
|-
| 2016
| ''[[America Divided]]''
| rowspan="3" | Himself 
| Episode: "The System"
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2017
| ''[[American Masters]]''
| Episode: "Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise"
|-
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| Episode: "Chance the Rapper/Eminem"
|-
| ''[[The Simpsons]]''
| Himself (voice)
| Episode: "[[The Great Phatsby]]: Part 2"
|-
| 2017–19
| ''[[The Lion Guard]]''
| Kiburi (voice)
| Recurring cast (season 2), guest (season 3) 
|-
| 2018–19
| ''[[The Chi]]''
| Rafiq
| Recurring cast (season 1), guest (season 2)
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Sherman's Showcase]]''
| Henry
| Episode: "Enemies"
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2020
| ''[[Fraggle Rock#Fraggle Rock: Rock On!|Fraggle Rock: Rock On!]]''
| Himself
| Recurring cast
|-
| ''[[Home Movie: The Princess Bride]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/06/the-princess-bride-homemade-fan-film|title=Watch the Celebrity-Filled Fan-Film Version of The Princess Bride|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|first=Anthony|last=Breznican|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref>
| Westley
| Episode: "Chapter One: As You Wish"
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Never Have I Ever (TV series)|Never Have I Ever]]''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=April 14, 2021|title=Common Joins Season 2 Of Mindy Kaling's Netflix Series 'Never Have I Ever' As Recurring|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/common-season-2-mindy-kaling-never-have-i-ever-netflix-series-recurring-role-1234733809/|url-status=live|access-date=July 13, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414160750/https://deadline.com/2021/04/common-season-2-mindy-kaling-never-have-i-ever-netflix-series-recurring-role-1234733809/ |archive-date=April 14, 2021 }}</ref>
| Dr. Chris Jackson
| Recurring cast (season 2)
|-
| 2022
| ''Storybots: Answer Time''
| Mr. Wonderful (voice)
| Episode: "Glue"
|-
| 2023–present
| ''[[Silo (TV series)|Silo]]''
| Robert Sims
| Main cast
|}

===Video games===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2009
| ''[[Wanted: Weapons of Fate]]''
| Brummel
| rowspan="2" | Voice
|-
| ''[[Terminator Salvation (video game)|Terminator Salvation]]''
| Barnes
|}

===Documentary===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2003
| ''[[The Blues: Godfathers and Sons]]''
| Himself
| 
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Bouncing Cats]]''
| rowspan="2" | Narrator
| 
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Unity (film)|Unity]]''
| <ref>{{cite web|author1=Dave McNary|title=Documentary 'Unity' Set for Aug. 12 Release with 100 Star Narrators|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/documentary-unity-set-for-aug-12-release-with-100-star-narrators-1201477200/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=May 1, 2015|date=April 22, 2015}}</ref>
|}

== Awards and nominations ==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Common}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote|Common (rapper)|Common}}
{{Commons category|Common (entertainer)|Common}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.common-music.com/ Common: Geffen Records Site]
* {{AllMusic}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* [https://www.democracynow.org/2018/1/26/actor_musician_common_on_erica_garner Common] on [[Democracy Now!]] – video interview

{{Common (rapper)|state=expanded}}
{{Common singles}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Common|Awards for Common]]
|list =
{{Academy Award Best Original Song}}
{{BET Award for Best Collaboration}}
{{BET Her Award}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song}}
{{EmmyAward MusicLyrics}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song}}
{{Grammy Award for Best R&B Song}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media}}
{{Hollywood Music in Media Award for Best Original Song in a Feature Film}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture}}
{{Satellite Award for Best Original Song}}
}}
{{Soulquarians}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Portal bar|Biography|Music|Chicago|United States}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Common}}
[[Category:Common (rapper)| ]]
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American memoirists]]
[[Category:African-American male rappers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male rappers]]
[[Category:African-American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male video game actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:Best Original Song Academy Award–winning songwriters]]
[[Category:Florida A&M University alumni]]
[[Category:Def Jam Recordings artists]]
[[Category:Golden Globe Award–winning musicians]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners for rap music]]
[[Category:Hip-hop activists]]
[[Category:Male actors from Chicago]]
[[Category:Midwest hip-hop musicians]]
[[Category:Native Tongues members]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Progressive rappers]]
[[Category:Rappers from Chicago]]
[[Category:Songwriters from Illinois]]
[[Category:Warner Records artists]]
[[Category:Writers from Chicago]]
[[Category:21st-century American rappers]]
[[Category:August Greene members]]
[[Category:African-American songwriters]]
[[Category:Soulquarians members]]
[[Category:Cocaine 80s members]]