As well as music, Common has worked as an actor, on films such as 'Smokin' Aces' (as Sir Ivy) 'American Gangster' (as Turner Lucas), 'Wanted', and 'John Wick: Chapter 2'. He may also be seen in cameo roles in films such as 'Brown Sugar'.
His debut was the 1992 album Can I Borrow A Dollar, but he achieved little critical or commercial success until 1994's Resurrection, an instant classic. He produced several more albums, notably Like Water For Chocolate and the highly experimental Electric Circus, before releasing the Kanye West and J Dilla-produced Be in 2005, which was his first album to receive widespread mainstream appeal and radio playtime.
Common is considered a "cred" artist, which has lead him to collaborations with the likes of De La Soul, Jadakiss, T.I, Talib Kweli, The Roots, Kanye West, Lily Allen, Erykah Badu, and Fort Minor.
The 2007 album Finding Forever was produced mainly by long-time collaborator, Kanye West. Common released his eighth album Universal Mind Control in 2008, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album but lost to the Eminem album Relapse. He released his ninth album The Dreamer/The Believer in 2011. Nobody's Smiling, his tenth album, was released in 2014. The concept of the album was inspired by his troubled hometown of Chicago.
Black America Again
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Trayvon'll never get to be an older man
Black children, they childhood stole from them
Robbed of our names and our language, stole again
Who stole the soul from black folk?
Same man that stole the land from Chief Black Smoke
And made the whip crackle on our back slow
And made us go through the back door
Now we slave to the blocks, on 'em we spray shots
Leaving our own to lay in a box
Black mothers' stomachs stay in a knot
We kill each other, it's part of the plot
I wish the hating will stop (war!) and the battle with us
I know that Black Lives Matter, and they matter to us
These are the things we gotta discuss
The new plantation, mass incarceration
Instead of educate, they'd rather convict the kids
As dirty as the water in Flint, the system is
Is it a felony or a misdemeanor?
Maria Sharapova making more than Serena
It took Viola Davis to say this
The roles of the help and the gangstas is really all they gave us
We need Avas, Ta-Nehisis, and Cory Bookers
The salt of the Earth to get us off of sugar
And greasy foods; I don't believe the news
Or radio, stereotypes we refuse
Brainwashed in the cycle to spin
We write our own story, black America again
You know, one way of solving a lot of problems that we got
Is lettin' a person feel that they're important
And a man can't get himself together until
He knows who he is and be proud of what and who he is
And where he come from, and where he come from
Hot damn, black America again
Think of Sandra Bland as I'm staring in the wind
The color of my skin, they comparing it to sin
The darker it gets, the less fairer it has been
The hate the hate made, I inherited from them
But I ain't gon' point the finger
We got anointed singers, like Nina, Marvin, Billie, Stevie
Need to hear them songs sometimes to believe me
Who freed me: Lincoln or Cadillac?
Drinkin' or battle raps? Or is it Godspeed that we travel at?
Endangered in our own habitat
Them guns and dope, man, y'all can have it back
As a matter of fact, we them lab rats
You build the projects for, now you want your hood back
I guess if you could rap, you would express it too
That PTSD, we need professionals
You know what pressure do, it make the pipes bust
From schools to prison, y'all, they tryna pipe us
Tell your political parties invite us
Instead of making voting laws to spite us
You know, you know we from a family of fighters
Fought in your wars and our wars
You put a nigga in Star Wars, maybe you need two
And then, maybe then we'll believe you
See black people in the future
We wasn't shipped here to rob and shoot ya
We hold these truths to be self-evident
All men and women are created equal
Including black Americans
You know, you know, you know,
One way of solving a lot of problems that we've got is
Lettin' a person feel that they're somebody
And a man can't get himself together until he knows who he is,
And be proud of what and who he is and where he come from, and where he come from
We are rewriting the black American story
We are rewriting the black American story
We are rewriting the black American story
We are rewriting the black American story
We are rewriting the black American story
We are rewriting the black American story
We are rewriting the black American story
We are rewriting the black American story
We are rewriting the black American story
We are rewriting the black American story
We are rewriting the black American story
We are rewriting the black American story
In "Black America Again," Common and Stevie Wonder remind listeners of the systemic injustices faced by black people in America. The lyrics paint a picture of a community still struggling with the aftermath of a history of oppression. They bring up Trayvon Martin, who was murdered at just seventeen, as an example of the way that the black community's future is snatched from them before they even have a chance to experience life fully. They also touch on how black children are stripped of their innocence through the mistreatment they receive from society.
The lyrics go on to highlight the mistreatment black people receive at the hands of white people, including the theft of land from Native Americans and the use of slaves. The reference to being "robbed" of names and language speaks to the fact that enslaved Africans were stripped of their identity and culture. Common goes further, discussing modern-day slavery through mass incarceration, unhealthy food, and poverty. He argues that these are all methods used by those in power to exert their control and keep black people in a place of oppression. Despite all of this, Common maintains that black lives matter and that there is still hope for the future of the community.
· "Black America Again" was released in 2016 and is the title track of Common's eleventh studio album.
· Common has said that the song was inspired by Ta-Nehisi Coates' book "Between the World and Me."
· The song features a solo by Stevie Wonder, who also provided additional harmonies and ad-libs throughout the track.
· Producer Karriem Riggins, who played drums on "Black America Again," sampled Gladys Knight's "Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)" for the song's beat.
· Common has said that the song is intended as a call to action to address issues facing the black community, including police brutality and systemic racism.
· The song's music video features footage of police brutality, protests, and black icons such as Muhammad Ali and Nina Simone.
· Common performed "Black America Again" at the 2017 Women's March on Washington.
· The song's album was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards.
· In addition to Stevie Wonder, "Black America Again" features guest appearances by artists including BJ the Chicago Kid, Marsha Ambrosius, and John Legend.
· Common has described the song as a "rebirth" of the black community, an opportunity to reclaim their history and identity.
The chords for "Black America Again" are Am, F, and G.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVIE WONDER, LONNIE LYNN, KARRIEM RIGGINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Obinna Eze
It will never make the radio, but in my eyes, this is real hip-hop. Thank you for another classic album Common.
Charles McKinney
Obinna Eze: Never SAY Never... keep hope alive!
Sunshine
Obinna Eze if everyone request it to third local radio station then it could happen. United we stand and divided we fall. Keep hope alive ✊🏾💪🏾
Bullfreg
they play it here in austria on fm4, this radiostation + the alps is probably the only good thing about this country?
Nikki Burton
Thank you Common for being one of the very few artists that has always remained conscious and aware of social injustices. Such a humble and beautiful spirit. Never stop doing what you do best, and that's making amazing music✌🏾️
Gallardo Bastardo
Seeing Baltimore presented like this rather than just used as a setting for crime dramas and drug documentaries is still wild to me as a Baltimorean. I'm grateful to Common and everyone involved for using the city to tell a story of blackness that doesn't demonize said blackness for entertainment and agendas.
Trumpet Wom
Please keep it up Common! Record companies don't want to fund too many black men that uplift the community, respect women and promote careers other than gang banger or entertainer for the black community. Thank you!
Trumpet Wom
I'm sorry you have that impression. Try googling "positive rap music" on youtube ( or google lols). A recent discovery of mine that comes to mind is Chris Quality. A gentleman named "Sky Blue" also recently messaged me and asked me to check out his music, seems on the up and up. It's out there! :)
Natasha Kiani
Yes just discovered Mick Jenkins, his music is good
Tahir Noel
Julian Assflange that's not true, they don't just take what they can get, in a fair world, record companies should be seeking great artist not waiting for people to come to them. with a great production team, an artists' music can be heard. Sadly it takes money and Promoting