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.
Communism
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a little communism
Chick-a chick-a I'm
Chick-a chick-a on
Chick-a chick-a my
My, own shit
Like an entrepreneur, that stepped in manure
And Jack Jill's big bootay
We did the booty up, I told the Bitch she Betta Have My Money
Or step to the AMG
You know Com Sense, oh yeah him be
That nigga that be making all the bid-by-by-bye sounds
But since then, Common calm down!
I'm on some calm shit watch Com get complicated
Simple motherfuckers say the way that Com communicated
Was too complex, I got a complex not to complain
On my brain no complain and so will my community
And I prefer compliments
So I complement at an angle, of ninety degrees
It's the nineties, and music got known for the grease
I got a sense of direction and a compass
Com passed MC's with no compassion, though I heard the screams of
But I ain't shy, so why shall I comfort?
Com should have been at the fort with Jeff I'm so ill
But I chilled in my compartment with no company and no meals
Now Com could get the penny, but I want my own company
And Com is on a mission not to work for commission
It's a common market and it's so much competition
But to me, competition is none
To my comp I'm a ton I get amped like Watts in a riot
My compact disc is a commodity, so buy it
Instead of competing with Pete
Com compromised, Com made a promise
Not to commercialize, but compound the soul
With other elements, compelling sense into Communism
In the song "Communism", Common Sense is using the term "communism" in a different way than we might expect. Instead of referring to a political ideology, he's using it as a metaphor for the collective ownership of something. He starts off by saying that he's going to come on the beat with a little communism, indicating that he's going to share his musical talents with the world. He then goes on to describe how he's like an entrepreneur who's stepped in manure, but is still able to create something new and fresh. He's not afraid to take risks, and he's not afraid to be different.
Common Sense then goes on to talk about how he's often criticized for being too complex in his lyrics. He acknowledges that his style of communication can be difficult to understand, but he's not willing to dumb himself down to suit other people's needs. In fact, he's proud of his complexity, and he encourages others to challenge themselves to understand his music. He sees himself as a leader in this sense, pushing his community to strive for greater understanding and intellectual growth.
Overall, "Communism" is a song about artistic and intellectual freedom. Common Sense is advocating for the right to create music that is complex and challenging, rather than pandering to commercial interests. He sees himself as a trailblazer, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in hip-hop and inspiring others to do the same.
Line by Line Meaning
You Troy, I'mma come on the rhythm
With a little communism
I'm going to add some communist ideas into this rhythm, Troy.
Chick-a chick-a I'm
Chick-a chick-a on
Chick-a chick-a my
My, own shit
I'm doing my own thing and in my own unique style.
Like an entrepreneur, that stepped in manure
Man I'm newer than a Jack I went up the hill with Jill
And Jack Jill's big bootay
We did the booty up, I told the Bitch she Betta Have My Money
Or step to the AMG
I'm relatively new to the scene, but I'm not afraid to aim high for money and success. I'm willing to work hard for it and fight for what I believe in.
You know Com Sense, oh yeah him be
That nigga that be making all the bid-by-by-bye sounds
But since then, Common calm down!
I'm Common Sense, and I used to be known for my energetic sounds, but I've matured and calmed down since then.
I'm on some calm shit watch Com get complicated
Simple motherfuckers say the way that Com communicated
Was too complex, I got a complex not to complain
On my brain no complain and so will my community
Even though some people think my ideas are too complex, I can't help but express them. I won't complain if others don't understand me, but I hope my community can appreciate my perspective.
And I prefer compliments
So I complement at an angle, of ninety degrees
I like receiving compliments, so I'll approach situations from a positive angle.
It's the nineties, and music got known for the grease
I got a sense of direction and a compass
It's the 90s and music is all about style. I have a strong sense of direction and purpose, like a compass guiding me.
Com passed MC's with no compassion, though I heard the screams of
But I ain't shy, so why shall I comfort?
I've surpassed other MCs without being too kind to them in the process. Even though I hear their complaints, I don't feel the need to comfort them.
Com should have been at the fort with Jeff I'm so ill
But I chilled in my compartment with no company and no meals
I could have been working with Jeff, who is very talented, but I chose to focus on myself and work alone.
Now Com could get the penny, but I want my own company
And Com is on a mission not to work for commission
I could settle for small rewards, but I'm aiming higher and want to create my own company instead. I'm not interested in working for other people's commissions.
It's a common market and it's so much competition
But to me, competition is none
To my comp I'm a ton I get amped like Watts in a riot
There's a lot of competition out there, but I don't see them as a threat. I'm confident in my own abilities and can get fired up like Watts during a riot.
My compact disc is a commodity, so buy it
Instead of competing with Pete
Com compromised, Com made a promise
Not to commercialize, but compound the soul
With other elements, compelling sense into Communism
My music is valuable, so please buy it. I won't compete with others for money. Instead, I'll stay true to my values and incorporate other elements that align with my beliefs, such as Communism.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ernest Dion Wilson, Lonnie Rashid Lynn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Illumi Naughty
Album got me through some rough times! Classic
Coach_V Fitness
Me too fam. Me too
That’s It
Common always raps on the best beats
SirKeith Vincent
I use to rewind this song a lot on cassette tape. 😁
Anthony Scott
One of my favorite albums, been down since Soul By Tha Pound remix. Big up fo one helluva classic album that has been a soundscore playing in my mind for decades. Dope art from a dope MC...
Timothy Kangethe
Hard hitting Common sense 🎯 🎉
Sonnyboy Dlamini
One of my all time favorite
Antonio Gambardella
Timeless a Classics 💣🔥
Fresh23 Jaysmoov
This is a classic
Moonset Dreams
❤my poet love this, a bit of new music would be awesome ❤