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.
Introspective
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One Day It'll All Make Sense, by me
What I want to do to you nah, really it's for you
Is open my mental window, hoping that you would climb in
Or if not, at least look in
I want to take you to places that I have been and to
The places that I want to go, I mean this music
It ain't all that I got, but it does mean a lot to me
It's like my whole life has become a style
And I want to get into it, yeah
The opening lines of Common's song Introspective from his album One Day It'll All Make Sense serve as an invitation to the listener to take a deep dive into the rapper's psyche. The song sets the tone for the album as a whole, which is deeply personal and reflective, with Common sharing his innermost thoughts and feelings with his fans. "What I want to do to you nah, really it's for you," he raps, signaling that this project is as much for himself as it is for his audience.
Common then proceeds to open up his "mental window," inviting us to join him on a journey through his past experiences and his hopes for the future. He wants to show us everything that he has gone through, good and bad, and how those experiences have shaped him into the person he is today. "It's like my whole life has become a style," he raps, indicating that his art and his life are inextricably linked. The song is a powerful moment of vulnerability from a rapper known for his introspective lyrics, and it sets the stage for the rest of the album.
Overall, Introspective is a deeply personal and reflective song that invites the listener to join Common on a journey through his life and his art. It sets the tone for the album as a whole, which is a deeply personal project that showcases the rapper's growth and evolution over the course of his career.
Line by Line Meaning
I like to welcome everybody to the LP
Common is welcoming his listeners to his album, One Day It'll All Make Sense.
What I want to do to you nah, really it's for you
Common wants to share his music with his listeners to enrich their lives.
Is open my mental window, hoping that you would climb in
Common wants to expose his vulnerabilities in his music and hopes his listeners can connect with him on that level.
Or if not, at least look in
Even if his listeners can't truly understand him, Common wants them to try to empathize.
I want to take you to places that I have been and to
Common wants to take his listeners on a journey through his experiences and emotions.
The places that I want to go. I mean this music
Common sees his music as a way to express his deepest desires and goals.
It ain't all that I got, but it does mean a lot to me
While music is important to Common, it's not his only passion in life.
I injected my whole being into it, and I've been doing it for a while
Common has put his heart and soul into his music and has been making it for a long time.
It's like my whole life has become a style
Music has become a central aspect of Common's identity and personal style.
I want to get into it yeah
Common wants to fully immerse himself and his listeners in his music to create a powerful emotional experience.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Dominic Ashworth, Ian Stuart Lynn, Stuart Lynn Ian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind