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.
Star 69
Common Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Close my eyes Erotica, I'm seein' you
Listen to me wishin' I could be with you
To share my love and ecstasy with you
Are you alone? Is your shorty sleep?
Hold on. That's okay, ignore the beep
For you, my love is immortal deep
You are my queen but I can't ignore the freak
Hold on, gotta get the toiletries
As our waters reach distances unheard of
I'm in the room nestled sweet and I observe love
Only for you, I ask God to show me the truth
What he showed me was you
Wherever I go, my soul leads to you
Days gone, nights lonely for you
[Chorus]
Erotica, wet dreams are on my mind
Erotica, can I come in your mind?
Erotica, oh yes, our love must shine
Erotica, wish on star 69
Erotica, wish on star 69
Erotica-ca-ca, wish on star 69
Erotica-ca-ca
Wish on star 69, erotica
So much I wish you were here with me now
My bad, I just hit redial
I want you to come and never leave now
Is your mind and your right hand free now?
Our love-reach deep down inside of it
As the candle burns
Where desire's lit
Makin' love knows no distance or environment
When we (ahh), feel the most high in it
I feel you touchin' me and I begin to rise from it
Your love is stuck in me
Our minds are so alive and thick
Picture my hands on your waist
As I stare in your face
Your mouth half open
Your love I can taste
Embracin' you
Life, I let go
Gotta switch phones 'cause this one is ghetto
Another level of love we create when we take it to
And when it's made, Erotica, it's made for you
[Chorus]
Slave to your loneliness
"Slave to your loneliness"
Inside of loneliness
"Inside this (alt we bear)"
With love of loneliness
"With thoughts of loneliness"
Enslaved by loneliness
I want you to come
Inside your mind
And find a place
Nasty and kind
This is where
Our desires grind
And where they peak
Is most divine
A place and time
I hope we reach together
You are my queen
And freak forever
I feel you in-side my stomach
My body shakes
[Chorus: Repeats]
In his song Star 69, Common paints a vivid picture of a long-distance romance. The lyrics are about reaching out to a loved one through the power of technology and the desire to be intimate with them. The song opens with Common asking his lover if they are alone and available to talk. He then proceeds to express his feelings of wanting to be with them and wishing that they were close enough to share each other's company. Common seems to be in a state of lust, as he fantasizes about being intimate with his lover, even though they're not together physically.
The chorus of the song revolves around the word "Erotica," which symbolizes the fiery passion and desire between two lovers. Common wishes that he could enter his lover's mind and be with them in a sensual space where their desires could manifest. He expresses his desire to be with his lover in a place where their bodies can talk and their auras can speak, away from the physical distance that separates them. Common is a master wordsmith who uses the power of lyricism to bring his message to life in a unique and captivating way.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's do it now, it's me and you
Let's act on our desires and be together
Close my eyes Erotica, I'm seein' you
In my mind's eye, I am envisioning you, my love
Listen to me wishin' I could be with you
I long to be with you and express my love
To share my love and ecstasy with you
I want to share my happiness and love with you
Are you alone? Is your shorty sleep?
Are you available to be with me? Is your partner asleep?
Hold on. That's okay, ignore the beep
Don't worry about anyone calling you, just focus on us
For you, my love is immortal deep
I love you deeply and forever, my queen
You are my queen but I can't ignore the freak
You are the queen of my heart, but I also appreciate your wild side
Let's let our bodies talk and our auras speak
Let's communicate through our physical connection and spiritual energy
Hold on, gotta get the toiletries
Excuse me for a moment, I need to prepare for our intimate time
As our waters reach distances unheard of
As we physically connect in new and satisfying ways
I'm in the room nestled sweet and I observe love
I am with you and enjoying the love we share
Only for you, I ask God to show me the truth
I pray to God to reveal our true love and connection
What he showed me was you
God revealed to me that you are my true love
Wherever I go, my soul leads to you
My heart and soul constantly yearn for you, no matter where I am
Days gone, nights lonely for you
I miss you terribly when we are apart
Erotica, wet dreams are on my mind
My sexual desire for you is consuming my thoughts
Erotica, can I come in your mind?
Can I enter your thoughts and share in your desires?
Erotica, oh yes, our love must shine
Our love must be celebrated and shine brightly
Erotica, wish on star 69
I wish for our love to be realized and fulfilled
Slave to your loneliness
Trapped in feelings of loneliness and longing
Inside of loneliness
Feeling trapped within the confines of loneliness
With love of loneliness
Despite the pain of loneliness, my love for you persists
Enslaved by loneliness
I am a prisoner to my feelings of loneliness without you by my side
I want you to come
I want you to be with me
Inside your mind
In your thoughts and desires
And find a place
To discover a mutual space for our love and connection
Nasty and kind
A place for us to freely explore our sexual desires and tenderness
This is where
Here is where
Our desires grind
Where we can satisfy our shared sexual desires
And where they peak
Where we experience the most intense pleasure
Is most divine
Our shared love is a beautiful and divine experience
A place and time
A specific moment in space and time
I hope we reach together
I hope we can both experience this together
You are my queen
I hold you in the highest regard, my love
And freak forever
I appreciate your wild side and want to enjoy it always
I feel you inside my stomach
I feel a deep connection to you in my gut
My body shakes
My physical response to my love for you is powerful
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: AHMIR K. THOMPSON, LONNIE RASHID LYNN, JAMES JASON POYSER, JAMES DEWITT YANCEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind