With his multi-Grammy Award winning music career, his continued accolades in film winning a 2015 Academy Award, 2015 Golden Globe Award, 2015 NAACP Award, 2015 Independent Spirit Award and 2015 Critic’s Choice Award, Common has emerged as one of Hollywood's most sought after leading men.
His numerous accomplishments in film include starring on the silver screen in SMOKIN ACES, AMERICAN GANGSTER, WANTED, TERMINATOR SALVATION, DATE NIGHT, JUST WRIGHT, THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN, LUV, and NOW YOU SEE ME among others. He was recently in Paramount’s SELMA, a film centered around the civil rights marches that changed America released January 9, 2015. He has won a 2015 Golden Globe Award for “Best Original Song In A Motion Picture” and a 2015 Academy Award for “Best Original Song” alongside John Legend, for ‘Glory’ from the motion picture SELMA. Legend and COMMON performed and co-wrote the song for the film. He will next be seen in Warner Bros.’ RUN ALL NIGHT being released in February 2015. He stars in the film with Liam Neeson and Joel Kinnaman. COMMON also starred on the small screen for 4 seasons of the acclaimed AMC TV series, HELL ON WHEELS. COMMON played the role of “Elam,” a freed slave who comes west in post-Civil War America seeking work on the Transcontinental Railroad. He has teamed up with SpikeTV for his next small screen project. He will be the host of “Framework”, the first-ever furniture design competition series premiering on January 6, 2015.
Prior to acting, COMMON rose to prominence as one of hip hop’s most poetic and respected lyricists. He has recorded 10 studio albums and garnered multiple Grammy Awards. He recently released his highly anticipated album Nobody’s Smiling on July 22, 2014 on Def Jam/Atrium Records. The Album debuted #1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip Hop Chart. In 2004, he partnered with Chicago native and rap music mega-star Kanye West to produce the album BE, which went on to garner four Grammy Award nominations. In 2007 COMMON released his critically acclaimed seventh album Finding Forever where it debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart and it went on to earn a Grammy award. His eighth album, Universal Mind Control, was released in 2008 and was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Rap Album. COMMON’S highly anticipated ninth album, The Believer, The Dreamer, was released to critical acclaim by Warner Bros. Records on December 20th, 2011. On September 18th, 2012 Common joined forces with the rest of the G.O.O.D. Music crew to release the highly anticipated Cruel Summer album. Additional artists on the album include Kanye West, John Legend, Pusha T, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, and Kid Cudi.
COMMON also offers an even younger generation a better understanding of self-respect and love, by utilizing the cultural relevance of hip hop in the children’s books he has written. His first book, entitled The MIRROR and ME, teaches lessons of life, the human spirit, and human nature. His follow-up book I Like You But I Love Me was nominated for an NAACP Image Award, and in 2008 he released his third book, M.E. (Mixed Emotions). COMMON recently added to this list of accomplished written works with his revealing memoir, One Day It’ll All Make Sense, which made the prestigious New York Times Best Seller list upon release. Every aspect of his life’s journey was unveiled in this deeply personal account of who COMMON is and the people, faith and events that have shaped and molded him into the award-winning, critically acclaimed conscious artist of today.
In addition to his music, film, and literary pursuits, COMMON has been the face, voice and inspiration behind some of the largest consumer brands in the country. COMMON was the voice of Gatorade’s G Series Sports Drink commercial that was launched during Super Bowl 2010. In 2009, he was announced as the face of the new Diesel men’s fragrance Only the Brave and he partnered with Microsoft as the inspiration and one of the designers to launch their Softwear clothing t-shirt line.
COMMON is a regularly requested guest speaker known to motivate and empower collegiate minds while speaking at prestigious universities across the country. In 2000, he launched his own philanthropic effort, The Common Ground Foundation, whose mission is dedicated to the empowerment and development of disadvantaged youth in urban communities by mentoring in three areas: character development, creative expression and healthy living.
Whether inspiring audiences through music, movies, television, books or his foundation, COMMON continues to break new ground, and remains to be one of hip-hop’s most innovative, positive voices.