Rapper, Common, and myself share the same day – MARCH 13!
And in honor of his birthday, I’ve decided to do 13 fun facts about Common that you probably didn’t know before!
1. Common is a writer. His first book, entitled The MIRROR and ME, teaches lessons of life, the human spirit, and human nature.
2. 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).
3.COMMON was the voice of Gatorade’s G Series Sports Drink commercial that was launched during Super Bowl 2010.
4. COMMON is a regularly requested guest speaker known to motivate and empower collegiate minds while speaking at prestigious universities across the country.
5. In 2000, he launched 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.
6. He is the son of educator Dr. Mahalia Ann Hines and former ABA basketball player turned youth counselor Lonnie Lynn, born on the southside of Chicago.
7. His parents divorced when he was six years old, and he went to live with his mom in Denver, Colorado.
8.While a student at Luther High School South in Chicago, Lynn with his childhood friends, record producer No I.D., and Corey Crawley formed C.D.R. a rap trio that opened for acts that included N.W.A. and Big Daddy Kane.
9.Common attended Florida A&M University for two years under a scholarship and majored in business administration.
10. He appears in NBA 2K8 in NBA Blacktop mode.
11. Common is also part of the “Knowing Is Beautiful” movement, which supports HIV/AIDS awareness.
12. Common has had romantic relationships with singer Erykah Badu, actresses Kerry Washington and Taraji P. Henson, and tennis player Serena Williams, and most recently Angela Rye.
13. In September 2011, Common published his memoir, One Day It’ll All Make Sense, through Atria Books. As the book details how his close relationship with his mother influenced his life, it is partially narrated by her.
Source: facebook.com/thinkcommon, Wikipedia.org
