 Common, whose given name is Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr., was born in Chicago in 1972 and grew up in the predominantly African American south side of the city. Although his parents divorced when he was young and he was raised by his mother and his stepfather, Common's father remained an important part of his life. A minor league basketball player, his father helped him get a job as a ball boy for the Chicago Bulls when he was twelve. Common regularly attended church and was inspired by the local minister, who celebrated the African American ancestries of the congregation. He writes in his autobiography, "From the Ethiopian crosses that adorned the structure to the African scenes depicted in the stained glass, this was a house of worship dedicated to sustaining the community and connecting it with its Christian roots" (45).
Although he had his youthful transgressions and participated in gang life in Chicago, he did well in school and became a successful rapper and actor. His first album was Can I Borrow a Dollar? (1992), which he recorded under the stage name Common Sense. In 1997 he released his first album under the name Common, One day it'll all make sense. He had his first mainstream hit in 2000 with the single "The Light," which was released on the album Like Water for Chocolate. Since then he has become a Grammy Award– and Academy Award–winning musician and has appeared in numerous movies and television series.
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| "The Corner" album cover. |
In "The Corner" Common reflects on his youth in Chicago. "The Corner" samples two songs from his childhood: "What It Is" (1972), by the Temptations, and "You Make the Sunshine" (1974), by the Temprees. He addresses some of the challenges he faced growing up in an environment surrounded by drug use and street violence, and he takes pride in how he overcame obstacles to have a successful career. He wishes more people from his neighborhood could be successful and proud like him. He also looks back with nostalgia as he remembers the pride that the people felt in their community and the support he received. He wishes more people could experience that sense of pride. |
