Common, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., was born and raised in the South Side of Chicago. 

In high school, Common and his friends created a group called C.D.R. They performed throughout the city and also opened for major acts such as N.W.A and Big Daddy Kane. After high school, he attended Florida A&M University.

In the early '90s, 1992 to be exact, Common's first album, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, was released and helped create his place in underground music.

By 2003, Common's career solidified itself and even lead to him winning his first Grammy! Common's Grammy win for  Best R&B Song came from his record with Erykah Badu called "Love of My Life."

In 2006, Common won his second Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for "Southside." The song was a collaboration with fellow Chicago native Kanye West.

As early as 2003, Common started to branch off into into acting. He has been featured in many TV shows, such as UPN's Girlfriends, and starred in movies like Just Wright.

Think Common Entertainment is a record label that was founded by Common in 2011. It is Common's own imprint and has worked with various other labels like G.O.O.D. Music.

In 2015, Common signed a two-year deal with HBO to start his own film production company. Can anyone say winning? We can!

Throughout his career, Common has made sure to be dedicated to giving back to the community and helping with special causes. He also founded Common Ground Foundation. This is a non-profit organization that aims to empower underprivileged youth in the community.

Common is not shy about his support for politics and President Barack Obama. Common was featured in the "Yes We Can" video that the president used during his election prior to him taking office. Now things have come full circle and Common is also performing for President Obama at his farewell concert!