Common

Common (aka Common Sense, born Lonnie Rashied Lynn on March 13th in 1972) is a Chicago-based hip hop artist known for lyrics that focus more on love and spirituality, and less on the usual hip hop trappings of money, power, a

Common (aka Common Sense, born Lonnie Rashied Lynn on March 13th in 1972) is a Chicago-based hip hop artist known for lyrics that focus more on love and spirituality, and less on the usual hip hop trappings of money, power, and women. Many people can describe him as being a "true" hip-hop artist, who makes real songs that indeed send a message. Common debuted in 1992 (see 1992 in music) with the single "Take It EZ" and the LP Can I Borrow a Dollar?. Though popular success was virtually nonexistent, Common established a solid fanbase among alternative rap fans who consider him a socially conscious rapper.

With the 1994 (see 1994 in music), release of Resurrection, Common (known as Common Sense at the time), achieved a much larger degree of critical acclaim. The album sold well and received a strong positive reaction among alternative and underground hip-hop fans at the time. The album was also the last to be produced entirely with Common's long-time production partner, No ID. Strangely enough, the song I Used to Love H.E.R, sparked a fued with West Coast Rapper, Ice Cube. The lyrics on the song criticized the path Hip Hop music was taking, mainly the popularity of West Coast G-Funk rap. Ice Cube and Common finally squashed their beef. Following the popularity of this album, Common Sense was sued by a ska band with the same name, and was forced to change his call sign to simply "Common".