Common

Illustrated image of the continental United States of America in green and yellow and red hues with black images of jail cell bars on gray background and in front of white text spelling "MASS INCARCERATION"
Sameer Rao  Jan 11, 2019 2:36PM EST

How Prosecutors Contribute to Mass Incarceration

A new animated video from Color of Change anchors the group’s 100 Days of Justice campaign to hold reform-minded prosecutors accountable.
Black-and-white photo of Black man on brown background with black text; Zora Neale Hurston. Black woman in formal attire and hat in front of wall in black-and-white photo.
Sameer Rao  Nov 27, 2018 4:30PM EST

Common Brings Zora Neale Hurston's 'Barracoon' to TV

He will adapt the long-unreleased book, about the last known enslaved person to survive the Middle Passage, into a limited series.
Black man in black shirt and suit with brown collar in front of white background with black text; Black man in black suit with grey shirt and tie and purple sunglasses in front of red and yellow and white background
Sameer Rao  Aug 23, 2017 12:40PM EDT

Common to Star in RZA-Produced 'Black Samurai' Series on Starz

The upcoming action series draws from Marc Olden’s novel, “Black Samurai,” which was previously adapted as a Blaxploitation film of the same name.
Black woman in black tank top sits across brown wood table from black man with navy shirt against brown furniture and blue walls
Sameer Rao  Dec 19, 2016 11:29AM EST

WATCH: Serena Williams and Common Discuss Racism and Loving Their Blackness

The tennis great and MC dive deep for nearly an hour in ESPN’s “The Undefeated In-Depth: Serena With Common.”
Young Black man in black baseball hat against blue inset background and black record art
Sameer Rao  Nov 25, 2016 9:00AM EST

3 Questions With Ma Dukes Yancey-Smith, the Torchbearer of J. Dilla's Legend

Yancey-Smith’s children’s book about her late son, “The Life Story of James Dewitt Yancey,” is out now. We asked the woman behind the production hero’s namesake foundation about the new book and her son’s place in Black history.
Queen Latifah in black outfit with hand raised, black-and-white images in background
Sameer Rao  Jul 12, 2016 10:00AM EDT

Relive the Hits From the Badass Women Featured at This Year's 'Hip Hop Honors'

“VH1 Hip Hop Honors: All Hail The Queens” featured performances from Queen Latifah, Lil Kim and Eve.
Kenrya Rankin  Nov 13, 2015 11:57AM EST

Stephanie Mills and Shanice Williams Sing 'Home,' Give You Life

The originator and the newbie got together and killed Mill’s signature song from “The Wiz.”
Sameer Rao  Aug 26, 2015 11:30AM EDT

'Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star' Turns 17 Today

The legendary album harkens back to a time when duos ruled hip-hop and these two ubiquitous stars represented the vanguard. 
Qimmah Saafir  May 7, 2015 12:25PM EDT

Common Addresses the Latest Flap Over "Song for Assata"

Kean University cancelled his commencement speech after protest by New Jersey State Troopers, but the artist stands by the song. 
Qimmah Saafir  Mar 18, 2015 2:00PM EDT

ICYMI: Common (Non)sense

Twitter rips Common’s fix for white racism in America.
Carla Murphy  Mar 12, 2015 11:58AM EDT

Common to White Americans: 'I Love You, Let's Move Past This'

Rapper-turned-actor stars in the civil rights movement on screen and in real life.
Jamilah King  Dec 5, 2014 11:49AM EST

John Legend, Common Add 'Glory' to SELMA Soundtrack

It’s their protest song.
Jamilah King  Apr 17, 2014 10:02AM EDT

Kanye West, Common Team Up With Chicago Urban League to Create Youth Jobs

It’s an initiative that they say will create 20,000 jobs for young people in the city.
Carla Murphy  Mar 17, 2014 3:24PM EDT

Common Performs for Black Workers in the South

Friday’s concert also features veteran activist Danny Glover