First published 2011
Common opens his life to readers, starting with his childhood dreams on Chicago's South Side and his relationship with his mother, Mahalia Ann Hines. He chronicles his early struggles when his debut album sold just two thousand copies and he nearly abandoned rap entirely. The memoir follows his climb to fame through recording studios and concert stages, detailing encounters with hip hop legends like Tupac, Biggie, Ice Cube, and Lauryn Hill, plus figures like Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela. Common addresses the controversy surrounding his White House performance invitation that made international news. He explores the tensions between celebrity life and personal relationships, including his roles as father and son. Each chapter opens with a letter to someone significant in his life, from his daughter to Kanye West to former partner Erykah Badu. Common reveals himself as both the public figure and private man, Lonnie Rashid Lynn, navigating fame while staying true to his conscious artistry and search for understanding.
Genres: african-american, autobiography, biography-memoir, music
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Chicago, South Side
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
305 pages · Hardcover · Atria Books