Common, Award-winning Artist, Actor, Producer | MAKERS Men

There’s something about Common. Many know him as the Grammy and Academy Award-winning hip hop artist, poet, actor, and film producer. He’s all of those things, but, largely thanks to the love and support of his mother who he considers his “home and foundation,” he’s so much more.

Raised in Chicago, Common wrote his first rap song at just 12 years old. He credits the poetry of Dr. Maya Angelou and Nikki Giovanni for inspiring him in his formative years and. Inspired by their work, Common says his art will “always honor and uplift women.”

With a career spanning 25 years, including a collaboration with his childhood hero Dr. Angelou, Common has become a loud and proud activist for equality. He’s even played a Civil Right’s Movement leader in 2014’s lauded film, Selma, which was directed by fellow MAKER Ava Marie DuVernay, the first black female director to have a film (Selma) nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Common co-wrote and performed the film’s song “Glory” which took home the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

“Man, if we had women taking over the world, the world would get better,” Common told MAKERS.