Man Crush Monday: 10 things you probably didn’t know about Common

A strong start

Common started a rap trio that went by the name of C.D.R. when he was in high school. 

But unlike most high school bands, C.D.R. was not playing in their garage or at red cup parties. Instead, they were opening for acts like Big Daddy Kane and N.W.A.

Before Common

Common was born Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr. in Chicago on March 13, 1972.

His mother was a teacher and his dad was a former professional basketball player.

Not always just Common

Before he picked the moniker that we all know him by now, Common actually went by the stage name Common Sense. 

However, after being hit with a lawsuit by a ska band called Common Sense, he was forced to shorten it to Common. And the rest was history.

Ball boy

Common is a huge Chicago Bulls fan, and he was actually part of the team back in the day — sort of.

“When I was 11, ’til maybe 13 [1983–85 seasons], I was a ball boy for the Chicago Bulls,” Common told Time Out Chicago, via The Boom Box. “I came in on a year when they weren’t that great, but they had some cool players like Quintin Dailey, Ennis Whatley and Orlando Woolridge. But after a year, a man by the name of Michael Jordan came in.”

Acting bug

His rap career started in the late ’80s and early ’90s, but Common got bit by the acting bug in 2003.

His first major role was in an episode of Tracee Ellis Ross’ show, Girlfriends, titled “Take this Poem and Call Me in the Morning.”

He loves beets

Yes, everyone knows that Common is a master of beats, but he actually loves beets, too — beet juice that is.

He joined up with Naked Juice and Wholesome Wave last year for #DrinkGoodDoGood, a project that helps fight against food deserts in America.

Old school ‘The Wiz’ lover

For Common, The Wiz is more than just The Wiz Live!“I wanted to be part of the remake for The Wiz because I love the original, I love the story,” he told Hip-Hop 101. “It’s such a powerful metaphor for life in itself, but, you know, The Wiz was something as a kid that I’d seen and was one of my favorite movies. I listened to the record and watched it over and over.”

He fights for animals

Common is an outspoken PETA supporter, and was even vegan for a while himself, but later added fish back into his diet. 

No hate

In 2007, Common vowed to never again perform lyrics that insulted the LGBT community, according to Complex.  

And guess what? His music hasn’t suffered a bit.

He is business-minded

Common attended Florida A&M on an academic scholarship and studied business administration.