How Does Common Spread Social Activism

Common: Spreading Social Activism through Hip Hop

The Hip Hop game has been blessed by a person who wasn’t just another average rapper, but who used his voice to talk about social and political awareness. Common stepped out of the traditional style of Hip Hop and Rap in hopes of using rap to express a and inspire political changes in society, being that voice for the people that we don't have and, in doing so, he has created a new pathway for rappers to come and inspired the youth to think outside the box and become social activist they never would have become.
Where we are born and live is just the start of what shapes and forms us into who we are. For Lonnie Rashid Lynn, better known as the rapper Common, the city Chicago was his benning.

Common has always used what he knows from his life, community, what happening today, and the past to form that ideal sound he is looking to accomplish
The greater goal in making music is to reach others and make them listen to what you have to say. An importance to Common was that he visioned that his music is not just rhythm and tracks, but it can be elevated into a stepping stone into the future (Parham). He is a man who wants to speak for all such as, those who are minorities and have been put down constantly everyday and even in the past. To him that is being someone who is bigger and can help all (Collins). Common has chosen to step out of what traditional rappers would do which he has proven with his new record Black America Again, where he discusses the trouble it has taken to Blacks to overcome slavery all the way to being poor through all our postertities (Zaru). He is not just a rapper, but an actor. He has used his talents to empower in which he showed us with his song “Glory” used in the movies Selma. This was something he doubted the could not be finished, but he proved himself wrong when it was complete work of art (Brunner). His goals have so far been proved to a great extent and how he has accomplished them in ways he couldn’t even imagine

Common spoke to many people at Bailey Hall, where he shared with him different life lessons. He told them about how as you rise to success the people you started out with will start to fall off. In which, he related it back to when his very own mother didn't approve of his chose to drop out of college and become a rapper (Engreitz). Common's craft has been inspired by his father, his father words always made him think and have different outlook on life and the world as he knew it. Even his father's words helped him become a better artist that he is today (Zonyeé). Common has released and shared the news that his father was having a battle with prostate cancer (Zonyeé). Facing another lose In 2006 Common lost his roommate and someone he worked with named J Dilla. This was something hard he had to face, but he showcases his the impact he left on him in his music (Collins). Common has stated that police brutality is happening all around and that he saying that we must speak up and make a change because to relieve that pain we gotta stop it from happening now (Edes). Being from the Southside of Chicago, rap helped him with a road to begin accomplished, prosperity, and teach others (Ali). Losing loved one, having faith tested, and looking back at our roots always change how we view things because being better than the person that was