Common

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4 out of 5

Award-Winning Artist, Actor, Producer, Musician & Writer

Travels From Travels From:
Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Common Biography

Common is a hip-hop artist, actor, and activist who became a mainstream success in the early 21st century, known for intelligent and positive lyrics that were performed in a spoken-word style. He was the first rapper to win a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and an Emmy Award. He first gained attention in the 1990s as one of the leading voices in the "conscious rap" movement, delivering insightful lyrics that tackled social issues, love, and personal growth. His 1992 debut album, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, laid the foundation for his career, but it was his 2000 album, Like Water for Chocolate, that propelled him into mainstream recognition with hits like "The Light."

Throughout his music career, which now totals 15 studio albums, Common has been celebrated for his lyrical depth and collaboration with notable artists, blending hip-hop with elements of jazz and soul. His 2014 song "Glory," co-written with John Legend for the film "Selma," won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy, marking a major highlight in his career.

Common's acting career has been equally impactful. He made his mark in films such as "American Gangster," "Selma," and "John Wick: Chapter 2." He also appeared on the television series "The Chi," "Hell on Wheels," and "Never Have I Ever," among many others. His roles often align with his socially conscious public persona, emphasizing themes of justice, equality, and empathy.

A three-time author, Common has penned the memoirs “One Day It’ll All Make Sense,” “Let Love Have the Last Word” and "And Then We Rise."

For the past several years, Common has dedicated countless hours and has been deeply engaged in social justice and advocacy work around mass incarceration, mental health and voting. After the success and impact of his Imagine Justice concert in 2017 and his Hope & Redemption Tour to eight different prisons, Common decided to establish and launch Imagine Justice as a new nonprofit in 2018. Centered at the intersection of art and activism, Imagine Justice is dedicated to leveraging the power of art to advocate for communities around the country, to fight for justice and equality and to stand united against injustice wherever it appears.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/30/2024.

Common Speaking Topics

  • Authentic Belonging: The Art of Being You

    Embracing intersectional identities takes courage. You must be a seeker. As part of our moral inventory, we must ask, if we aren’t being our authentic selves with the people in our lives, are we fully living? We must then ensure we are fostering an environment that allows others to show up as themselves.

    It may seem easier to go along with what you think people want to hear or act how we think people want us to. But what if it is your authentic and unique voice that someone is waiting to hear? What if the people in your life have been waiting for the true you to show up?

    Studies have shown that when people feel they have permission to be more authentic, they are less afraid of being judged negatively. When we approach life with a spirit of discovery, we inevitably show more compassion…to ourselves and to others. This is a journey that will continue throughout our lives, but it will look different every time.

  • Greatness

    A Grammy-award winning rap artist, poet, lyricist, and actor, Common is also a dedicated community activist who supports animal rights and HIV/AIDS awareness, among many other causes. He is the founder of the Common Ground Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to empower underprivileged urban youth to become strong and productive citizens. The foundation offers programs that foster the development of leadership skills, creative expression, and a commitment to education. Common engages audiences with stories of his childhood on the South Side of Chicago and the obstacles he overcame. Drawing upon his own hard work and path to success, he helps audiences understand how to strive for and achieve greatness by making a commitment to a greater cause.

  • Someday It'll All Make Sense: Catching Up with Common

  • Common Ground: Empowering Urban Youth

  • Lessons of Life, the Human Spirit, & Human Nature

Common Videos

  • Common freestyles during a Maverick Speakers Series
    Award winning rapper Common freestyles during a Maverick Speakers Series on Feb. 11 at College Park Center. During his freestyle he mentioned...
  • Common Interview W/ Cappuchino
    Rapper Common stops by the studio to talk about his new album, his role in the film The Kitchen, and his current tour.
  • Rapper Common Responds To Jay Z: He's Socially Conscious Too | MSNBC
    In the wide-ranging interview, Common discusses dealing with childhood abuse, speaking up for marginalized people in the Trump era and reacts to...

Common Books

  • And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self
    And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self
  • Let Love Have the Last Word: A Memoir
    Let Love Have the Last Word: A Memoir
  • One Day It'll All Make Sense
    One Day It'll All Make Sense

Speaker Lists Featuring Common

FAQs on booking Common

  • How do I book Common to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Common for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Common, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Common or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Common

    Speaking fees for Common, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Common are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Common, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Common speak about?

  • Where does Common travel from?

    Common generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Common’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Common for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Common for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Common or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Common is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Authentic Belonging: The Art of Being You, Greatness, Someday It'll All Make Sense: Catching Up with Common, Common Ground: Empowering Urban Youth and Lessons of Life, the Human Spirit, & Human Nature. The estimated speaking fee range to book Common for your event is $100,000 - $200,000. Common generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Daymond John, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Issa Rae, Van Jones and Yara Shahidi. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Common for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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