Common Quotes & Sayings

Time is real, we can't rewind it ...
Out of everybody I met, who told the truth?
Time did. — Common

Playing basketball is definitely one of my favorite things to do. — Common

I believe that music is about making quality things, making quality art, and no matter who you decide to work with, you and that person have to come up with something special, come up with something that is excellent material, so whoever hears it and reviews it will like it. — Common

It's hard to see blessings in a violent culture — Common

It was incredible to have J Dilla in your dining room making beats - it was one of the greatest experiences I've had. — Common

I embody EVERYTHING from the Godly to the party ... — Common

Movies and media really can influence us. A few years ago, my daughter wanted to be a dancer; since Obama came into office, she now wants to be a lawyer and get into politics and maybe even be president. — Common

Black people in America have come from slavery to other forms of being oppressed and there are some things that come with that - some pain and anger that come with that and we as black people have to deal with it to heal that. White people have to understand it and have some compassion toward it. — Common

I put God first, and strive to do my best by being a loving human being, recognizing that sometimes I make mistakes and bad choices. — Common

The possibility of an Oscar is something I definitely think about and the fact that I can even say that is just a blessing. It's something I would be incredibly honored to be a part of. — Common

I appreciate this moment in time ... ball players and actors be knowing my rhymes — Common

I can only speak for myself - there were times when I just wasn't inspired by creating music. — Common

Hip-hop is supposed to help you elevate, or go higher. — Common

The human being that I strive to be is a great human being, like a loving human being, but as an actor, you take on roles that are not you and that's the fun part for me as far as acting goes. You really get to learn about other human beings and not judge. — Common

I was in the heart and soul of Baltimore. I definitely felt a connection to the people. They're really hard-working people that want to have a better life. And I saw the struggle that exists there. — Common

Not everyone is the same. You can't label a person just because of what they do or what they've done. — Common

What America was built on was being able to say, 'Hey, we're going to come in and use our resources to build for ourselves and our communities and build around that. We're not going to depend on others.' — Common

I wonder if these wack niggas realize they wack,
And they the reason that my people say they tired of rap. — Common

I felt like I had experienced a lot of things in the first chapter of my life, and I wanted it to inspire and motivate people, so I just started writing. — Common

No matter what walk of life you're from, you can appreciate the music - songs [can] resonate in your soul and your heart. — Common

Come close to me baby. Let your love hold you. I know this world is crazy, but what's it without you? — Common

I think and speak clearer since I cut the dairy out. I can breathe better and perform at a better rate, and my voice is clearer. I can explore different things with my voice that I couldn't do because of my meat and dairy ingestion. I am proud and blessed to be a vegetarian, everything became clear. — Common

I've met kids who haven't had the best of parents but because they had something in them, or they had somebody at school help develop them, they turned out fine. — Common

When I see people of my likeness, or who are somebody that I feel connected to, doing something great, I fee like I can do it. It gives me some hope and vision. — Common

When I started thinking about it, I was like, 'OK, if throughout time I get labeled as a conscious artist, I'll be very much celebrated, in a way, and honored.' — Common

God created me to be an individual. And I am a Chicago dude that grew up the way I grew up and was named Rashid and was given a certain purpose and mission. So, I am rare for those reasons. — Common

Man, just believe in yourself, be able to dream, and know that there's going to be valleys and peaks. Always stay centered, and know that God is the key, the beginning and end of everything you do. — Common

When I did the album Electric Circus, not only was it not commercially received. But even the critics and hip-hop community was like "What is this?" At that moment, I could've been written off. But I had to believe because I really love what I do. I'm passionate about it. If 12 million recognize it, that's beautiful. If 12,000 do, that's beautiful. But I'm always going to put my heart and soul in it and I'm going to shoot for the stars and go for the highest levels of recognition and creativity. I definitely doubted myself at the time. But it always come back to believing what I do. — Common

Yeah, we try to get the best musicians possible, and Justin [Robinson] is a great musician, man, a great player. You must have been surprised to see him out there, then. — Common

Teachers give so much to the future and to youth. So, when you see somebody make that type of sacrifice towards work - just parents in general, what they got to give to their kids is a lot - I'm inspired, man, to give and help those who didn't or don't have opportunities. And even those that may have some opportunities, [to] help them achieve their dreams. — Common

Obviously God knew I wasn't going to make it to the NBA as much as I probably believed. This was divine order. — Common

I learned a long time ago to be honest when I'm talking to other artists. Up-and-coming artists used to come and say something, they would have a demo reel, and I would try to tell them the truth. I don't go up and say something unless I really feel it. — Common

There [are] times when I put out an album, and I don't hear my songs really on the radio a lot, and it's like, Dang, I ain't inside that world. But I'm still moving some people or touching some people. — Common

I come from playing sports. I compete, so I gotta be better than I was last year. I gotta get better, and that better gotta come from just growing. From learning new stuff to working on it, experience it in life, and failing. — Common

I want a better world, I want love and harmony amongst people no matter what color you are, what race or what background you come from or sexual orientation. — Common

I've always been asked, "What type of character would you love to play?," and I've always said a pastor. — Common

One thing I have throughout my career, it felt like I did my best to align myself with quality artists, quality work, and it is a situation of steel sharpening steel. — Common

I just want people to feel like they can achieve something great in their lives. We all go through rough times, but love is the antidote. You've got to dream and just believe in yourself. And if you believe, you will achieve it. — Common

I sit and think with a drink about how I'm gonna win ... — Common

Your body is you. That's your temple. So, eating wisely helps you function for the day. If you want to look good and feel good, you gotta eat good. What you put into your temple, man, is very important. I learned that later on in life, but I started putting that into practice. I'm not perfect in my eating. I just try to live healthily, and to take care of myself so that during this lifetime I can live good. — Common

Now is our time to change the world — Common

Never looking back, or too far in front of me. The present is a gift, and I just wanna to be. — Common

One thing I always loved about hip-hop music was the raw, boom-bap element - it felt powerful and manly. — Common

To me to be a storyteller is you got to be able to speak the truth. You've got to be able to absorb life and take in life and be able to interpret it in a way that anybody in this room could say, "Man, that's my story. I can relate to that." — Common

Maybe I write because I've learned to show certain parts of my heart on the page that I still struggle to capture in speech. — Common

People always want to feel better and be inspired. Sometimes we need it. I think the conscious rapper will always be able to live and exist. — Common

I feel, as an artist, I should be able to express who I am and the things I come from, and the places I want to also be. — Common

If heaven had a height, you would be that tall — Common

I think Lil Wayne is definitely a dope rapper. — Common

This is my inception, I'm writing my dreams. — Common

Don't believe in role models, but if I do, then I'm mine — Common

I started digging into parts of myself that I probably ignore and don't really get to express because Common is an artist that is conscious and is aware and is trying to put a positive energy to the world. — Common

Oh man, I love what the South brings as far as the soul, and I really have noticed from even the early days of listening to OutKast and Goodie Mob that Atlanta and the South has a diverse sound to it. You have bounce music. You have soulful musicians. You have artists with vocals who try to do different things. — Common

Acting is just another way to express myself as an artist. I realized if you're an artist, you're an artist and you can express that through music, through painting, through photography, through acting - this is just another way for me to express myself. — Common

When you see people that lived their purpose and sacrificed, who are everyday people - teachers, sanitation workers, and just people from all walks of life - that said, "I'm standing up for what I believe in. I'm standing up for my community." That reaffirms what you can do. — Common

I attribute my ability to maintain cool to God, self-esteem, and knowing my purpose in life. It can't be based on anything material or external. — Common

I want to be the voice of the people; black, white, everyday, oppressed people. A person trying to make it and to do it right. — Common

Everything I'm saying shouldn't be taken so serious. I'm playing, but at the same token, I'm acknowledging that I'm not always the perfect man; I'm not always doing the right things. That's who I am. I'm working to be better. — Common

When you have style, it doesn't matter what other people are saying. — Common

Man, if I get a chance to speak on the microphone, I've got to say something somewhere in there. You know, I'm going to laugh and have fun, too, but something has to be said that has some substance, because this is a platform, and the power that we have with words and with this microphone is phenomenal. — Common

I look into mother's stomach, wonder if you are a boy or a girl
Turnin' this woman's womb into a tomb
But she and I agree, a seed we don't need
You would've been much more than a mouth to feed
But someone I would've fed this information I read
To someone my life for you I would've had to leave
Instead I led you to death. — Common

I am to hip-hop what Obama is to politics — Common

We as people have a purpose here to contribute to the Earth, to contribute to people's goodness and good life. — Common

Man, I feel like hip-hop is - first of all, not even only with just GOOD Music, I gotta say - I think hip-hop is still alive in a strong way, man. I feel really enthused about hip-hop. — Common

I started getting more in tune with who I am by doing roles or even just being around people. — Common

We obviously feel destiny and purpose and do what we do, but within that are ways to help others and to inspire others and to support and encourage people. — Common

I tend to look at the good things about what's going on in life, and I do that the best I can. At the end of the day - I have felt outside at times - but always man, I keep my eyes on the prize and know that I can get inside if I choose. — Common

I feel like God gives you what you deserve. Whatever that time is, you get what you deserve. — Common

You have to be sincere in your feelings. And fear is one of those, sometimes; doubt is one of those; jealousy, anger - all your emotions are not going to be considered the strong emotions; all of them are not going to be love, happiness, joy. — Common

To have my name said like, "Common and John Legend, Golden Globe nominees," is one of the greatest achievements I've ever had as an artist, as a person. — Common

Me as an artist, I've ventured off into doing all types of music. I'll do a jazz album, you know what I mean. — Common

Education is what you get from reading the small print; experience is
what you get from not reading it. — Common

People that I care about, that I consider being friends of mine, most of the things I discuss with them I wouldn't discuss in public because it's a real relationship. It's not a relationship for the public, you know? — Common

When I was teaching children I began every day writing this on the blackboard: "Do to others what you would like them to do to you", telling them how much better the world would be if everybody lived by this rule. — Common

After you make good, quality music, then it's your job to go out there and promote it and to market it and to get it out there to the people. — Common

Doing acting opened up other creative outlets; it made me feel freer as an artist. — Common

It's our responsibility for the village to say, 'Hey we're going to create these programs,' whether it's sports, creative arts, music, we need some things to give young people positive things to do, and that's including jobs. — Common

I believe in heaven more than hell, lessons more than jail.
In the ghetto, let love prevail with a story to tell.
My eyes see the glory, and well,
The world waiting for me to yell, "I Have A Dream!" — Common

Even through the unseen, I know that God watches,
From one King's dream, he was able to Barack us. — Common

One day it'll all make sense. — Common

God is my guide, so I try to not judge myself too much, knowing that at the end of the day, my greatest judge will be Jehovah God. — Common

Technically, my first acting job was in one of my videos for a song called 'Retrospect For Life,' which Lauryn Hill directed and featured an actress by the name of N'bushe Wright, who played my girlfriend who was about to be pregnant. I remember being so nervous about it, but now I feel like I can conquer the world with it. — Common

It's no doubt that there's a connection (between the blues and hip-hop). Hip-hop is definitely a child of the blues. And I think you gotta know the roots to really grow. It's like knowing your parents, it's like knowing your culture, so you could be proud of that culture and take it to the world. — Common

Now I'm on the rise, doin' business with my guys. Visions realize, music [your craft] affected lives. A gift from the skies, to be recognized, I'm keeping my eye on the people, that's the prize — Common

That's why I named my album 'Finding Forever,' because that's what I was thinking about: What did I want to contribute to this world that would live beyond my physical existence? — Common

The impact of a conscious artist is necessary, and it ripples through the world. — Common

To be a storyteller is to be able to speak truth, to be able to use your imagination, to use the creative gifts that the Creator has given you. — Common

If the eyes are the window to your soul open eyes bring the cold. — Common

I think you really have to remember what you loved about making music in the first place. Ultimately, people can be like, 'We've seen this dude in many movies,' but if they hear a song and they're feeling it, they can look past all the personal things and not hold it against you that you're also an actor. — Common

I loved plays, I loved films, but I had no desire to act until I had just put out my album 'Like Water for Chocolate.' Creatively, I felt like I'd hit a ceiling, and I needed something else to express myself, and I just decided to take acting classes. — Common

I love black thighs, you sisters better realize
That real hair and real eyes get real guys.
So before you makeup your face, you better make up your mind ... — Common

Whether the people in Haiti, the young kids in Chicago that [are] going through violence, or whether you're in Atlanta or L.A. or Europe - it's not even color barriers for me - I go to where I know there's a lot of turmoil and pain. — Common

Justice is juxtaposition in us
Justice for all just ain't specific enough. — Common

Sometimes you come from your community, and then you rise. It's like, okay, when do you get back rooted into your community? A lot of times you can rise in the ranks and maybe leave the core of where you come from. — Common

I met this girl when I was ten years old,
And what I loved most she had so much soul.
She was old school, when I was just a shorty
Never knew throughout my life she would be there for me. — Common

I'm a black man that is proud to be black, and I want to help the black community, but I love all mankind. — Common

This is a broad thought, but loving yourself and having the support so that you can love yourself is the most important thing that young people in Chicago can get. — Common

I came from the South Side of Chicago wanting to be a rap artist and make videos. — Common

Burn a Bush cause for peace he no push no button.
Killing over oil and grease, no weapons of destruction,
How can we follow a leader when this a corrupt one? — Common

My mom has obviously had a powerful influence on my life, and her voice can describe certain things that I couldn't see in myself. — Common