15 Things You do not Know About Common

1. His real name is Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr.
2. He was born in March 13, 1972
3. He stage name was initially Common Sense but he had to drop the “Sense” after being  sued by an Orange County-based reggae band with the same name.
4. Reowned producer, No I.D was one of his childhood friends
5. Common attended Florida A&M University for two years under a scholarship and majored in business administration
6. In 2008 Common made an estimated 12 million dollars, making him equal in earnings to Eminem and Akon, tied for the 13th highest grossing Hip-Hop artist.
7. Common was invited by First Lady Michelle Obama to appear at a poetry reading on May 11, 2011 at the White House. This caused furor with the New Jersey State Police and their union,^[25] who disagreed with his lyrical content. The president of the New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association voiced concern to the White House. They cite the song “A Song For Assata” about a member of the Black Liberation Army and step-aunt of deceased rapper Tupac Shakur named Assata Shakur, previously known as Joanne Chesimard,^[26] who was convicted in 1977 of the first degree murder of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster.

8. Common and his mother, Dr. Mahalia Ann Hines, at a September 13, 2011 signing for his memoir at the Barnes & Noble in Tribeca, Manhattan.
9. In September 2011, Common published his memoir, One Day It’ll All Make Sense, through Atria Books. As the book details how his close relationship with his mother influenced his life, it is partially narrated by her
10. Common used to be vegan, but is now a pescetarian.
11. He  is a supporter of animal rights and PETA
12. Common is also part of the “Knowing Is Beautiful” movement, which supports HIV/AIDS awareness.
13. He is also a model
14. Common is the founder of the Common Ground Foundation,^[35][36] a non-profit that seeks to empower underprivileged youth to be strong citizens and citizens of the world. The foundation includes programs dedicated to leadership development & empowerment, educational development, creative expression, as well as a book club.
15. Common has had romantic relationships with singer Erykah Badu, actress Taraji P. Henson, and tennis player Serena Williams, but as of September 2011 maintained that he was single.