with
Kam Williams
Common:
Hey, peace Kam, how are you?
Kam Williams:
All is well, thanks. I don't know whether you
remember but the last time we spoke I told you my son was taking saxophone
lessons with your saxophonist, Justin Robinson.
C:
Definitely, man. I hope he's doing well.
KW:
He's doing fine, thanks.
How does it feel to be playing your first lead role as Scott McKnight
in Just Wright?
C:
It feels wonderful! This is something I dreamt of
and prayed for. It's a blessing to get this opportunity to play a leading
man. I feel like it's the beginning of a new stage of my career as an actor.
KW:
And how was it being directed by Sanaa Hamri and
acting opposite Queen Latifah, Paula Patton, Phylicia Rashad and Pam Grier?
C:
It was cool! These are beautiful, beautiful women.
And it was great having Sanaa at the helm, because she brought a fresh
perspective to the project in terms of her vision that made it easy for
women to relate to it, given how my character was portrayed as sensitive and
a good person. But, by the same token, she was also wise enough to balance
that with his chi energy as an NBA player to attract a male audience as
well.
KW:
When is your new CD, "The Believer" being released?
C:
The new studio album is coming out in the Fall, but
I have a Greatest Hits album coming out May 25th.
KW:
Larry Greenberg says, he would
love to hear a musical collaboration by you and Queen Latifah. He wants to
know whether there's any chance of that happening.
C:
We already hooked up on a collaboration on that
Greatest Hits album, it's a new song featuring Queen Latifah called "The
Next Time." I think it's the first of many duets we'll be doing. The song is
soulful and makes you feel good. So, I'm looking forward to doing more music
with her, as well as more movies.
KW: Larry says, "You seem to be involved in so many good causes from HIV/AIDS awareness to PETA. Is there any particular cause you want people to get involved in today?"
C:
Yeah, my Common Ground
Foundation, because it's about empowering youth in a holistic way, and
about helping to shape our leaders of tomorrow.
KW:
Erik Daniels says, "I'm
a big fan of Common and one of his songs that I like is Orange Pineapple
Juice." He wants to know, when was the last time you had some?
C:
Oh, I had some just the other day, mixed with Ciroc
coconut, and it was great!.
KW:
Children's book author Irene
Smalls asks, what
is the hardest thing you have had to do in your career thus far?
C:
I think the hardest thing I've had to do was to
change my name from Common Sense to Common, not only because I was attached
to it since it meant something to me, but because I was just beginning to
build some name recognition when I had to deal with a lawsuit over it. That
was one of the more traumatizing things I've experienced career-wise. It was
like, "Man! How can somebody just take my name?" Still, everything
ultimately came together in divine time, and the name Common is very
appropriate because my music represents everyday people. Common is right.
KW:
"Realtor to the Stars"
Jimmy Bayan says he saw you shooting hoops in
C:
Yes, I was. But it was so much fun preparing for
the role that it wasn't really work. I was just going out there to get my
hoop game back up. Ask Jimmy this question back, "How was my game at that
point?"
KW:
Will do. Jimmy also wants to
know, if you weren't acting or doing music, what would you have become?
C:
I believe a teacher. I always feel that I have
something to say that will hopefully inspire.
KW:
Amina Ross
from
C:
I'm a Christian. I believe in God, and I've been a
member of that church, Trinity United Church of Christ since I was 8. I
don't live in
KW:
Amina Ross has a follow-up. Did you have to
compromise you music to make it?
C:
No, never. I've stayed true to who I was, as much
as I could. There was one moment when a record label tried to get me to make
some songs that sounded like Biggie and Nas, who were the hottest guys on
the radio at the time, but I knew it would have to come from my soul to be a
hit. One of my biggest songs, "The Light," was just something I wrote
because that was they way I really felt about somebody. So, I don't think
I've ever compromised myself.
KW:
Maceo Torres-Trujillo asks whether your song "I
Used to Love H.E.R." caused a rift between the East Coast and West Coast rap
artists?
C:
No, but it caused a situation between myself and
Ice Cube and the Westside Connection. It started a little beef, but it ended
up being resolved, and out of it we both came up with some good raps. They
really felt that I was dissing the West Coast, but I love the West Coast. I
grew up listening to both East Coast and West Coast.
KW:
Professor Mia Mask asks,
growing up, who were your role models?
C:
I'd say my mother, my Math teacher Mr. Brown, and
Muhammad Ali.
KW:
Professor Mask also asks, do
you think black musical artists are misrepresented in the mainstream media?
C:
Yeah, absolutely. Rap artists tend to be
stereotyped in one way, as if they all wear chains, curse, flash money and
abuse women. It's unfair not to look at them as individuals with different
personalities. That's what I like about my character Scott in Just Wright.
Even though he's an NBA star, he's not depicted simplistically as a
superficial person, but as a sensitive, complex individual who's looking for
true love and finds it in a beautiful package he didn't expect.
KW:
Dr. Mask was wondering whether
there's a
major historical figure you would like
to portray?
C:
Yes, Barack Obama or Marvin Gaye.
KW:
Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
C:
I can't think of any.
KW:
Recent film school grad
Ashley Smith wants to know whether
you want to play another gangster, because he'd like to offer you the
lead role in the movie he's making, The Big Shibang. He'd like to show you
the trailer.
C:
Cool, have Ashley send the trailer to my publicist.
KW:
The Tasha Smith question: Are
you ever afraid?
C:
Yes, it happens sometimes, maybe before I go
onstage, before I shoot a scene, or even when I just reflect on where I am
in life.
KW:
The Columbus Short question:
Are you happy?
C:
Yes, very.
KW:
The
Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?
C:
Just a few minutes ago, doing a radio interview
with Queen Latifah.
KW:
The bookworm
Troy Johnson question: What was the
last book you read?
C:
I read the Bible everyday.
KW:
The Heather Covington question: What music are you listening to?
C:
I'm listening to the Just Wright mix tape, Volume
Two. The song I love on it is Déjà Vu by Teena Marie.
KW:
When you look in the mirror,
what do you see?
C:
Some days I see a king. Some days I see a scared
little kid.
KW:
What is your favorite dish to eat?
C:
Tomato sauce, cheese and bread. I love pizza.
KW:
The Boris Kodjoe question:
What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
C:
It's hard to measure them, but I think the biggest
accomplishments are when someone comes to me and says that one of my songs
or movies changed their life, got them through the death of a friend, or
made them want to marry their lady.
KW:
The Ling-Ju Yen question:
What is your earliest childhood memory?
C:
Having my fourth birthday party on a Fun Bus. I was
with my mother and remember feeling overwhelmed because there were so many
incredible things going on on that party bus.
KW:
The Mike Pittman question:
Who was your best friend as a child?
C:
My mother, and then my boy Marcus Murray.
KW:
Uduak Oduok asks if you think African music will be influencing American
culture in the coming years.
C:
Not only African music but other aspects of African
art and culture are already influencing us in many ways. But I think a lot
definitely comes through the music and the soul.
KW:
Uduak also asks, who is your favorite clothes designer?
C:
Paul Smith.
KW:
What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
C:
Believe in God, believe in yourself, and know that
it's a journey, and you will make it.
KW:
Well, thanks again Common, and best of luck with
the movie, and I look forward to interviewing you again soon.
C:
Oh, thank you so much, Kam. It was great to speak
to you again. God bless you and your family.
Related Links
Common
"Smokin' Aces" Interview
http://aalbc.com/reviews/common.htm
The "Happy Feet Two" Interview [2011]