Chicago star Common is known to be the antithesis of hip-hop stereotypes — conscious and thoughtful and clever and respectful. But there are times when he’s none of those things.
“I’m not like, ‘I. Am. Here. To. Save. Hip-hop,’ ” he says, almost chuckling at the notion. “I’m not that guy. I’m just a piece. I’m a part of it.”
As much as he embodies what’s great about rap, he is not immune to its ailments. He has battle-rapped with Ice Cube and been accused of misogyny early in his career. Even now, women assume that because he’s a “conscious rapper,” he automatically wants to talk about AIDS in Africa.
“Sometimes you just wanna holla at a girl. I’m human like everybody else,” the 35-year-old says. “I ain’t one of them dudes that’s going to get caught up there and try to act like I’m perfect. I’m gonna make my mistakes. You’re gonna laugh at me sometimes. I’m gonna wear crocheted pants if I want to. Fall in love, you know, whatever.”
