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Overview
From the hip hop icon, Hollywood star, and “a true artist and writer of deep talent” (James McBride, author of The Color of Water)—a candid, New York Times bestselling memoir ranging from his childhood on Chicago’s South side and his emergence as one of rap’s biggest names.
The story I have to tell involves celebrity: how I broke into the rap game, the people I’ve met, the places I’ve been, my life in the spotlight. But on a more fundamental level this is a book about a mother and a son, a father and a daughter…
In the twenty years since his first release, Common, born Lonnie Rashied Lynn, has become one of the most successful artists in hip-hop. Winner of two Grammys and with nine successful albums to date, including 2010’s The Believer, he’s now a bona fide movie star, appearing in American Gangster, Date Night, and landing a starring role in Just Wright opposite Queen Latifah.
Though Common’s parents divorced when he was six, Lonnie Sr. remained an active presence, helping his son get a job as ball boy for the Chicago Bulls. But it was his mother’s steady presence that provided him with the guidance to succeed on his own terms. Her far-reaching influence and Common’s thoughtful account of his own journey through fatherhood form the heart and soul of this genuinely inspiring memoir. One Day It’ll All Make Sense, is, like its subject, outspoken and sometimes controversial, yet indisputably powerful and profound.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
Family and old friends know him as Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr., but the public recognizes him as Common. This hip-hop artist and Hollywood star has written a memoir far more candid and compelling than most celebrity autobiographies. Modeled on works by Malcolm X and James Baldwin, One Day It'll All Make Sense takes readers back to his early life in Chicago as the son of a former professional basketball player and a career educator and then into the intense, competitive world of rappers, but some of its most moving passages are about the changes that becoming a father brought to him. A meaningful read.
Publishers Weekly
Rapper and actor Common, born Lonnie Rashid Lynn, shares his life story in this candid, no-nonsense autobiography. He offers not only a straightforward narration of his life, but also includes intimate, sometimes emotional letters to people important to him, such as his father, treasured childhood friends, fellow hip hop artist Kanye West, and even his younger self, to whom he muses, "Man, you a cool little dude, but you got a lot to learn." Vignettes written by his mother reflect and enhance his story by providing her unique perspective on her son's significant experiences. Common credits her with raising him to be "a gift-giver who can love life and love myself and be in love with others," who views his life's purpose as "us my fame to provide more exposure for my art so that I can influence people's lives for the better." Lyrics from songs that were inspired by formative incidents are interspersed throughout, revealing the highly personal nature of his work and giving fans background on what prompted the creation of the music they love. (Sept.)From the Publisher
Common distinguishes himself here as a true artist and a writer of deep talent. This book is the story of an artist in constant evolution, one who embodies the strength of the brilliant woman that raised him, the love of the Southside Chicago land that spawned him, and the raw spirit of the pro basketball player who fathered him. I’ve always heard that the people of Southside Chicago were special. I’m glad their native son Common shows us why. —James McBride Author of The Color of Water“Common has written a magnificent memoir. It states that it is a book about his fascinating life. That is true. More importantly, his story is the story of all young people trying to grow up. His saga reminds the reader that love liberates and poverty cripples. Common writes beautifully, like the poet he is.”
–Maya Angelou
"Common is a 360-degree human being, and I don't say that about many people. He never needed to "pimp the hood" to achieve his deserved success. He is an eloquent and honorable role model and his memoir is a perfect example of his depth as a human being. In addition, reading about his childhood and upbringing in Chicago is really a trip - because we went through so many of the same experiences albeit decades apart. Chicago is still the roughest and primary "Institution of Hard Knocks," and if you can make it there, you can truly make it anywhere!” –Quincy Jones
“Raw in its honesty, profound in its insights, One Day It’ll All Make Sense establishes Common as a voice that is as compelling on the page as it is on a record. This is not simply the story of an individual artist but a crucial page the history of hip hop itself.” –Jelani Cobb, author of The Substance of Hope
“A powerful memoir that speaks to all audiences.” –Queen Latifah
"A thoughtful and beautiful book that tells us much more about Common... His mother's perspective takes this to another level." –Touré, author of Who's Afraid of Post-Blackness