Common

Common in 2012, photo by Prphotos.com

Birth Name: Lonnie Rashid Lynn

Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Birth: March 13, 1972

Ethnicity: African-American

Common is an American hip-hop recording artist, actor, poet, and film producer. He was a member of rap trio C.D.R. He gained fame as a skilled and respected MC in the ’90s, releasing three albums, “Can I Borrow a Dollar?,” “Resurrection,” and “One Day It’ll All Make Sense.” Common won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, along with John Legend, for their song “Glory,” from the film Selma (2014). He is also known as Common Sense, L. Liston, and Willie Stargell.

Common is the son of Lonnie Lynn, a professional basketball player and youth counsellor, and Mahalia Ann Hines, an educator. His parents were/are both black. A picture of Common’s mother can be seen here. Common has a daughter with his former fiancée Kim Jones. He is a Christian.

Common’s paternal grandfather was named Lonnie Lynn.

Common’s paternal grandmother was named Mabel/Mable Malone (the daughter of Charlie/Charles Malone and Millie Sanders/Saunders). Mabel was born in Tennessee. Her family was from Covington, TN.

Sources: Biographical article about Common’s father and his family – https://www.westword.com

Common’s paternal grandmother, Mabel/Mable Malone, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org

Death record of Common’s paternal grandmother, Mabel/Mable (Malone) Lynn – https://www.familysearch.org