Greatness is not a common path. Actor, singer and musician Common told UF students Thursday night that he had to work hard to attain his success.
Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., whose performer name is Common, encouraged students to “find, believe and live their paths” to greatness at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday night.
Accent Speaker’s Bureau and Black History Month brought Common back to UF, where he previously performed in 2006.
During the evening, Common told his life story, rapped and answered questions during a Q-and-A.
Accent chairman Daniel Landesberg said about 1,200 tickets had been picked up for the night.
“Students can so easily relate to the message he raises,” said Landesberg, a 21-year-old UF telecommunication senior.
In his discussion, Common spoke about how he stayed positive after not winning a Grammy one year or obtaining an acting role in a movie.
Alexis Booker, a 19-year-old UF behavioral and cognitive neuroscience freshman, said Common’s speech inspired her.
“I learned that struggle is an important part to success,” she said. “Not everything is going to be positive.”
Common also emphasized the influence his faith has had on his life.
“The most important things we have in our lives are our creator and our families,” he said.
Casey Burns, a 22-year-old UF psychology senior, said he likes Common for his overall image.
“He’s pretty socially conscious, which is the main reason he reaches to such a wide variety of demographics,” Burns said. “In the same manner, he’s a bit controversial, which is exciting.”
Common performed three songs, including his hit “The People” and a track from his new album. Common said his 10th studio album, “Nobody Smiling,” reflected upon the violence in Chicago.
Jordan Thompson, a 18-year-old UF microbiology and cell science freshman, said Common’s message was uplifting.
“He showed me that no matter what you go through, it’s important to persevere,” he said.
[A version of this story ran on page 3 on 2/14/2014 under the headline "Common tells UF students about hard work, ways to success"]
Rapper, actor and writer Common spoke and performed for UF students Thursday evening at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The event was put on by Accent Speaker’s Bureau and co-sponsored by Black History Month.
