Common debuted in 1992 with the album Can I Borrow a Dollar? and maintained a significant underground following into the late 1990s, after which he gained notable mainstream success through his work with the Soulquarians.

Common’s first major-label album, Like Water for Chocolate, received widespread critical acclaim and tremendous commercial success.

His first Grammy Award was in 2003, winning Best R&B Song for “Love of My Life”, with Erykah Badu. Its popularity was matched by Be, which was nominated for Best Rap Album, at the 2006 Grammy Awards. Common was awarded his second Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, for “Southside” Common won the 2015 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song and the 2015 Academy Award for Best Original Song, for his song “Glory” from the 2014 film Selma, in which he co-starred as Civil Rights Movement leader James Bevel.

He also narrated the award-winning documentary Bouncing Cats, about one man’s efforts to improve the lives of children in Uganda through hip-hop/b-boy culture by teaching three times a week to more than 300 children from all parts of the city Kampala. Many are homeless, and few can afford proper schooling, yet they walk miles to attend the classes.

Common has also founded a charity called common sense, which in their programs they encourage students to set a goal for their high school and college careers and the charity supports the path they set for themselves. Their team of dedicated coaches and mentors work with students in an individual and group setting. The charity believes that every child has the opportunity to succeed and lead given the proper resources.

[Verse 1: Common]
Southern leaves, southern trees we hung from

While slavery in America was at its peak in the 1800s, many slaves were lynched by white slave owners. Lynching was often used as a punishment for slaves that attempted to run away from the plantations and their owners. African American slaves made up 72% of the lynched population at the time. Common also uses lyrics that are similar to Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”

Barren souls, heroic songs unsung
Forgive them Father they know this knot is undone

Jesus Christ, during his crucifixion, called out to his Father in heaven saying, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 KJV). Jesus was speaking on behalf of the men carrying out his execution; pleading for their forgiveness despite their actions. In the line, Common puts himself in the shoes of Christ asking forgiveness for slave traders during the period of slavery in American history.

Tied with the rope that my grandmother died

He is still bound with the same rope that carries the blood of his ancestors. Common,  represents Black and is entrapped by the criminal justice system which can still impose involuntary servitude (a person laboring against their will to benefit another) on those convicted of crimes. Those convicted of crimes and sent to prison are disproportionately people of color socially mirroring the system of slavery that seems like a thing of the distant past.

Pride of the pilgrims affect lives of millions
Since slave days separating, fathers from children

Pilgrims fathers’ choice to start slavery affected the lives of millions of Africans who were taken against their will from the continent of their ancestors. Slavery has destroyed families, fathers were taken away. This practice has continued into current times, with the mass incarceration of Black men, separating them from their children and destroying families.

Institution ain’t just a building
But a method, of having black and brown bodies fill them

Common says that Federal Bureau of Prisons in the U.S.A legally (and systematically) push for black and brown people to be incarcerated as part of an intentional “method.”

We ain’t seen as human beings with feelings
Will the U.S. ever be us? Lord willing!

Using a play on words, Common asks if black people, us, will ever have a place in the U.S.?

For now we know, the new Jim Crow

Most Southern States amended their laws to allow for racial segregation in society. The system institutionally kept black people from voting. The sets of laws passed were known as Jim Crow, they were abolished in 1965. Systematic racial segregation continues legally within the prison system which is referred to as—the New Jim Crow.

They stop, search and arrest our souls
Police and policies patrol philosophies of control
A cruel hand taking hold
We let go to free them so we can free us
America’s moment to come to Jesus

Stop and Search, along with police patrols vehemently target black people. This targets the soul (mind and emotions) of the black society, which in stirs hate and anger, especially toward white people. Common brings up spirituality (Jesus), a central part of Black America.

[Chorus: Bilal]
Freedom (Freedom)
Freedom come (Freedom come)
Hold on (Hold on)
Won’t be long (Won’t be long)
Freedom (Freedom)
Freedom come (Freedom come)
Hold on (Hold on)
Won’t be long (Won’t be long)

This chorus is inspired by the songs that black slaves would sing back in the 19th century. Slaves would use songs to convey hidden codes, and to help boost morale of their fellow workers. Example: “Wade in the Water”.

[Verse 2: Common]
The caged birds sings for freedom to ring

This line references Paul Laurence Dunbar’s 1899 poem, “Sympathy,” which contains the repeated line “I know why the caged bird sings!,” and highlights the loss of freedom that comes from being caged

Black bodies being lost in the American dream
Blood of black being, a pastoral scene
Slavery’s still alive, check Amendment 13
Now whips and chains are subliminal
Instead of ‘nigga’ they use the word ‘criminal’
Sweet land of liberty, incarcerated country

Common is referring to how despite the fact that the 13th Amendment had abolished slavery, slavery can still be used as means of punishment for criminals. “ Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, EXCEPT as a punishment for CRIME whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, EXCEPT as a punishment for CRIME whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”

13th Amendment

Shot me with your ray-gun
And now you want to trump me

Common uses wordplay with ray-gun referring to former president Ronald Reagan. One thing that President Reagan is remembered for the most is his tough-on-crime mentality which lead to one of the most horrendous campaigns in America—the War on Drugs. This false crusade lead to many African-Americans and Latinos to be arrested in prison for years over non-violent charges. It seems that Donald Trump is very reminiscent to Reagan in regards to his views, policies, and slogans such as “Make America Great Again” and his emphasis on “law & order”.

Prison is a business, America’s the company
Investing in injustice, fear and long suffering
We staring in the face of hate again

1 out of every 35 adults in the United States is in some form of correctional control (such as in prison or on parole), and many of them are in private, for-profit prisons.

The same hate they say will make America great again

Trump’s slogan for his presidential campaign is to “Make America Great Agian”

No consolation prize for the dehumanized
For America to rise it’s a matter of Black Lives
And we gonna free them, so we can free us

For America to be the greatest country again people need to acknowledge all of that and work on it, give people of color opportunities to get out of the misery. Since white people still don’t seem to care and probably won’t care enough in the future (as told in the previous lines) black people that made it out will be the ones helping each other achieving great things.

America’s moment to come to Jesus

[Chorus x2: Bilal]
Freedom (Freedom)
Freedom come (Freedom come)
Hold on (Hold on)
Won’t be long (Won’t be long)

That black people must persevere and have patience, and endure this pain of racial inequality, because then eventually freedom will be granted.

• 0:16, 1:57 – White bars – white people trapping and imprisoning
• 0:27, 1:57 – Open door – society thinks they are free, but they are held back by social pressures and culture
• 0:36 – Black monolith comments on evolution – 2001 space odesy
• 0:37 – No excessive noise sign – oppression
• 0:56 – Reflection on monolith black scales of justice – how the justice system is blinded by race
• 1:39 – High contrast shots – can’t see faces – removal of identity
• 1:41 – Jim crow laws embedded into culture, lyrics
• 2:27, 2:59 – Same monolith moving – faceless prisoners moving
• 4:57 – Monolith not inverted like surroundings at the end
• 5:00 – Wind chime and bird sounds – fairytale quality
• 5:00 – Final shot – death of the American dream
• No aggression in the song and tone of voice
• Rap music – lower class
• Restricted
• Video in black and white – binary opposition
• Letter expressed through music – illiterate or not educated well
• Shadows – outcast by society
• Some light – false hope as back to shadow again
• Light – where the black movement has been successful
• Monolith never seen with anyone
• Wind chime contrasts with heavy drumming – decline of black movement, lost the momentum / all a metaphorical gust of wind
• Link to Michael Jackson – running away from being caught, LTTF – already caught
• All colour lost, lack of expression
• Jackson in context didn’t need to address such serious issues
• Jackson lost identity over time – plastic surgery, voice, skin