Common
Keynote Speaker: Award-Winning Artist, Actor, Producer, Musician & Writer
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Travels From:
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Speaking Fee:
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Categories:Music, Inspirational, Entertainers, Personal Growth, Political, College, Diversity & Inclusion, Acting, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Social Activism, Literary, Celebrity, Commencement, Social Justice, Motivational, Technology, Culture, Virtual, Finance, Cancer, Entertainment, Liberal, Authors, Business, Entrepreneurship, DEI
Common Biography
Common is a hip-hop artist, actor, and activist who became a mainstream success in the early 21st century, known for intelligent and positive lyrics that were performed in a spoken-word style. He was the first rapper to win a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and an Emmy Award. He first gained attention in the 1990s as one of the leading voices in the "conscious rap" movement, delivering insightful lyrics that tackled social issues, love, and personal growth. His 1992 debut album, Can I Borrow a Dollar?, laid the foundation for his career, but it was his 2000 album, Like Water for Chocolate, that propelled him into mainstream recognition with hits like "The Light."
Throughout his music career, which now totals 15 studio albums, Common has been celebrated for his lyrical depth and collaboration with notable artists, blending hip-hop with elements of jazz and soul. His 2014 song "Glory," co-written with John Legend for the film "Selma," won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy, marking a major highlight in his career.
Common's acting career has been equally impactful. He made his mark in films such as "American Gangster," "Selma," and "John Wick: Chapter 2." He also appeared on the television series "The Chi," "Hell on Wheels," and "Never Have I Ever," among many others. His roles often align with his socially conscious public persona, emphasizing themes of justice, equality, and empathy.
A three-time author, Common has penned the memoirs “One Day It’ll All Make Sense,” “Let Love Have the Last Word” and "And Then We Rise."
For the past several years, Common has dedicated countless hours and has been deeply engaged in social justice and advocacy work around mass incarceration, mental health and voting. After the success and impact of his Imagine Justice concert in 2017 and his Hope & Redemption Tour to eight different prisons, Common decided to establish and launch Imagine Justice as a new nonprofit in 2018. Centered at the intersection of art and activism, Imagine Justice is dedicated to leveraging the power of art to advocate for communities around the country, to fight for justice and equality and to stand united against injustice wherever it appears.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Common and other top speakers and celebrities.
Common Speaking Topics
Embracing intersectional identities takes courage. You must be a seeker. As part of our moral inventory, we must ask, if we aren’t being our authentic selves with the people in our lives, are we fully living? We must then ensure we are fostering an environment that allows others to show up as themselves.
It may seem easier to go along with what you think people want to hear or act how we think people want us to. But what if it is your authentic and unique voice that someone is waiting to hear? What if the people in your life have been waiting for the true you to show up?
Studies have shown that when people feel they have permission to be more authentic, they are less afraid of being judged negatively. When we approach life with a spirit of discovery, we inevitably show more compassion…to ourselves and to others. This is a journey that will continue throughout our lives, but it will look different every time.
A Grammy-award winning rap artist, poet, lyricist, and actor, Common is also a dedicated community activist who supports animal rights and HIV/AIDS awareness, among many other causes. He is the founder of the Common Ground Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to empower underprivileged urban youth to become strong and productive citizens. The foundation offers programs that foster the development of leadership skills, creative expression, and a commitment to education. Common engages audiences with stories of his childhood on the South Side of Chicago and the obstacles he overcame. Drawing upon his own hard work and path to success, he helps audiences understand how to strive for and achieve greatness by making a commitment to a greater cause.
Common Videos
How do I book Common to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Common for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Common, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Common or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Common for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Common, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Common are $100,000 - $200,000 for live events and $100,000 - $200,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Common, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Common speak about?
Common is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Music, Inspirational, Entertainers, Personal Growth, Political, College, Diversity & Inclusion, Acting, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Social Activism, Literary, Celebrity, Commencement, Social Justice, Motivational, Technology, Culture, Virtual, Finance, Cancer, Entertainment, Liberal, Authors, Business, Entrepreneurship and DEI.
Where does Common travel from?
Common generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Common?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Common for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Common for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Common or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Common is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Music, Inspirational and Entertainers. The estimated speaking fee range to book Common for live events is $100,000 - $200,000, and for virtual events $100,000 - $200,000. Common generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Daymond John, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Issa Rae. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Common for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Common Speaking Topics
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Authentic Belonging: The Art of Being You
Embracing intersectional identities takes courage. You must be a seeker. As part of our moral inventory, we must ask, if we aren’t being our authentic selves with the people in our lives, are we fully living? We must then ensure we are fostering an environment that allows others to show up as themselves.
It may seem easier to go along with what you think people want to hear or act how we think people want us to. But what if it is your authentic and unique voice that someone is waiting to hear? What if the people in your life have been waiting for the true you to show up?
Studies have shown that when people feel they have permission to be more authentic, they are less afraid of being judged negatively. When we approach life with a spirit of discovery, we inevitably show more compassion…to ourselves and to others. This is a journey that will continue throughout our lives, but it will look different every time.
-
Greatness
A Grammy-award winning rap artist, poet, lyricist, and actor, Common is also a dedicated community activist who supports animal rights and HIV/AIDS awareness, among many other causes. He is the founder of the Common Ground Foundation, a non-profit organization that seeks to empower underprivileged urban youth to become strong and productive citizens. The foundation offers programs that foster the development of leadership skills, creative expression, and a commitment to education. Common engages audiences with stories of his childhood on the South Side of Chicago and the obstacles he overcame. Drawing upon his own hard work and path to success, he helps audiences understand how to strive for and achieve greatness by making a commitment to a greater cause.
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Someday It'll All Make Sense: Catching Up with Common
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Common Ground: Empowering Urban Youth
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Lessons of Life, the Human Spirit, & Human Nature
VIDEO
Common Videos
BOOKS
REVIEWS
Common Reviews
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Common went above and beyond with his keynote and with the meet and greet afterwards. He exceeded our expectations, and we’re so happy he was able to join us for the event.
University of Rochester - Oct 05 2023
NEWS
Common News
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Common: 'I wanted to be the dopest. Then I found a higher purpose'
He got his start in the era of gangsta rap and admits to a ‘bros before hoes’ attitude early in his career. So how did the Chicagoan become one of conscious rap’s strongest voices?
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The inside story of how rapper Common replaced Satya Nadella as the voice of Microsoft’s ads
It was early October of 2014, and Microsoft was working hard to finish producing its first-ever Super Bowl commercial. The advertising team had strung together audio clips from CEO Satya Nadella’s recent speeches about empowerment, and overlaid video of kids using Microsoft technology to help improve their lives. Ultimately, it was rapper Common whose voice was heard by millions around the world during those Super Bowl commercials and in several follow-up spots thereafter.
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Making Sense Of Common
At 48, he’s considered rap’s ambassador outside its borders. That doesn’t mean he wants to be seen as “safe.” Survey most hip-hop heads and they’d agree Common hit legend status more than a decade ago. He’s an icon of “conscious hip-hop” — the long misunderstood, often oversimplified subgenre that’s become shorthand for a willingness to lyrically speak to Black people’s fight for basic human rights, even the right to self-love.
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For Common, Self Care Is The New Black
Meditation time! Find a comfy spot to stretch out, close your eyes, and breathe deeply, in and out. Good. Now imagine a beam of energy. Peaceful, right? And are you hearing that celestial music yet? What type of music is it? Is it . . . rap? Perhaps it is not. And perhaps that is why Lonnie Rashid Lynn, the rapper, actor, writer, and activist known as Common, based his new album, “Let Love,” on concepts of healing, therapy, and meditation.
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'Hunter Killer' Trailer: Gerard Butler, Gary Oldman, Common Sub ...
Gerard Butler, Gary Oldman and Common climb aboard an arctic submarine in the first trailer for 'Hunter Killer,' released Thursday.
FAQS
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How do I book Common to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Common for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Common, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Common or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Common for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Common, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Common are $100,000 - $200,000 for live events and $100,000 - $200,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Common, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Common speak about?
Common is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Music, Inspirational, Entertainers, Personal Growth, Political, College, Diversity & Inclusion, Acting, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Social Activism, Literary, Celebrity, Commencement, Social Justice, Motivational, Technology, Culture, Virtual, Finance, Cancer, Entertainment, Liberal, Authors, Business, Entrepreneurship and DEI. -
Where does Common travel from?
Common generally travels from Los Angeles, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Common?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Common for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Common for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Common or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
BOOK COMMON
We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.
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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
