"One Day it'll All Make Sense"

“One Day it’ll All Make Sense”

Written By: Common & Adam Bradley

‘Conscious’ rapper, actor, and now book author Common has broken into the literary world with his autobiographical work entitled ‘One Day it’ll All Make Sense’ named for his 1997 studio album. Common illustrates his childhood experiences growing up in Chicago with his mother Dr. Mahalia Ann Hines who plays a role in the flow of the book as well. In addition to writing the foreword to her sons’ book, the chapters are echoed by Dr. Hines commentary along the trail ways of Common’s life and career adding her own insight into his experiences. Common also adds another element of depth by starting each chapter with a personalized letter addressing and important figure in his life including his parents, daughter, Kanye West, Erykah Badu, and Hip-Hop herself.

Common is able to bring the reader along a candid journey of finding himself and coming into his own light as an artist. I highly recommend this book for any hip hop fan, conscious, fan, not familiar with Common, anyone. Common underlines the intricacies, intensity, creativity, and weirdness that consists of who we as fans understand him to be. He discusses the celebrities whose paths he has been fortunate to cross from his youth including Michael Jordan, Ice Cube, Mos Def, and more. His spirituality plays a large role in what motivates him and he discusses a childhood experience that he feels ties him to the hate crime victim Emmett Till who was also a son of Chicago.

In addition to rap, Common has entered into the world of Hollywood and takes acting extremely seriously. He divulges that he came very close to being the first Black superhero on film portraying the Green Lantern, however the funding fell through and he continued looking for roles. Also He addresses the controversy surrounding his invitation to the White House. First Lady Michelle Obama, being a fan, invited Common to an evening for youth celebrating poetry and expression. He and President Obama share a connection in being Chicago natives, and members of Rev. Jeremiah Wrights church, which compelled him to write a moving poem for the event.

Love, loss, adolescence, spirituality, belief, hurt, and joy are all emotionally tied into the experiences that have made Common into the artist we see in front of us. He shows his humanity, and his humility.  He honestly delves into his gradual progression into fame and his internal battle as a conscious artist. “The only problem with being labeled a conscious artist is that people assume that’s all you are that you’re not also a complex and flawed individual. Just because I might write a song that speaks up for awareness doesn’t mean I haven’t made mistakes and that I’m not going to continue making more mistakes on my journey through life” (pg. 303).