Common: Cool
Rapper

So few of today's popular musicians are interested in creating work that says something other than "buy me." But Chicago hip-hopper Common bucks that trend with thoughtful songs on love, sexual abuse, and politics.

The depth of Common's music stems from his being a Renaissance man. He's done public service announcements to encourage HIV testing, saying, "This disease doesn't just affect a single race or sexual orientation."

Early in his career the young MC dropped epithets like a rapping bombardier. He's now denounced his past behavior in two very public forums -- in the spring he promised Oprah he's through with the n word, and in September, Rolling Stone quoted him saying he's done "disrespecting homosexuality."

But it's with his music that Common's messages reach the audience that needs to hear them the most. Try not to well up at the lyrics to his song "Between Me, You & Liberation":

He spoke with his eyes, tear-filled

A lump in his throat, his fear built

My whole life it was in steel

This ain't the way that men feel

A feeling, he said he wish he could kill

A feeling, not even time could heal

This is how real life's supposed to be?

For it to happen to someone close to me?

So far we'd come, for him to tell me

As he did, insecurity held me

I felt like he failed me

To the spirit, yelled 'Help me'

I'd known him for like what seemed forever

About going pro we dreamed together

Never knew it would turn out like this

For so long he tried to fight this

Now there was no way for him to ignore it

His parents found out and hated him for it

How could I judge him? Had to accept him if I truly loved him

No longer he said had he hated himself

Through sexuality he liberated himself