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"I think that's the foundation for me. That's how I am able to exist in the industry," he said from his hotel suite in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City.
"You have to bring who you are and what you are and your spirituality and the things that you believe in have to exceed and go beyond anything that you do," he continued. "Any work that you do and accolades that you get, you have to know that God is more important and family and love that you have for others. I just put that first and wake up in the morning like this is who I am. That allows me to function more in the music industry and the Hollywood world."
The 38-year-old entertainer said when he's home in Chicago, there's no place like his church home, Trinity United Church.
"When I'm in Chicago and its Sunday, I'm going to Trinity for sure. That's the church I grew up in since I was 8-years-old. I definitely stop and go to church. If there's a church in another city that I am aware of I might go there, too. I found a church in L.A. that I like going to on and off, but I need that sometimes," he shared.
"It's the whole communion with people and knowing that we're all focused on God and doing some good for ourselves. It really becomes a community thing, too, so I love going to church and Trinity in particular," he said.
For related stories, read also: 'Making Sense: Hip-Hop Star Common Raps About Rev. Jeremiah Wright'
& 'LeToya Luckett: 'If I Didn't Have My Faith, I Wouldn't Be Anywhere!''
VIDEO: Watch Common rap at his church Trinity United Church:
Black Music Notes Mar. 19
3/19/09: Rihanna / Chris Brown
Contrary to previous claims that Rihanna and Chris Brown reunited in the studio last month to record a new duet, record producer Polow Da Don recently confirmed that the couple recorded the newly surfaced track last year. "The reports are inaccurate," Polow's publicist, Laura Wright, told US magazine. "The duet was recorded long before the incident." According to People, the track, reportedly titled 'Bad Girl,' was intended to be on the soundtrack for 'Confessions of a Shopaholic,' but the song was eventually recorded by the Pussycat Dolls.
Frank Micelotta, Getty Images
3/19/09: Kanye West / The Dream
Seven years ago this month, music heavyweights R. Kelly and Jay-Z released their highly anticipated collaborative album 'The Best of Both Worlds.' Now it appears Kanye West and The Dream are vying to work on a similar project. "Everybody is trying to talk us into it," Dream told 'MTV News' of his and West's friends and business associates. "It was first thought of by me. I was in Miami at the time, and I gave Kanye a call and said, 'The best thing would be for me and you to do an album.'... Let's take the best of both worlds and put it on a CD and try to make something we can sell to the consumers. He says he's with it. We're gonna try to make it happen." For now, you can catch Kanye on Dream's potential third single 'Walking on the Moon,' which is featured on his newly released album 'Love vs. Money.'
Getty Images
3/19/09: The Miracles
Legendary Motown group The Miracles is the latest musical act to receive a Hollywood star on the world-renowned Walk of Fame. The 'Ooo Baby, Baby' singers were presented with the 2,381st star on March 20 by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Leron Gubler. Motown founder Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder were also on hand as guest speakers for the ceremony.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
3/19/09: Chester Gregory
After several years of blowing audiences away on the 'Great White Way,' Broadway Star and R&B soul recording artist Chester Gregory is preparing the release of his debut album 'In Search of High Love.' The March 31 release finds the multitalented singer introducing himself as a thoughtful and sensitive songwriter blessed with a voice that captivates and demands attention. "While I've thoroughly enjoyed performing on Broadway -- eight shows a week and telling other people's amazing stories -- now it's time for me to share my own," explained Gregory. Highlights of 'In Search of High Love' include the poetic 'Clouds to the Ground,' the crossover-bound 'Say it's Over' and Jackie Wilson's soaring 1967 chart-topper 'Higher and Higher.'
Jemal Countess, WireImage
3/19/09: Sammy Davis Jr.
Altovise Davis, the widow of Rat Pack member Sammy Davis Jr. , recently died at the age of 65. Two days prior to her death, she was admitted to Los Angeles'Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke. The couple, who met in 1967 on the set of the musical 'Golden Boy,' married in 1970 and remained together until Davis' untimely death of throat cancer in 1990.
Evening Standard / Getty Images
3/19/09: Earth, Wind & Fire
Iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group Earth, Wind & Fire is set to hit the road this summer for a 30-city tour beginning June 5 in Orange Beach, AL. In addition to Maurice White and company gracing the stage will be pop-rock band Chicago, which will perform a full show before joining for a final set together, according to Billboard. The tour will conclude on Aug. 1 in Lake Tahoe, NV.
Santiago Llanquin / AP
3/19/09: Kim Burrell
Gospel vocalist Kim Burrell is on deck to release her first new album in nine years titled 'No Ways Tired.' The project's title is inspired by gospel pioneer James Cleveland's classic of the same name. In addition to covering Cleveland's hit, Burrell also tapped other timeless classics including 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee,' 'What a Friend We Have in Jesus,' 'O Lamb of God,' and 'I Surrender All.' There are also a few originals. 'No Ways Tired' is set to hit stores April 7 via Shanachie Records.
Zomba
3/19/09: Mike Jones
Despite being on hiatus since the release of his debut album 'Who Is Mike Jones?' Houston's own Mike Jones is ready to make his mark on the charts once again with the release of 'The Voice.' Jones' sophomore effort is packed with some of the industry's most talented artist including, Lil' Wayne, T-Pain, Devin the Dude, Hurricane Chris and Twista. He's had recent success with his latest single 'Next To You,' which is currently number 16 on Radio and Records Rhythmic charts. "For the past four years, I have been doing a lot of restructuring, getting this record right, making sure my business is right and more," Jones said of his hiatus. "Now, I am ready to finish what I started. I'm hoping my fans will feel 'The Voice' was worth the wait." Mike Jones 'The Voice' is due in stores April 28.
Gilbert Carrasquillo, FilmMagic
3/19/09: Prince
With the recent announcement that Michael Jackson will return to the stage this summer, another influential artist is also planning to make his return. Beginning March 25, Prince will be performing on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' for three consecutive nights. In addition, the 'Little Red Corvette' singer is also readying the Mar. 29 release of his two new albums 'LOtUSFLOW3R' and 'MPLSoUND.' Prince is the latest artist to promote a release through multiple late-night talk show performances. U2 also recently performed five nights in a row on the 'Late Show with David Letterman' in support of its new album 'No Line on the Horizon.'
Kevin Winter, NCLR / Getty Images
Comments: (7)
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By: ADMR on 8/02/2010 1:20PM
JESUS Walks Indeed.....Ya KNOW (-:
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By: Truethat on 8/03/2010 12:27AM
Prophetic Word to viewers "Rhema Word"
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By: Truethat on 8/03/2010 5:00AM
2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
Jude 1:4
For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
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By: Truethat on 8/03/2010 5:23AM
Now that Common has put Jesus first in his life, then he should repent and renounce that satanic song (Universal Mind Control) he recorded last year.
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By: DeaconJones on 8/08/2010 12:33PM
When the white man let rap culture be used to control the message being fed to black youth all was lost. Gang banging and black women hating spit the black race along gender lines and began the destruction of all the hard fought gains of the civil rights movement. Black lost all interest in being educated and entrepreneurship and went about getting bling at the point of a gun. Communities became drug and killing fields. White women were used to alter any agenda of racial unity by obsessing black men into thinking they were the answer to their racial advancement. Daily killings of blacks, gang raping of women and girls of all ages and poisoning by drugs and the pollution of the black bloodline with the AIDS virus and pure laziness and waiting for something for nothing. Black men are at the bottom of the unemployment list because the refuse to flip burgers yet can't read or write. Black women having babies by worthless men who only see themselves as a dick. Pants down exposing the crack of their hairy stinking black asses for homo sex. BS its a fashion statement. The white man has the black race just where he wants them on the road to extermination. Thorton had mental issues and used racism as the bulk of his problems. If he abhorred white racism that much then why in hell was his woman white? If racism was that bad on the job then why did he give the job a reason to fire him for stealing their beer and selling it on the open market? The job did him a favour, they could have called the cops and charged him with thief, but they didn't. I see a troubled, bitter, angry, thieving black man more than a racist job. He could have quit and found a job with a black company where he could get all the brotherly love he craved.
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By: geegee on 8/08/2010 12:39PM
Common is a fraud. Glad Serena Williams move on with a real man a white man.
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By: BeeJay on 8/17/2010 2:17AM
Mr. Jawn Murray needs to do his research a little better because Commmon DOES NOT believe in Jesus he is a 5 percenter Muslim. Listen to his songs!!! There are videos of him giving honor to "his God" NOT JESUS. Look it up yall!! Let's now be so quick to assume someone is Christian and believes in Jesus as their personal savior without actually checking.
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