When hip hop first bloomed on South Bronx basketball courts and in house parties nearly thirty years ago, the emcee ruled the world. Those pioneering emcees lived and died by one law--you either came original or you didn't come at all. Damn, things have changed.

Fortunately, there are artists who still practice the fine, forgotten art of imagination and Relativity recording artist, Common, is one of the best. "My goal was always to be the dopest emcee," says Common.

"I wanted to be recognized like KRS-One or Rakim, making people say, 'That nigga is dope!' It's important to me that I say something to the people. Nowadays, I look at music as a channel for my family and for my community."

Common's music is about to be heard again in one of the most highly anticipated hip hop LP's of the year and it's a flat-out triumph. Titled One Day It'll All Make Sense, Common's third Relativity LP is filled with songs like the first single, "Reminding Me (Of Sef)," a melodic, bouncing remembrance of his youth featuring acclaimed songstress Chantay Savage.

The former Chicago Bulls ball boy explains, "The song is more a celebration of my best friend who died in March of this year, not a tribute to a dead homie. It's about stepping back, thinkin' about the things we used to do, just good, easy-going memories of coming up in Chicago."

Common took his time creating this record and has been joined by a lot of his friends. Say Common, "They're people I love and admire." Lauryn Hill recorded with Common while both were still expecting the birth of their first children. There's no doubt that they reached deep into their hearts on "Retrospect For Life" which deals with the fragile topic of abortion. "Lauryn and I had the same due dates for our babies in August ('97). There was a lot of emotion going on when we recorded this track."

Common was also joined by Cee-Lo Green of The Goodie Mob ("G.O.D. Gaining One's Definition"), Q-Tip ("Stolen Moments Part 3"), De La Soul ("Gettin' Down At The Amphitheatre"), Black Thought of The Roots ("Stolen Moments Part 2") and Erykah Badu on the track "All Night Long."

Speaking about the high profile women on his LP, Common comments, "They're special artists, very special women and they got that old soul to 'em. In fact, they are the epitome of old soul."

Returning for his second recording engagement with his son is Common's dad, Lonnie Lynn, who also performed on Common's second critically-acclaimed album, Resurrection. This time he performs on "Pop's Rap/Fatherhood." The majority of the production is provided by Common's tried-and-true hometown production family, NO I.D. (who released his own excellent debut LP on Relativity titled Accept Your Own & Be Yourself (The Black Album) September '97) and YNOT plus producer /emcee Doug Infinite and Musician Spike Rebel.

Three years have passed since Common dropped Resurrection which featured the metaphorical track about the then-current state of hip hop, "i used to love h.e.r..." Many claim this much-discussed song is one of the greatest hip hop tracks ever put to wax. Why three years between records? Common says,

"I had been through so many things that until I'd had time to understand what was going on in my life and with my music, I couldn't find inspiration. I really had to sit back and study the situation. Once I lived through that, the hunger came back and I needed to write and create. I've been in the zone ever since."

Elaborating on One Day..., Common says, "This record is something fresh for people's minds and ears. People who know me, who know my music will see the growth in me. I'm more in tune with myself and the supreme being. I decided to release a lot of things on a personal level, so it's real soulful."

Common also took time to study music and the business of music. A music theory class gave him a new respect for musicians, so much so that he's included live musicians on One Day... He also plans to learn both piano and drums. According to Common, "Music is my career so I best be educated in all aspects of it. I'd like to think that I'll be performing in a quartet 10 to 15 years from now. And it's important to me that I can look back 30 years from now and be proud of what I've created."