Lonnie Corant Jaman Shuka Rashid Lynn (Common) is an American rapper, actor, writer, philanthropist and activist. He is 47 years old. His albums include: Black America Again, Let Love and Nobody’s Smiling. He has a net worth of $47 million.
Bilal Sayeed Oliver, known as Bilal, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is currently an independent artist residing in New York City. Bilal is noted for his wide vocal range, his work across multiple genres, and his live performances.
The black-and-white piece which was filmed in a jail just outside of Queens, New York features Common’s song presented by the rapper himself, along with singer Andra Day, their collaborator Bilal and other musicians playing everything from flute to xylophone to bongos. The clip also features a symbolic black box, which Common explained in a conversation with filmmaker Nelson George after the premiere: “It represents the infinite thing about blackness and blackness can’t be defined in time or space.” The video is to raise awareness of racism and it’s effects on US society.
The song was written for Ava DuVernay’s Netflix documentary 13th focusing on the historic legacy of the 13th amendment to the US Constitution.