Common

Lonnie Lynn Jr. (born March 13, 1972), better known by his stage name Common (formerly Common Sense), is an American rapper, actor, writer, philanthropist, and activist.

Making his album debut with “Can I Borrow a Dollar?” An artist known for often thoughtful, verbose lyricism and exploring varied sounds, his later albums included Like Water for Chocolate, Electric Circus, and Be, among others.A Grammy winner, Common has also turned to acting, as seen with roles in projects like” Just Wright”, “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” and “Selma”. For the latter film, he and vocalist/musician John Legend have won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for the song “Glory.” he’s also worth 47million.

Bilal

Bilal Sayeed Oliver (born August 23, 1979), better 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.

letter to the free music video

Common has always been one to incorporate activism into his music, but perhaps one of his most moving works is the haunting “Letter to the Free” from his 2016 album Black America Again. He turned that song into an affecting visual, which he debuted a longer version of at Tribeca Film Festival Sunday night (April 23).

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.”