An Un-Common Interview: ICTHIPHOP.COM's Toup speaks with Common on his new movie "Just Wright", music, and more

[Toup]

It's every journalist's dream to interview someone in the spot light, someone well-known, respected, and admired. But getting the chance to tap into the mind of hip hop cornerstone and rising actor Common far exceeds a dream. I was fortunate enough to speak with "Common Sense from the city of Wind" on his newest movie "Just Wright", co-starring Queen Latifah, and soak up some knowledge on making it as an artist. Check out this ICTHIPHOP.com exclusive! Grab the dish on Common's new blockbuster, and get up close with the Chi Town hip hop icon

“Just Wright”
The Plot

Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) is an extraordinary 35 year old physical therapist living an ordinary life. Sharing a fixer-upper with her super supportive parents, and God-sister Morgan (Paula Patton)- who's only goal in life is to earn the coveted title of “Trophy Wife”- Leslie remains caught in the vicious cycle of being placed in the “friend zone” by every man she knows. Seeking an escape in her passion for the Nets NBA team, Leslie encounters Nets powerhouse Scott McKnight (Common) after a game, and unexpectedly finds herself invited to his birthday party.

No stranger to being pushed aside, Leslie takes a back seat as Morgan steps in and woos Scott, using her conniving prowess to catch his attention. Their encounter quickly blossoms into a serious relationship, which takes a sharp turn when Scott receives a career threatening injury to his knee. Leslie and Scott battle the uncertainties of self doubt and the obstacles of injury as they work together to nurse Scott's knee back to condition. As they fight to save Scott's high profile career, true colors are revealed and unexpected love is fostered.

The Verdict

Bursting with passion, intelligence, wit, and suspense, “Just Wright” should be classified as a “Romantic Motivator” rather than a romantic comedy. More than the ultimate date movie, “Just Wright” marries the idea that true love prevails with the powerful message that the underdog will come out on top with dedication, an honest heart, and hard work. This film is both inspiring and empowering; you'll leave the theater ready to conquer the world and kiss the love of your life at the same time!

Common's stellar portrayal of Scott McKnight conveys a strong message of success through faith, while demonstrating the beauty of embracing people for who they are (not to mention, he makes for a surprisingly convincing baller! Who knew?). A truly motivational role, Queen Latifah's character Leslie Wright is one that many women can relate to, yet aspire to be. We've all found ourselves feeling looked over or counted out at some point, but as “Just Wright” reveals, with a little hope and a lot of passion, anything is possible. This is one movie you need to see!

Common on acting, making “Just Wright”, and more

We chopped it up with Common to get the nitty-gritty on his acting career. Check it out!

Common on what inspired him to pursue acting, with such an established and respected Hip Hop career already under his belt:

“...I want[ed] to do something else creatively, and I felt like it was something out there that I really want to do, and I didn't know what it was, and acting was that, it was an instinct that I had... I felt like I hit a ceiling with music too... so that's what really inspired me to get into acting...so I guess I'm working two jobs right now.”

On getting into the character of Scott McKnight:

“It was harder to get into character this time... this is the closest I've ever been to my character. I'm so used to taking on a character that is not me. This character Scott McKnight had a lot of qualities that I have as a person, so it's like one of those things where you ain't gotta try hard, but you end up trying hard and then you get back to the essence that's really needed.”

On taking a lead roll:

“I definitely felt more pressure, you know, with other movies I've been in, it was like, if the movie does well, great 'cuz I'm a part of it, but if it doesn't do well, then it didn't fall totally on me... I feel like being the lead roll, your face is on the promotional things, people look at it as “your movie” to a certain extent... I approached it like it was my album.”

“I felt it was good for me to play a role where a basketball star had heart, he respected his mother, he respected women, he wanted a trophy wife at first but he found love elsewhere”

On working with Queen Latifah:

“She's just got a good spirit about her, we would have fun on the set... from us playin' ball to us drinkin' wine... it was fun, and plus she had my back and understood where I was comin' from... I think the chemistry came across really well.”

“[Queen Latifah] was tellin' me business-wise just to be smart and take opportunies...go for the things that seem far-fetched and beyond your reach, just go for it!... When you get in this position, you've gotta make moves and make the next thing happen... I like to keep buildin', so I was with it... Keep workin' and try different things.”

Common on his music, and advice to artists

On his upcoming album “The Believer” (dropping 2010):

“It's definitely street hip hop, you know, it's street, but what I mean is just comin' with that pure
spirit of Hip Hop and that soulful stuff that No ID creates, that
Kayne West creates, that I love to create... Pure Hip Hop.”

On the evolution of hip hop and staying relevant:

“I look at hip hop as a living organism, it's like a person... I can look at myself 3 years ago and say I was a different person... hip hop had a little innocence when I started in the mid 90's... you know, street music was the truth, Nas was droppin' the truth, Mob Deep was droppin' the truth, NWA was droppin' the truth...it was very creative, everybody had their own character...I think there's still some quality hip hop out there...as far as where I fit in...I keep learning and growing as a person and make sure I put my heart into my hip hop, my heart into my music. I think when you put your heart into it, there's certain things that people can't deny... I was able to remain true to myself and I think that's why people were able to respect what I was doing."

Common answers Toup's question: “What advice can you give to aspiring artists on the local level to stay true to themselves and establish themselves as an artist?”

“For me I think it's important if you're an artist to look at what's going on in music, let the people inspire you but you always find your own voice withing that. You gotta find your voice, who you are, what you have to say, what do you gotta offer to hip hop that's unique?.. Once you find that, you find the music and different things that help create that sound, that unique perspective that you've got. I think at that point you gotta let the music speak for itself, go out there, and get up on the internet, go out there and circulate it to Djs, and get out and perform. Performing nurtures the artist, performing is the truth. When you get up on stage, you don't have any ... studio equipment in between you, you don't have promotional people doing things, you gotta show that you can rock! Performing is something that develops you as an artist too... try to give a unique perspective cuz ultimately, man, we as an artist don't want to hear the same thing or we can't tell the difference between you and Emcee X”

On who he's been bumpin':

“I've been listening to these 'Just Wright' mixtapes a lot … we did everything from Jamiroquai, to Bilal, to Bjork... it's just a true eclectic [collection of] artists with great music...and [I listen to] Radiohead, Lauryn Hill... Lil Wayne... those are some of the emcees I check out.”

Look out for Go! Common Classics (Geffen/UMe), to be released May 25, 2010, which compiles 11 of his most popular tracks from the past decade on MCA/Geffen plus the rare 1996 battle record “The Bitch In Yoo” and a new song, “Next Time (Just Right Version)” featuring Queen Latifah, from the film Just Wright.

-Jessica Toupin, icthiphop.com. All rights reserved.

Special thanks to Deborah Park, Sujata K. Murthy, and Common for making this interview possible!