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Common is a man who is anything but, and he\u2019s been evolving as an artist since the start of his three-decade-and-counting career when he was a young musician rapping about his love for hip-hop. These days, in addition to being a Grammy-winning artist, Common is an established actor, known for his work on AMC\u2019s Hell on Wheels and films like American Gangster, Selma, and Just Wright.\n\nCommon is what you\u2019d call a conscious artist\u2014someone who uses his platform to encourage social and political change. He believes it\u2019s the responsibility of an artist to say, \u201cI see what you\u2019re going through, and I\u2019m going to stand up and use my voice, my talents, and my energy towards making your world better.\u201d In his song \u201cBlack America Again,\u201d he uses the power of music to show us the problems that arise from systemic racism and what we can do to resolve them.\n\nDespite his success, he\u2019s not living a life disassociated from the, er, common people. You might even catch him writing a new song in his car if you find yourself in traffic on the 405. Ultimately, Common is an artist who cherishes the opportunity to grow and evolve, so if he has it his way, he\u2019ll be freestyling into his seventies.\n\nCommon joins Off Camera to discuss the responsibility of an artist, the socio-economic underpinnings of hip-hop braggadocio, and why he loves to feel nervous when he\u2019s starting a new project.