Common Reflects on Losing Five Grammys
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Wireimage/Noam Galai
(NEW YORK) — Common is up for two Grammy Awards this year, thanks to his latest album, Nobody’s Smiling, but he’s come a long way to get this far. The Chicago rapper said at the New York City launch of the Tanqueray Trunk Show last Saturday that initially he didn’t believe he’d win any accolades for his work.
“Even when I first released some of my first music I don’t know if I truly believed in the voice. I was like, ‘OK I’m passionate about hip-hop. I’m passionate about emceeing, but there’s something about belief,” he told the audience.
Common said it was fellow Chicago rapper Kanye West who “inspired me to be greater,” but added, “even when I started believing in myself and knowing I got it, it’s still some challenges that’s gonna come.”
In one instance, Common said, that belief in himself came back to bite him, in a comical way.
“I got nominated for five Grammys one year. I had worked on my speeches. I done got two-and-a-half speeches ready and I was like ‘All right, I’ll freestyle the other speeches if I get all five.’,” he said. “They announced two of my awards and I ain’t get those two, right? So when we get to the awards show I’m like, ‘OK.’ They announced two more of my awards. I ain’t get those. I’m like damn. I’m gonna have to jam all my speeches into one.”
Common went on: “It’s the Best Rap Album [category] they were about to announce and Ludacris came out and announced it and I’m thinking, he’s talking, He says, ‘Yo, this guy deserves it. He’s been in it for a long time. This is hip-hop. Give it up…’– and I start rising out of my seat like I won the award — ‘…give it up for Kanye West!’ And I’m clapping like this trying to keep that smile on for the TV,” Common finished, laughing.
This year, the two-time Grammy Award-winner is again nominated for Best Rap Album, along with Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for his song with Jhene Aiko, “Blak Majik.”
The 57th Annual Grammy Awards will air live Sunday from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on CBS.
Common is also nominated for an Oscar thanks to his song with John Legend, “Glory,” from the Selma soundtrack. The duo, who already took home the Golden Globe Award for the song, are scheduled to perform their song when the Oscars airs live February 22 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
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