Common, who previously
announced the release of a new line of children’s books, recently discussed
his upcoming three titles plus another book on the subject of AIDS.
The Chicago MC
has written two books tentatively titled I Like You, But I Love Me
, and ME: Mixed Emotions, in addition to his first book, The Mirror
in Me, which is scheduled to be released this fall.
"I’m working
on a fourth one dealing with AIDS," Common told AllHipHop.com. "It’s
called Hug Me, It’s Okay."
Common, who had
a family member that passed away from AIDS, has been avidly involved in the
"Knowing is Beautiful" campaign, which encourages HIV/AIDS prevention
and education.
The lead character
in the rapper’s first book The Mirror in Me is a boy from Africa who
moves to New York and battles identity issues.
"He keeps
going to the mirror after days of going to school and trying to be something
he ain’t, and he never sees his reflection until his teacher tells him, ‘One
day you gon’ learn,’" explained Common.
"He went home
that night real frustrated and [asked] the mirror, ‘Why don’t you show me my
reflection?’ And the mirror is like, ‘You can’t see you because you’re not being
you.’ So the mirror kind of gave him his lesson and he took it."
The books are meant
to instill valuable messages using subjects that children can relate to, according
to Common.
His latest critically
praised album, BE, currently holds the No. 4 spot on the Billboard
R&B/Hip-Hop Charts.
