Common Collaborates With Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote & Announces New Music Project

Lonnie Rashid Lynn (better known as Common) was in Atlanta yesterday to help encourage citizens to vote in the 2020 election. The Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy winner also made a big announcement this week involving another world-renowned Chicago native.

Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote initiative featured Common’s song “A Place In This World.” The former First Lady of the United States used the track in a campaign for National Vote Early Day on October 24.

“Every single vote will make a difference in this election. So, reach out to at least three friends or family members and remind them to turn in their mail-in ballot today or help them make a plan to vote on Election Day,” wrote Obama on Instagram. “Go to whenweallvote.org to get started and research your ballot. Special thanks to @Common for sharing this powerful song with @WhenWeAllVote and inspiring us all!”

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“A Place In This World” will appear on Common’s forthcoming A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1 which is scheduled to drop on Friday, October 30 via Loma Vista Recordings. The project consists of seven new songs and two new interludes. Black Thought and Lenny Kravitz are listed as guest features.

For the collection, Common assembled a band that includes Robert Glasper (keys), Karriem Riggins (drums), Burniss Travis (bass), Isaiah Sharkey (guitar), and PJ (vocals). A full-length listening film, directed by Mark Leibowitz, will feature Common’s musical ensemble. The performance visuals were inspired by the work of Ghanaian artist Derrick Boateng, the photographer who shot the A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1’s cover art.

“A Beautiful Revolution Pt 1 is affirmation. It’s recognition. It’s elevation. It’s music to go with a movement. Because the truth is, there is still so much work to do. Regardless of the outcome of the election, we need to make sure things do not return to the status quo. The intention of the music is to channel all of our pain and outrage into something productive, inspirational, and good. It’s to help lead a movement into our next phase of the work to be done,” says Common.

On Friday, Common will host an album listening experience on his official Youtube channel. Additionally, he is set to perform the single “Say Peace” on the November 4 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The emcee/actor will be joined by Black Thought and PJ on the NBC program the night after the 2020 presidential election.