(AllHipHop News) The last 12 months have seen numerous accolades showered on Chicago rapper/actor Common. He released his Grammy nominated 10th studio album Nobody’s Smiling last July. He starred in the Oscar nominated film Selma. He won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song, and the track “Glory” is also up for Best Original Song at the 87th Academy Awards.

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Before closing the Grammy Awards with a performance of “Glory” with John Legend, Common stopped by Angie Martinez’s radio show to discuss the song, the movie, and more.

“Ava DuVernay, who directed Selma, she asked me to do a song,” said Common. “It was a day I was just laying down in my bed, and I was like, ‘I need to just call up John Legend and we need to start working on this song.’ I was just feeling the spirit about it.”

Common explained how his experience of playing a character in the film moved him to want to write the record. He also connected the theme of Selma to the recent deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner at the hands of police officers.

Angie decided to switch up the subject and ask Com about his well-known history of famous women in his life. Common revealed his experiences with his ex-girlfriends Serena Williams and Erykah Badu.

“She got something special. Erykah is a special woman,” stated Common. “E is super dope. She does have a power. It’s nothing like crazy.”