Common Exclusive: ''I Was a Broken Kid, But This Mindset Shift Got me Grammy's!''

One of my greatest lessons has been in. one of the greatest pains I had, and. that was a heartbreak. Hip-hop icon Common is an Academy Award. Emmy and three-time Grammy winning. artist. What was the hardest part. about learning to love yourself and take. care of yourself? Sometimes I. can bring that little Rashid into the. present and those feelings of being. rejected and make this new rejection. greater than what it really is. Heartbreak, therapy, talking about the.

trauma you've been through. These are. not themes that hip-hop's known for. All. I was doing was telling my truth. How have you learned in the moment to. deal with that emotion and to learn how. to trust? >> You understand. what energy you want in your life and. who deserves to be in your life. I. usually wouldn't seize the moment. The. thought came to me like, I'm going to. call John Legend, and I tell him, "Hey, man, I'm part of this movie Selma. They. don't want a song from us, so we. submitting it, but will you do the.

song?" And he said, The number one health and wellness. podcast. Jay Shetty. Jay Shetty. The. one, the only Jay Shetty. I'm so excited to finally share the live. interviews from my very first podcast. tour presented by Chase Sapphire. Reserve. This one was recorded live at. the legendary Chicago Theatre with the. one and only Common. Special thanks to. MSG Entertainment and the Chicago.

Theatre. Chicago, Chicago, peace. I love this place, Chicago. I am so excited to be here tonight at. the Chicago Theatre in Chicago with Mr. Chicago. >> What a blessing. Thank you. >> and only Common. Uh Thank you. Common, I I want to start. off by just saying how grateful I am to. you for. your artistry. I grew up listening to. you in London. Your music, your words,

your energy has made it all the way over. to the 14-year-old me who was dreaming. of being a rapper. Wow. And. and then I listened to you and realized. I wasn't good enough. >> No, no, no. >> and we've spoken before. We never met. until tonight. >> Yeah. And your voice has such a power. It carries so much energy. It carries so. much that the frequency you operate at. comes through your voice so powerfully. and. I want to start off by asking you, you. know, today obviously we know you as the.

Emmy Award winner, the Grammy Award winner, the Oscar Award. winner. Yeah. Yeah, give it up, right? It's like. there's not many people. There's not. many people. But I want to know who Common was before. Yeah. the Emmy, the Grammy, the Oscar. because that's what we've been talking. about tonight is when you're at the. start of your journey. Who were you at. the start of your journey? Well, first, thank you, Jay, and thank you all. And I. just thank God for this moment. Um.

and. who I was before. I was out as an artist, I was a young black boy from the south. side of Chicago who. who had a a tremendous. incredible mother and a great stepfather. and a beautiful community that taught me. everything from God to. to survival to intelligence to life and.

to. love. And. that gave me a foundation of someone who. wanted to actually be something in the. world. I didn't know what I wanted to be. all the way, but. I knew I wanted to give something to the. world. And that's who I was before I. actually got to be out there as an. artist. Some of my dreams was. basketball, to be a basketball player. Um.

but I can't hoop, y'all. Just just so. you know. Not as good as I used to, but I can. hoop. But uh. yeah, so you know, I just wanted to be. something it it's something OJ that. one thing that got me when I was really. a young kid was. I used to love this English class. because our English teacher would teach. us a lot about like black history and. and like all these great writers from. James Baldwin and Dr. Maya Angelou and. and um Nikki Giovanni and Richard.

Wright. So, one day she told us the story about this. young man named Emmett Till. And Emmett Till was from Chicago. and in the '50s, I believe it was 1955, but he. went to visit his family down in. Mississippi and went to the corner store. with his cousins and was accused of um. whistling at a white woman. And her husband. eventually found where Emmett Till lived. when he was staying with his aunt for.

the summer and they they grabbed him out. of the house and. they ended up um beating him to death. and threw him in the river. The reason why I bring this story up is. his mother chose to show have a open. casket funeral and his head was. bigger than I can describe. And the way they had beat him for. whistling at a white woman what what. what he was accused of, it always hit me in a place where I felt. almost like guilty. I felt pain. I felt.

like I owed Emmett Till. And. that was really a real driving force in. my life. Though I never met Emmett Till. in my life, his spirit was like. something that I felt like I had to live. for and for those people who had been. like him who had lost their lives for no. reason but specifically Emmett Till. Now, that was one of the driving forces. for me as a kid even though I didn't. know what I wanted to be and um.

I I just want to say that that that. meant a lot to me. It's incredible. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Go for it. It's. it's incredible to me how people we've. never met. and people we've never seen how their. stories can transform our lives. For me, when I was growing up, I was reading. everything from David Beckham Yes. >> and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson when he. was a wrestler all the way through to. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.

>> Yes. And I was really lucky that my dad. would give me biographies and. autobiographies of these people. and it was because of him handing them. to me that I got so inspired by people. who'd lived these service-based lives. >> Yes. But I wanted to ask you when you. read that story, when you heard about. that story, how did you not get bitter or negative. but become hopeful about wanting to. represent and live a good life because. hearing about those kind of pains and.

struggles can also make you act. different, but for you it pushed you to. want to do something positive with your. life. The killing of Emmett Till was. really the catalyst, many believe, for. the civil rights movement. And how that affected me was. man, I felt like this beautiful young man. didn't have like that evil energy to. him, that dark energy to him, and I felt. that I wanted to be a reflection of. that. I strive to approach life in ways.

where when I was go through something, I would figure a way. out by. figuring out the positive, the the. lesson in it. And I didn't have that. type of like information as a kid or. like I didn't have it like really. developed, but I knew that as a kid that. I didn't want to be putting negative. energy out there even when I was dealing. with difficult moments. That didn't mean. I didn't feel those difficult moments or. I didn't have the anger, but I couldn't.

stay there. And I knew when I saw what. happened with with Emmett Till, yes, of. course I did feel some anger and like. why did that happen to him? But I knew I. had to make it into a positive and I. wanted my life to feel positive and I. wanted others' lives to feel positive. So, that's what I used it for and eventually. in certain aspects of my life I've been. able to translate that, you know, and. that's what part of the practice is the. of what we do. Like I'm so grateful that.

I know you can rhyme, too. I know you. can rhyme. I I know you can rhyme, but I'm so. grateful in how you are using your words. and your gifts and your spirit and your. heart. It's It's amazing how. the things that we do. to build to get to you would never know. that your love for writing would like. lead you to this place. And I would. never know that like the things that I. experienced whether it was with Emmett. Till or on a positive note.

Some people don't know this. Um I was a ball boy for the Chicago. Bulls, right? Yeah. I was a ball boy. So, so I was there when Michael Jordan. first came into the league. In fact, I. used to have some Jordans. I used to get. gym shoes or sneakers as people say. When in Chicago, we say gym shoes. So, so um I used to get gym shoes from a lot. of players and at the time I would give. them to my teachers. I would sell them. But I had some Jordans that I gave to my. father that he signed.

My father would, God bless his soul, he. would wear them to my concerts and I'd. be like, "Dad, do not wear these shoes, man. These shoes is worth too much.". That being said, I didn't know, you. know, it's amazing how as you said, sometimes. well, I did get to be around Michael. Jordan. I didn't know him well, but I. got to see that. It's amazing how. witnessing that greatness affected me in. a positive way, too. So, it was some. some heavy things that affected me and.

some beautiful things that affected me. Yeah, and it's your it's your power that. you were able to notice both yes and. convert them and transfer them into. building a positive life. And we were. talking about dreams earlier and I know. a lot of this audience got dreams, right? This audience has dreams. And often I find yeah, give it up for. your dreams. You got to. I know there's dreams. I know there's. dreams and sometimes it can feel like. you know, you're holding that dream. back. You're not living it fully. You're.

hiding it. You're kind of embarrassed. about it. Maybe you're guilty about it. Maybe you're Maybe you don't believe in. it in yourself. You said one of your. early dreams you were telling me. backstage and even now you were. mentioning was actually to be a. basketball player. How how serious were. you about that dream compared to what. then became music, what then became. acting? Like, how serious was that. dream? No, that dream was very serious. I mean, I I was dedicating my time and. energy, a lot of it, to just playing. ball. Like, that was one of the most.

important things to me and and my dream. was the the Magic Johnsons, the Isiah. Thomases, the the Michael Jordans, um. all these great players. that I actually got to be, like I said, in the presence of. It was like it made. it even that much more attainable to me. I worked on it. I worked on it and I got. pretty good. I mean, I I can't, you. know, we we all as when you're a hooper. or whatever, you feel like, "Oh, I'm. cold. I I got game." But But in all. reality, I probably wasn't pro.

but it's beautiful how. divine and how great God orchestrates. things for you to be where you should be. when you trust in that. I got injured in. in my sophomore year, and I was out for like months. In those. months. of me not being able to play ball led me. to wanting to write more. Like I was. already writing, but it was like, "Okay, I can't hoop right now, so I'm going to. write." And when I came back to the.

team, I wasn't getting any playing time, so I was like, "Well, I'm going to go be. a rapper then, man.". And it just, you know, it kind of guided. me to where I should be. Um, so my first. dream was to hoop, and I kind of got to. live out that dream in a movie called. Just Right, where I played an NBA. player. You know, I was like, "Wow, this is. amazing." cuz if it was a fulfillment of. a dream as an actor, it was my first. leading role, but it also was like, "Oh, I'm actually getting to play like I'm an.

NBA player." I was playing against. Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard at the. time, and that it was it was an amazing. experience, and it's and it's something. how we talked about this, how you know, you you have a dream, and that dream can. evolve, and it could become you find a. new dream, and and that dream can. evolve. And I think, you know, I'm really keen on dreams because and I. really try to. try to like. inspire young people to to have a dream,

but even whatever age we are, but really. I want young people to get that early. because that was one of the most. important things for me. growing up that led me to say, "Hey, I'm. not going to go too far over. to this craziness." Like we in Chicago, you going to get into some craziness, right? You go you going to be around it. You going to you going to experience. something. You might participate in it, But, because I had a dream,

I would only participate but so much. I. had a boundary. I had a boundary. And. that truly was my guiding light like, "You know what? I want to be something. I want to do something." And even as. those things begin to evolve, it still. became a boundary for me to be like, "All right, y'all doing too much. I. can't do that over there.". The The thing I love about that and I. want us to take away from this is. sometimes your first dream. doesn't work out. And I think for a lot of us when our. first dream doesn't work out, we think.

it's dream over. Yeah. Like game over. It's That's it. Now we can't live any. part of our dream and. you know, I was saying my first dream, real dream was to become a monk. That's. what I thought I was going to do for the. rest of my life. >> Yeah. And I did it for 3 years and when. it ended, I felt like I'd failed. Like I. felt like it was over and I felt, "How. am I ever going to. spread what I've learned? And how am I. ever going to live a life that's. dedicated to spirituality? Like will. that ever happen again?" And it's.

incredible. the plan, as you've been saying, that. God has for you. And I was sharing this earlier with a. couple of people. I was saying that. God's imagination is far better than my. imagination. >> Yes. Right? But. >> Yes. There's a scripture in the Bible that. says his thoughts are greater than your. thoughts. You know, that's that's very. important for us to to understand. because sometimes in that dream, you. like, "I want it. I want it. I want it.

God, this I mean, cuz I have that" I. still have it to this day. I want this. role. I want this role. And it doesn't happen. And now I've grown to understand that. God's dreams and his thoughts are. greater than my thoughts. So, for. whatever reason. it is, I'm not supposed to be in that. particular film. I'm not supposed to be. with that particular relationship. I'm. not supposed to have that particular. job. I'm not supposed to have that house. that I really knew I wanted.

Uh it's hard to grab on to it at times, but the more and more, you know, we. practice it and and speak it and know it. and trust in our heavenly father, in the. creator of the heavens and earth, and. know that that plan is is a master plan, and all we have to do is listen and be. in tune and get the lessons from it, too. Life becomes more beautiful, and I. can look at those moments where I. haven't gotten a role, and that that. doesn't mean that I don't feel like, "Damn, man, I really wanted to be. working. I was excited about this.

script. I wanted I'm I'm not going to. fake and act like I didn't." But I can. say, "Okay, creator, I know you got. something greater for me, something out. there, and I'm going to do whatever I. need to do to be present and also be. obedient and surrender to what the. higher plan is." Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I I I saw something the other day. that really resonated with me. My my. friend sent it to me, and it said.

something like, "When things don't go. your way, it's God and the universe. saying, 'Not now, not this. I've got something better.'". >> Yes. >> Right? And it's that understanding of. just being able to. have that trust in the moment. I want to ask you that. How have you. learned to build that trust in the. moment? Like you said, we're both human. We're not perfect. You feel that pain. I. feel that. I want to. achieve things. I'm trying to build. things. I'm trying to create things, and.

I'm the same. I feel pain. I'm not going. to sit here and lie and say, "Oh, I just. trust everything, and you know, I'm. beyond that." No, that's not true. Like. I feel upset. You're like, "Oh gosh, I. worked so hard for this. I put in so. much effort. We did everything. What. happened?". When you've done it enough times, you. get a better relationship, but how have. you learned in the moment to deal with. that emotion and to learn how to trust? It's been a process and and as I said, like you know, it's a practice. I was. thinking earlier today about. how we always talk about bad habits,

but I've started thinking about good. habits. For me, one of my good habits. was has been to use um. the scriptures that I that I read and. and and stay. consistent and diligent in my prayers. and my meditations. Staying consistent with the way I love. myself and treat myself. And. that kind of helps me build the armor. and the and the strength to be like when. I have some of the most difficult pains.

One of my greatest lessons and times. that I've grown as a human being has. been in one of the greatest pains I had. and that was a a breakup. A heartbreak. where I was like broken. And I hadn't been broken like that. I. had lost people in my life. And. that was definitely devastating. But it. was something about a heartbreak where. the person it was obviously you hear. they're still alive. This was the first. love that I had as an adult and I knew.

God had ordained it. But it's at a certain point. it became not healthy. And. when we were parting, it was hard. It. was really hard. And it wasn't like I. made the decision. I got broke up with, you know. And it was like. ooh, this is hard and at times I wasn't. wasn't eating like consistently. I was. sitting in this hotel room for weeks.

Just trying to find a peace. Calling my aunt, talking to different. people about it. It was weighing on me. And I remember. just starting to read certain books like. The Mastery of Love and and Return to. Love and these a lot of love books. y'all, you know. And uh and uh. but. each time and each thing I read, I would. get something out of it. Not even I. wouldn't even have to read the whole. book, but I would get something out of. it. And I started thinking and. practicing. some of the things that I was reading.

As much as I was still trying to hold on. and got and be like, "Yo God, I know you. said this is this is the relationship. I. thought this was the relationship.". Well, I learned some lessons in that. One of the lessons was that I was. willing to dim my light. for others. And in that relationship, I was dimming. my light. It wasn't It's not that. person's fault. I take responsibility. for that. And I was dimming my light, but I was doing that not only in that. relationship, I would do it when I would.

get around other artists that were more. known than me, people that were like. more celebrated than me. I would just. dim my light. For whatever, somebody might not even It. might not even be about popularity, money, or anything. I would dim my light. if someone else just had something that. I felt was greater than me. Well, I started to learn to love myself. more and that's became a practice and it. became saying beautiful things to myself. and repeating those scriptures and and. like starting to do things for myself.

that like. fed into who I am and the things that I. love. And Jay, about being present, that. that really taught me to be present. because. at a certain point I had to realize, yeah, that was something that a. relationship that was in divine order. for me. And we had gotten the lessons. out of that relationship and I got the. pain that would that would send me to a. whole new height and would turn me into. a light that I never knew I had. And that's when it was done at that.

point. But it's hard sometimes to. understand that it's done. But once you. realize that God ordained the. relationship and he also ordained the. progress from it and and the moving. forward from it, then I was able to move. forward and be more present in my life. and take that understanding of man, I. can believe in myself. I grew up in a in. a environment where my mother is very. strong and and like. wise woman. Almost everyone I was.

around, you couldn't really like be too. confident. Or my mother would let you. know, "Oh, you think you cocky or you. think you're doing this? You think you're doing this?". But. it's you got to find a balance in that. And I didn't have the balance. I would. always dim my light. Yeah. And and. eventually I was like I have to declare. and claim. and know within myself and speak towards. my greatness, towards the things that I.

envision for myself and the things that. I know I am, I have to say it. I have to. believe it and I have to not be afraid. to wear my greatness in front of anyone. Yeah, I had to learn that. This is going to be a surprise for. everyone. I wanted to check if there was. a a poet, a rapper, a spoken word artist. in the audience that wanted 60 seconds. to share with the audience and with.

Common their skills. >> Oh. I remember getting the music. I was. going to my father's memorial. I was. overwhelmed. I ended up writing that. song and that song became the song that. we ended up winning a. uh Golden Globe, winning a Grammy and. winning an Oscar award for. You either grow together or you grow. apart. Yeah. >> But both are growing. Yes. And you often. miss that when you feel like, "Oh, well, if we stayed together, then it worked.

Then it was good for me. Yeah. But if it. it wasn't good for me. As As I was. listening to you, I was thinking about. something that. I always try to remind myself, especially when it comes to people going. through breakups, is that. you either grow together or you grow. apart. Yeah. >> But both are growing. Yes. Right? We. think if we grow together, we're. growing. Yeah. >> But you also say you grow apart. >> Yes. >> But there's still growth. >> Still growth. >> in that journey. Yeah. And you often. miss that when you feel like Well, if we.

stayed together, then it worked. Then it. was good for me. Yeah. >> But if it ended, it wasn't good for me. Yeah. And and I wanted to ask you about, you know, these themes. I just I don't. want to take it for granted. The themes. you're talking about. You're talking. about heartbreak. You're known to talk. talk about therapy. You're talking about. the trauma you've been through. You. know, we have your beautiful book here, And Then We Rise, a guide to loving and. taking care of self. These are not themes that you Right. Give it up. Yeah. These are not themes.

These are not themes that hip-hop's. known for. To have you sitting here. and you talk about this balance of your. mom and being too cocky. It's like that. Like hip-hop has that bravado, that, you. know, that, uh, feeling of It's not. really about humility. It's more about. ego and being present. And then here you. are with all these awards and all this. achievement, but then you're talking. about trauma and therapy and heartbreak. >> Yeah. That can't have been easy to start. talking about it on day one in that. space. I can't imagine. It wasn't, but I.

will say I did start with a with a. greater advantage. And my advantage was. I had a group of friends that allowed me. to be me. And allowed me to be unique. Allowed me to be different. And they. embraced me. They would talk, you know, they're going to talk their junk about. me and like joke on my crochet pants or. crochet hats and, you know, whatever. like obscure things I was into. But it. still was love and it still was like we.

we are supporting you. And that that. kind of helped me to go out in the world. and not be. as afraid to be myself. So, the actual. like thought of being myself wasn't as. difficult as it was seen. You. What what was the question though? The. >> No, no, no, no. You all said. That's not honesty again. >> this junie is this junie is good. I do. want to know what the question My my. mind went to to talking about that. But. for a second, I wanted to know cuz I. also had another thought about when you.

asked the question. But this junie, I. want to say, man, I really. Yo, this junie, man, I'm digging this, bro, for real. Cheers. Cheers. >> Cheers. Cheers. Cheers. Cheers. Cheers. Cheers, brethren. Is. that right? Um. my question was how does someone who's. in hip-hop, which is known for being. bragadocious. >> That's what it is. >> and egotistic, have the comfortability. >> what it is. That's what it is. So, I was on my third album.

And. I was doing a show. And after the show, this guy came up to me. And he was like, "Common, your music, this song you did, it's called Retrospect for Life and it. was about abortion and I was telling my. own experience and story. It started off as a poem and it. eventually was a song. And he and he said, "The song you did, Retrospect for Life, made me and my wife decide to have our.

child.". Uh and I was. And I'm not saying that this I'm I'm. saying that because. that was a moment where it was like, "What? Like, this music and me telling my story. can affect you in that way? Like I All I was doing was telling my. truth. And I would and I was doing it. unapologetic. And I just had to do it from my heart. because. hip-hop was the way I was expressing. myself in the best way that I could and.

in the freest way that I could and the. most honest way and sincere. So, for this gentleman to tell me. that. his child is alive because of this song, it made me know that I had a higher. purpose with. the music and with what I was doing. And. the and that. that allowed me as a hip-hop artist, as. a black man, cuz ultimately when we.

saying like, "Yo, you coming from. hip-hop." Hip-hop has been the like the. garden for black and Latino. black and brown people to express. ourselves and then it brought everyone. into the garden, which is a beautiful. thing. But, it was a it was a garden. that started with with our expression. So, when we saying like, "Coming from. hip-hop, expressing yourself in this. way." It's really saying being a black. kid, expressing yourself in this way, how did you do that? I felt so good that.

I knew that I could move my people. through the music that I was like, "I have to keep expressing myself in. this way." And it was those songs like. love songs that ended up being things. that people responded to from me. People. wanted to hear them bars and all that, but I had a a gentleman come to me. earlier before show and be like, "Hey. Common, would you be okay if um in the. middle of your song The Light, which is. about a woman and woman being a light,

um. in the middle of your song, would you. stop so I could propose to my to my. girlfriend?" And I said, "Yes, of. course." And uh. and you know, to have. to know that I'm writing songs about. from my heart and spirit and my. experiences and they become. those things for people led me to. understand that I have to be as. vulnerable, as goofy, as. like free, reflective, as like just open, like non-perfect. I.

don't know of a better word that I can. say. You You're a wordsmith. All right. But, you know, I got to be that. Anything else is is misguided people, or. is not being true to to who I am as an. artist, is not being true to my purpose, and I'm not doing my duty to the most. high God. Jay, if there's anything that. I can tell you that that drives me, is I. every day and I know you talked about. every day, and I want to put into. practice some of those things you said.

we should do every day. I'm I'm so into. that. The exposure and all that. I thank. you for that. One of the things that that gets me is I. want to please the most high. I want to. stay in my purpose and please the most. high. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's. There's nothing better than that. >> Yeah. There's not There's no greater. accountability. There's no greater. source of inspiration. There's no. greater channel and Yeah. There isn't. apart from that. And as I'm listening to. you, one of the things that really.

resonated with me was what you said. about the friends. Because to have friends that, you know, in England we call it banter, right? People you can banter with. Like someone. who can like poke fun at you, but then. at the same time has your back. Yeah. And having someone that if you can do. that with them, that means you're closer. to them. So, when we first moved to the. States, or maybe more LA, when me and my wife would banter with. each other, cuz she's from Britain, too, >> Yeah. everyone just think we're like we're. going to break up or something.

Cuz we can like really lay into each. other. But But that's part of our love. language, cuz the more I can do that. with you, the deeper we know each other. >> Yes. Cuz as we grow up, you lose some. friends that you grew up with. Maybe. people move cities. They get married to. someone else. They move into a different. part of the world. Maybe you've been here your whole life. You had the same friends, but you kind. of outgrown them now. Right. How do you. as an adult continue to build new. friendships that look like your future. and not like your past? That's. beautiful. You said people was like,

"Mhm, right.". What do y'all say about that? No, um. Man, you know, at a certain point like once I. started to like, okay, understand who I. am. and. and I'm still learning, you know, like. we hopefully we always will learn till. we leave this planet on the physical. level. So, I'm still learning, but I do. know. a lot of things about me and I know. myself and. I think.

one of the things that has helped me to. understand about. attracting new friends and who belongs. in in this atmosphere is people's. energy, being discerning about people's. intentions, making sure that any. friendships, relationships, even. moments, you want to be able to give and you want. to be able to receive, too. You start by. giving. You know, most of the time I'm. If I see somebody, I'mma greet them. How. you doing? And hopefully they'll greet.

back. Boom, love. And it's like It might. just be that moment or it may be more. than that, but the point is you. understand. what energy you want in your life and. who. deserves to be in your life and you also. have to be accountable for. being a good. friend, partner, a homie in their lives and like. one of my closest friends is backstage. with me. Even though we talk about tell.

the same stories over and over again. like, you know, I'll be like, "Damn, we. still But we still have. We still tell them same jokes about each. other. But we also. share scriptures. We also share. motivation. He'll send me things that. motivate. We also talk about life and. just being in pain, going through these. things. And for me, that's a friendship. that evolves. Some people when you say. you you said a very good point. Sometimes you outgrow other people, but.

a great beautiful friendship and. relationship you all grow as. individuals. And even if you ain't at. not at the same place at the same time. always, you might get there. And I think. for me, just understanding when I'm. around people like, how do I feel around. this person? And how how do how do this. person make me feel? And hopefully I'm. making them feel great. Then that's the. type of energy I want to be around. And. is this something that's going to be. consistent? We we doing this quick movie.

together and we we can hang out at this. time, but this is not going to go. further than in that as a friendship. That happens sometimes, but that's okay. That person is great for your life at. that moment. And you all can give each. other equal yoke. But ultimately, it's. about to me just being around energy. that you know. is there to better you. Iron sharpens iron and you you bring. that into your life. Well said. Well. said.

I feel like when I'm vibrating at my. highest energy. it's really clear whether someone wants. to match it or not. >> Yeah. Whereas if I walk into a space and. I go at my lowest frequency. I don't actually know where someone. stands. So it's almost like being at. your highest vibration or frequency. actually allows you to see what energy. someone's at and whether they're willing. to match and you're going to match them. >> Is that new friends? Cuz I don't have a. whole lot of new friends, to be honest.

You know, but I do have new people in my. life that I work with that I love that. I'll be there for, but I'm like, you. know, friends, not just people you like, I'm cool with them. I'm talking about. friends. How do you decide who can who. you let into your life, especially with. you being having such a big widespread. platform and so many people probably. wanting to be in that space. How do you. make decisions on who I'm pretty lucky, I think, cuz cuz my lane is so clear. The only people who want to get closer,

people who want to be spiritual. Yeah. And so it kind of makes it easy because. they know that I'm not really interested. in other stuff. So it's kind of like the. people that do want to get close, they're all people that want to evolve, that want to grow, you know, it's people. like yourselves who want to become more. healed, which I love because my lane is. so clear. And that's what I mean by when. we're vibrating at a frequency that I'm. not always at a high frequency, but if. our frequency is clear, yes, then it's. clear to others whether we're going to.

be a good time or not. So to some people. I'm the most boring person on the planet. because they know I'm not into the three. things that they love, but that's why I. think it's so good to be clear about who. we are and broadcast that. I don't mean. necessarily publicly, I mean, when you. walk into a room, whatever word you say, the question you first ask, the way you. answer a question can completely shift. the direction of a conversation. Like. when I walk into a room, I want to get.

into one deep conversation with someone. in the corner. I'm not the person who's. like milling around trying to say hello. to everyone. There's nothing wrong with. that. That's just not me. And so I'd. much rather walk away from an event. having had a deep, powerful, profound. conversation and made one new friend. than feel like I spoke to 30 people. about small talk. And again, there's. nothing wrong with that. It's just who I. am. So I love some of the things you. just said because. I love great conversations. I feel like.

that's one of the ways I learn so much. about myself is through conversating. with people who who just have some. emotional insight intelligence. That's. one of my favorite things, man. No. matter where I am I and you know, my. friends be like, boy, you talk a lot. You know, I I don't know. But but but I do love those. conversations. And another thing you. mentioned it that I have to say has been. one of the most. powerful aspects about.

helping me in my life is to be clear. Like taking care of myself when it comes. to like the foods I eat, like having a. like I said my own meditation and. prayer. What does that look like? Walk. us through some of those habits cuz I. feel like this group loves learning. about habits and practices and tools and. tactics. What are What are some of yours. that you commit to? Wake up in the. morning thanking God for the day. Thanking God just for the day, for the. breath of life. And. as Jay said, this is a spiritual thing.

I'm not like. when I talk about God I I'm talking. about the creator of the heavens and. earth that exist in all women, men, that. exist in all people on the planet. It's. not a religious thing. It's This is. about the spirit that created all of us. and that exist in all of us. So, just. communion with God is the first thing. and then I get into it's certain. scriptures that I read that reinforce.

who I am and my relationship with the. creator. And then I get into um my. prayer. And then I'll get into my meditation. People ask me like, do you do this type. of meditation, this type? My meditation. is a Southside meditation. I came I just came up with I pulled from. everything that I had experienced and. was like, this works for me. It's not. going to be this 20-minute meditation. Might be a minute or two, but I'm going. to get it in and and it works. And it.

works for me, but seriously, it is it's. that meditation. And then I go to this. other book that I have that has these. mantras and and scriptures to them. At. that point, you know, like I'm prepared. for the day. And going into that day. knowing that, man, this is going to be a. beautiful day cuz we all Sometimes I. wake up like uh something feel funny. This like as soon as I wake up. But me. getting into gratitude and just saying. thank you for the day and thank you for. the breath of life starts to shift that.

funny feeling. And then like me starting. to starting to. to say the things that I know I'm. created for and the purpose that I'm. here for, it starts to shift and my day becomes. greater just from there. And even if. some incidents happen, my perspective on. the day is is not down because I've done. those things. Now, the diet and food. side, I get into my I got my supplements. that I take and, you know, take those in. the morning and then I try to get a.

workout in. Like I said, sometimes you. don't have hour to do a workout. If you. can get whatever time and it's just. movement. What I noticed is when I move. around, whether it's a walk I used to. think I was like, man, those old people. be walking, man. You know, but now I'm taking walks and I walking. in London, walking in the parks and I'm. like, am I that age that I'm walking? But but. a walk is a beautiful thing and I. realized just the movement of the body.

is good for the mind and the soul. So, this is all part of my. like wholeness when I when I talk about. in the book and then we rise is is that. wholeness of like. cuz I had certain aspects. like I was always pretty much a. spiritual guy. Like just and learning my. spirituality, you know, reading from the. Bible at one point, reading in the. Quran, and reading different things to. just know God for myself. But then I needed other aspects. And I.

started to to figure out that the diet. made me see clearer. Not only did I see. clearer like. I was rapping clearer. Like my voice. sounded clearer. Like for real. Like for. not having certain foods in my body and. taking care and and my energy I was. waking up with energy instead like so I. felt the difference and that was all the. research I needed to do. I didn't need. to read. nothing to know that like, oh, I feel. better doing these things. So all those.

things are things that I put into. practice and you know, I pick up new. things like just listening to you. I'm. like, wait, I'm going to start figuring. out this exposure. Bless you. I'm going. to I'm figure out this exposure thing. like and and and see what I can do cuz. I'm always looking to learn and grow. Yeah, I love that. Talking about. exposure therapy. I wanted this event to be special and. this is going to be a surprise for. everyone. I wanted to give. someone in the room. We've been talking. about dreams. We've been talking about.

rising above judgment. We've been. talking about. taking your opportunity. I wanted to. check and there's no pressure but I. wanted to check if there was a a poet, a. rapper, a spoken word artist in the. audience that wanted 60 seconds. to share with the audience and with. common their skills. I want to give you a moment and I don't. want you to steal a moment from someone. else. So this isn't messing around. It's. It's someone who truly has I see the. yellow shirt. I see one up there. I love.

that hustle. They hustle. They hustle. The hustle. I. love it. What's his name? Oh, you don't know? Oh, wow. Okay. That's amazing. That's great. You know, I really feel like there's moments like. this. We got you in the seat. >> Yes. Uh to give someone a moment, to. give someone an opportunity. To put someone out there, to put someone. on. I chose the hardest person to get. downstairs. Now he's lost trying to find. his way. While we're waiting for him, I. want to want.

Oh, here we go. Want to come through? Want to say hello. before? Respect my brother. Bless you. Bless you. Bless you. Bless. you. Bless you. Thank you, brother. Bless you. Thank you. >> All right. So, your name is? Daniel. Daniel, where are you from? I'm from. Chicago. From Chicago? Yeah. I love it. I'm from Korea. You're rapper, spoken word artist, poet? I'm a poet. In In all honesty, I've.

taken kind of a backseat from the. spotlight. I don't have any socials. I. go and perform at open mics. occasionally. But. yeah, my heart is pumping. I love it. Well, this is This is what we wanted to. do tonight because you running down it. We saw you hustle. So, you take a breath. just to catch your breath. But that was the point of tonight. I. want to make it known that you can do. it. It's not a. you know, I think we often feel like we.

have to wait for our moment. We got to. work for it. But we want to give it to. people right here. So, I want to give. you 60 seconds. to share with us. the words, the work, whatever you want. to read to us. Come and we'll give us a. zero out of 10 rating. No. Uh you good, Dennis? You ready? Yeah, you got it, bro. You got it, bro. You got it. You got it. Um. Okay, so I'm I'm going to give you. something that's relatively new and it's.

about the lady that pushed me to come up. here. She's. She's up there. Uh-huh. Real quick cuz I don't want to waste any. of your time. >> You're not wasting anyone's time. God, I'm nervous. Why am I up here? Um. Yes. >> Yeah. It's called my new favorite color. If I. asked any of you what's your favorite. color, it would come without a second guess. You might even attribute some colors to.

different moods. Green might be the envy. in a mean girl whose burn book with. burning looks through sky blue retinas. like our heavenly sibling. Riling with the beauty of God's. creations, but not a single star burns. brighter than the patron my eyes behold. After all, they say that's where her. beauty lies. So, my answer is. red. That's my favorite color. It's something about the way it massages. her cheeks before they form that rose. that reminds me of Aretha's declaration. A dedication to the strongest flower in.

concrete jungles never meant to grow, but defying all odds. God's peculiar creation. Sending sensations where you hear, see, and touch vibrations. I love to make her. blush just to see a smile from those red. lips. I'd re-educate the inner child in me. that was deceived to believe that. synesthesia couldn't be achieved, but. who knew the color red could taste so. sweet. Scent like strawberries harvested. solely by God's worthy. I'll happily. trick for this treat. And I'mma leave it. there cuz I am dying.

All right. Yo, Jay. Jay. Jay. Let me I'mma rhyme. I'mma rhyme it. Yo, that was that was dope. Real dope. Yo. I know it's kind of hard to handle, but everybody give it up for Daniel. Yo, I say it like this. I say it like this. in God we trust. I see your shirt and I. tell MCs they not like us. What can you. do? Yo, you know the whole outcome. I.

see Martin and of course I see Malcolm. We know right now I keep my mind heavy. I keep it already when I'm with Jay. Shetty. It's like this calm sense. Yo, I. guess you know me. I got to say rest in. peace to that brother Kobe. This is how. it is. Yo, we at your service. We right. here in Chicago and this is about. purpose. It's on purpose. Yo, I'm. telling you these words is my man Jay. Yo, I told you he's a wordsmith. Calm.

sense I'm coming. I got my brother from. London. This is how it be. I got a. hundred styles and running. I can let. you know my mind's like a encyclopedia. When I come to the Chicago theater. letting you know it's time for me to. climb. We talk about the spirituality. It's divine. And I'm coming straight for. Sha off the head. My man Daniel said his. favorite color is red. Yo, I read. through books. So, this how we look. We. got to understand calm sense I never. been shook. I've been hanging in the.

places where we hang outside. I'm. talking about the West and of course the. South side. And that's how it be when I. know the goal off. And shout out to my. people that's even from the north. Calm. sense. It's like this. Yo, I guess I'm. living it. I was cruising up and down. the street called Michigan Avenue. grabbing new things that I need to do. Calm sense. Yo, I told you I believe in. you. And believe in me as I'm receiving. these things. Earlier we was talking Jay. about dreams. And that's how it be. The.

style of be free. I just got to say. RESPECT TO G.O.D. GIVE IT UP FOR DANIEL EVERYONE. YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. That was That was a. surprise FOR ME. OH. WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. >> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh yeah.

That was I was not expecting that. I love I love rapping, man. I love I. love MCing. And once once we had the. music a little bit and Daniel did his. thing, I'm like I'm at home. I'm on the. J's. I'm on the J's head, you know? I'm. like. I got I want to MC, so. >> You just blessed us all. I mean, that. was straight off the dome. It was. all the references, the What up T-shirt. reference. It's amazing. Uh Keep it free, right?

>> It's um. Oh my god, thank you. Thank you so much. for that. And thank you, Daniel. Give it. up for Daniel again, everyone. You took your moment. Uh I love I love people taking their. moment. >> Yes. >> And I love. helping people have their moment. And. when those two things come together, because. I feel like I spent my whole life. waiting for someone to give me a shot. Yeah. And often we can feel that way. We're just waiting for someone to open a. door or just let us in or whatever it.

may be. And you know, oh, there we go. He just made it upstairs. And it's just beautiful when you put. yourself out there like that. And I hope. that. you know, one of the things I like to do. differently in these evenings is. have moments like that, because when you. see someone. who's sitting in the same place as you.

are, but takes their moment, I hope it's. a reminder to you tomorrow when you're. out the office, when you're talking to. someone, when you're with your family and you've. just been avoiding that moment, I hope. it gives you the courage and the. strength to go Daniel did that. You know, on stage. in front of 2,000 people with Common and. Yo, Jay, I got to say like. you made me think about like. it was a point where I I had to learn to. take that moment. And this happened to. me this is further into my career. I'm.

This is. basically I was in a movie called Selma, right? And and I was an actor in Selma, yeah. And I'm directed by the great Ava. DuVernay and I mean it's incredible. actors in there and actresses. But. anyway, it was about the people of the. civil rights movement. And. we finished the movie and the movie it. really moved my spirit because. we were living in the shoes and in the. skin of the people of the civil rights. movement. So we got to meet Ambassador.

Andrew Young and and John Lewis, the. late great John Lewis and it affected my. life. I remember Ambassador Andrew Young. at our first meeting said, "What are you. willing to die for? Live for that." He said, "We were. willing to die for freedom and justice. and equality, so we live for it every. day.". Right? Well, that all that affected me. We finished the movie. and I'm asking everybody that's a part.

of it, "What are y'all going to do for. the like songs? Like what's going What's. Y'all got any music in mind?" They was. like, "Yeah, we got something in mind, but it's not you, right?". So I usually wouldn't seize the moment. or take that moment and like I would be. shy. moment. That's what I was talking about. dimming my light at times. I was on the phone. talking to my manager saying, "What are. they doing with the song for for Selma?".

And he was like, "Man, they said they. they got some people they want to use, but they they haven't. locked it in.". It hit me like it was like. the creator speaking to me. God was. speaking to me. I literally said, "I'm. going to call you back.". The thought came to me like I'm going to. call John Legend and see if he would be. open to like working with me on a song. for this. I hang up the phone with my. manager. and call John. John is in London and I. tell him, "Hey man, I'm part of this.

movie Selma. It's incredible. Man, like. it's about Dr. King and the women and. men of the Civil Rights Movement. Let's. do a song. Now, they don't want a song. from us, so we're submitting it, but. will you do the song?". He said, "I got you, brother." I usually. wouldn't ask like my friends and and I. and I have worked with John before, but. I wasn't the type to just ask for it, but something I listened to what God. said, "Look, call John." I did it and. John said, "I'mma be over here.

for a few months on this tour, but I. will go in the studio on Wednesday.". I hung up the phone. I texted him three. titles. The last title I texted him was Glory. He said he saw that that that name Glory. and it sparked. his thoughts and he started coming with. the melody and he started, you know, coming up with the words for the hook. One day when the glory's I can't sing. it, y'all. I'll mess it up, but but, you. know,

he did that, sent it back to me. after that Wednesday. I remember getting the music. I was. going to my father's memorial. I heard. that music. I was overwhelmed. I ended up writing. that song. and that song became the song that we. ended up. winning a uh Golden Globe, winning a. Grammy, and winning an Oscar award for. And. I'm bringing that up. because it was that moment it was a that.

one moment where I decided to listen and. not be afraid and just ask. and seize the moment and it happened. Yeah, that was. That was it. >> I'm so glad you shared that story. Yeah. I'm so glad you shared that story. because I think, you know, that was. later in your career. >> Yes. And you still have that doubt where. you have to listen in. And I think I love hearing that because.

I think we all think one day we're going. to get to a place from which we don't. have to listen anymore. Right. To God, to that inner voice, to that direction, but the truth is. it's always the case. You always have to. go inward Yes. >> to find that outward direction. It's not. going to happen by constantly looking. around at where do I want to be and. where do I want to go, and you've got to. constantly look inside and hear the ask, hear the calling. Yes. >> Hear that question. Yes. Right? Because. we're looking for the answer that you.

don't hear the ask. Yes, man. >> You know what I mean? Yes, man. Yes. >> It's a really interesting thing, like. God's trying to ask you to do something. You're like, "God, tell me the answer.". >> Right, tell me the answer. >> like, "No, no, no, I want you to do the. Right, I want you to do this, and you. have to. be open to the to the experience and the. journey, too. It's a beautiful thing, but it's a thing where it doesn't stop. Like, I mean, last week I was like, "Man, I want this. I want this." It. didn't happen for me, and I had to like. really come to grips and do exactly what. I told you all I I work on. I work on.

Like, just still staying in gratitude, still knowing what's for me is is there. for me, and really being present in. Okay, I I prayed for that, and I said, "Man, if it's in your will," and I used. my scriptures to. and that didn't happen for me, then I. have to understand that I'm supposed to. be here, wherever you have me, and I'm. going to be trusting in that and be. present in that. And that's one of the. things that I just It doesn't stop. Like, I was late in my career when I did. that with John, when I said, "Hey,

you know, I called him, but it's still. moments where I'm like, "Should I say this to this person? Should I not? But I'm more leaning. towards because I've. I've worked on it to to say I'mma speak. up for the things that I want or just. say my truth. Like if it's something. that doesn't work for me, I I know how. to speak up on that, too. So. I love that. I want to. take the last few moments to end every. On Purpose interview as we always do. with the final five. Yes. These.

questions have to be answered with one. word to one sentence maximum. Okay. So. come and these are your final. >> This is a real challenge for me. >> real challenge. These are your final five. Question. number one, which we ask to every guest. who's ever been on the show, what is the best advice you've ever. heard or received? To love others as you. love yourself. Um I think that's the best Yeah, the. best that I've received. I agree. Question number Oh, yeah, give it up.

Absolutely. Go for it. This is awesome. Uh question Usually when I'm doing the. final five with someone like I don't get. this. So this is amazing. Like you don't. know what a gift you're giving me by. being here right now, you know? When. we're doing this in the studio, it's. beautiful, but we should do every. episode with you guys here. It's Yeah, you know? It's uh. >> Uh question number two, what is the. worst advice you've ever heard or. received? Um. people say this They say the same. every day. I I ask them like how you.

doing and they say, "Man, same new. day." I don't subscribe to that. mentality, so I looked at that as like. bad advice and I'm like, "Nah.". So it's got to be something new. happening today. Create something new. So Create something new. Yeah. Yeah. >> Uh question number three, what was the. hardest part. about learning to love yourself and take. care of yourself? Which is the tagline of. >> The hardest part about learning to.

love myself and take care of myself. is. learning to love myself when I'm being. rejected. That is like a real That's a. because. that is when it taps into. the little Rashid and the things that. I've been rejected or abandoned from. before. um as a kid. and when I'm rejected now. you told me to keep this answer short, but It's a great answer. Carry on. It's.

a great answer. Carry on. But when I'm rejected now, sometimes I'm. I. can bring that little Rashid into the. present and know and know those feelings. of being rejected and make this new. rejection greater than what it really. is. I'm not present in what is. happening. So, I think loving myself in. those moments. is been some of the toughest times, but. I feel I'm worth it, so I. I strive for it.

Great. Question number four. How do you show yourself self-love every. day? The things that I do for self-love that. I spoke about from every aspect, the. prayer, meditation, foods. I make sure I'm diligent about it and. like if my call time is at 5:30. if they coming to get me to go to set at. 5:30, I'm still going to get up and make. sure I have enough time to do those.

things because. that's me loving myself. That's me. giving the time to myself that I need. And that's That has nothing to do with. nobody else, but that's me. and the creator. And I And I think, you. know, that's how I take time and and. I also have boundaries now, too. Like. where sometimes if somebody is. I know is taking advantage of me. um or just asking for too much and I'm. not. able or willing to give that, I know how.

to speak up for that. So, that's another. way that I've learned to love myself. every day. Is speak up. Beautiful. Yeah. Uh fifth and final question of the final. five. We ask this every guest who's ever. been on the show. If you could create. one law that everyone in the world had. to follow, what would it be? We would. have to go inside of ourselves. to find. the greatest love that exists. And.

in every daily activity, we would have. to. acknowledge that love in ourselves. and encourage it in others and see it in. others. And that would be the law. To. know that love within you and. acknowledge it in others and treat them. as such. Common, we wanted to I mean, beautiful answers. We wanted to do one. last special thing with you because you. kindly came out to Chicago to be here. with us. Uh I want you to take a look uh behind. you in a second when we have it up.

there. If we get it up. There we go. What. What. If you could communicate with your. younger self now, what would you say to your younger self? Well, you had hair then, brother. Uh uh uh. Well, I would say I would say. Man, I would say, man, no matter. what you go through, you got everything you need to. to be what you purpose to be on this. planet. And.

go out there and do your duty and do it. in the highest way and do it with joy. Do it with love, do it with grace. And you will make some mistakes, you. will go through pain, but God loves you more than anything. You love you. So, show the world that. love. I love that. And. And second one, what do you What do you. need to hear? Oh, looking very dapper.

It's like you know, it's like uh. What would you say you need to hear most. right now? The quest is still. going. You still got. a lot of growing to do, a lot more to give, um be free. You're doing well. But But. But you you you're going to be greater. and you will do greater and all those. things you envisioning, continue to be patient and be diligent.

and remember your purpose. And. Jay'll have you back on again. Anytime. Anytime. Anytime. Anytime. Uh. Off Off to this next one, I'll see if. you want to come back on again. This is. If we get a third one out. It's some AI AI from the team. When you look at that. What What wisdom do you. What wisdom do you hope you will have.

realized. Well, >> in the next 10, 20 years? You finally. stop putting that dye in your beard. Uh-huh. I would hope that. I was still um. be enjoying. like music, creating music, enjoying. acting. Um I would hope to be getting my Morgan. Freeman on at that point, you know? Uh I and I would hope that. the work that I have. have done is penetrating.

um people's lives and families and. things are just better in the world. because of me doing my part as we all do. our part. And I hope that I'm just. having fun and in a good healthy. relationship. Beautiful. Come on, everyone. Come back anytime. >> Thank you. Thank you. If this is the. year that you're trying to get creative, you're trying to build more, I need you. to listen to this episode with Rick. Rubin on how to break into your most.

creative self, how to use unconventional. methods that lead to success, and the. secret to genuinely loving what you do. If you're trying to find your passion. and your lane, Rick Rubin's episode is. the one for you. Just because I like it, that doesn't give it any value. Like, as. an artist, if you like it, that's all of. the value. That's the success comes when. you say, "I like this enough for other. people to see it.".