Common's Sense: Common Answers Your Dating Questions

Girlfriends give great relationship advice, but sometimes what you really need is to hear some insight from a man’s perspective.

Common is always respectful of the ladies, and he’s dated some of Hollywood’s most fierce women, like Serena Williams and Erykah Badu. And, when it comes to relationship-talk, he doesn’t hold back.

We gave you a chance to ask Common your burning dating questions on Facebook this week, and he’s got some great answers for two lucky ladies.

SHANA DIXON asked: 
“What has happened to our generation of men that they don’t seem to want a relationship with any substance, but instead just want casual relationships?”
COMMON: I believe that we as Black men really haven’t had the chance to see what it means to be a man and raise a family. Not all, but a lot of Black men didn’t have that example of a good father, husband, and man in their home. The glorified man was the one that did have more than one woman and multiple relationships.

I also think that we have had struggles with the responsibilities of relationships, the commitment and the work that it takes. And some of us deep inside have a fear of abandonment, so we keep our love at a distance to protect ourselves from being hurt. Because when we hurt, we HURT!

PAULETTE PAYNE asked
: “What is your definition of beauty, and more importantly, what do you do to make your significant other feel beautiful, even on those days when she doesn’t see it?”
COMMON: Beauty is this air and presence that a woman carries because of who she is and how she looks. When my lady is not feeling beautiful I first remind her how beautiful she is by highlighting a part of her that she knows is beautiful. It could be her eyes her skin or just her whole self. Once she is verbally reminded, I physically remind her with affection and love.

Common’s new album, The Dreamer/The Believer, hits stores December 20th. Copies are available for pre-order on iTunes now.