Reel Life: Common

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Common and Erykah Badu re-tooled his 1994 hit, “I Used to Love H.E.R.” for the infectious lead single from the “Brown Sugar” soundtrack. We believed their love for the music (and for each other) was real when they blessed us with “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop).”

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Common was in good company when he joined Jill, Erykah, The Roots, Kanye and The Fugees for “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party.” Not even the Brooklyn rains could dampen their flow.

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Common hit box office gold when he starred as the brother of Denzel Washington and Chiwitel Ejiofor (and father to T.I.) in the Frank Lucas biopic, “American Gangster.”

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Common joined Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie for the action-packed thriller, “Wanted.”

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In 2008, Common got gully with Forest Whitaker and Keanu Reeves for “Street Kings.”

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Common had no qualms about fighting on behalf on mankind in 2009’s “Terminator Salvation.” Christian Bale and Helena Bonham Carter were his co-stars.

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Alicia Keys felt safe in Common’s arms as they hit the big screen, with their guns blazing, for the action-drama, “Smokin’ Aces.” Along with earning a film credit, he also contributed the song, “Play Your Cards Right” to the motion picture soundtrack.

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Tina Fey and Steve Carell portray a straight-laced couple who play an innocent game of ‘trading places’…until they run up against Common’s character, Collins, and his partner-in-crime, Armstrong.

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Queen Latifah surely made a good choice when she recruited her fellow rapper-turned-actor to play her love interest for the sports-driven romantic comedy, “Just Wright.” The film, which hits theaters this May, also stars Paula Patton.