Iconic rapper who helped shape the era of hip-hop and neo-soul, Common, has announced his first Japan concert in about ten years at Billboard Live!

Born in 1972 in Chicago, he is a rapper, musician, actor, writer, and activist. In 1992, under the name Common Sense, he released the album Can I Borrow A Dollar? and made his debut. Along with Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Q-Tip, J Dilla, Bilal, and others, he has also been a member of the legendary musical collective Soulquarians. In 2000, he made his major-label debut with his fourth album Like Water for Chocolate, and he has since won three Grammy Awards. In 2015, for the theme song “Glory” (a collaboration with John Legend) from the film Selma, in which he also acted, he won a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award. Furthermore, in 2017 he won an Emmy for the song “Letter To The Free” used in the documentary film 13th (Amendment 13), becoming the only rapper to have won all of the major American entertainment awards (Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globes, Emmy). Last year he released a collaborative album with Pete Rock, The Auditorium Vol. 1, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the acclaimed Be (released in 2005). Beyond these milestones, Common continues his creative journey. An evolving true icon—be sure to experience his live performance.