Common, the iconic rapper who helped shape the era of hip-hop and neo-soul, has announced a Japan performance at Billboard Live—his first in about ten years.

Born in 1972 in Chicago, he is a rapper, musician, actor, writer, and activist. He made his debut in 1992 under the name Common Sense with the album Can I Borrow A Dollar?, and, together with Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Q-Tip, J Dilla, Bilal, and others, was 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 has since won three Grammy Awards. In 2015, he won the Golden Globe and Academy Awards for the theme song “Glory” (a collaboration with John Legend) from the film Selma, in which he also acted.

Furthermore, in 2017 he earned an Emmy for the song “Letter To The Free,” used in the documentary film 13th (The Thirteenth Amendment), becoming the only rapper to have claimed all of America’s major entertainment awards—the Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy.

Last year he released a collaboration album with Pete Rock, The Auditorium Vol. 1, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the acclaimed Be (released in 2005). Beyond milestones, Common continues his creative journey. A true icon who keeps evolving—experience his live performance.