"When I create music, I wanna affect people's lives," explains Rashid Lynn, better known as Common (and formerly known as Common Sense). For the past eight years, Common, 28, has been feeding his audience soul food for thought. Any avid followers of the rap phenom will remember his poignant commentary on hip-hop's frequent evolution, "I Used to Love H.E.R.," and the scathing dis record "The Bitch In You." Throughout his first three albums, Can I Borrow A Dollar?, Resurrection, and One Day It'll All Make Sense, Common's messages of enlightenment and armor-piercing freestyles have been borderline brilliant -- touching on heartfelt subjects that range from his own experiences with abortion to the need for black liberation. But while flashier artists have bubbled up with platinum sales and crossover credentials, Common -- who has worked with Lauryn Hill, D'Angelo, Q-Tip, and Mos Def -- has been spreading his word throughout the underground. And that's just fine with him. "For whatever reasons, the masses don't always grab onto the most profound things," explains the Chi-towner turned New Yorker. "I've been making good music, but everything has its time." And with the release of what is arguably his best album, the galvanizing MCA release Like Water For Chocolate, Common's time is now. - Vibe Magazine (5/00). Listen below...