GRAMMY-winning rapper Common recently visited The Recording Academy's headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., to participate in an exclusive GRAMMY.com interview with Nick Huff Barili of HardKnock.TV. Common discussed why he chose to reach out to younger artists for his new album, Nobody's Smiling, how he uses his music to show a different side of hip-hop and the importance of exposing youth to various art forms, among other topics.       

"I think how we show a balance in hip-hop and show a new expression of the streets is by having artists speak about different things," said Common. "I really think it starts in the communities. We have to expose the younger people to ways of expression that's beyond just hip-hop." 

Born Lonnie Rashid Lynn in the Southside of Chicago, Common broke through with his debut album, 1992's Can I Borrow A Dollar?, which spawned three Top 10 Billboard Hot Rap Singles: "Take It Ez," "Breaker 1/9" and "Soul By The Pound." In 2000 he landed a major label deal with MCA Records and released the Top 20 album Like Water For Chocolate, which was co-produced by the Roots' Questlove and earned Common his first GRAMMY nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance for "The Light." He took home his first GRAMMY for Best R&B Song for his 2002 collaboration with Erykah Badu, "Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop). For his sixth studio release, 2005's Be, Common teamed with GRAMMY winner Kanye West, who co-produced the album and wrote nine of its 11 tracks. Be netted four GRAMMY nominations, including Best Rap Album.

West reprised his producing role on 2007's Finding Forever and 2008's Universal Mind Control, the former of which marked Common's first album to top the Billboard 200 and earned him a GRAMMY for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group for "Southside" featuring West. Common earned his most recent GRAMMY nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration of 2010 as part of John Legend and the Roots' version of "Wake Up Everybody."

Released on July 22, Nobody's Smiling peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200. Co-produced by Common and No I.D., among others, the album features 10 tracks, including "Diamonds" (with Big Sean) and "Kingdom" (with Vince Staples), as well as collaborations with Jhené Aiko, Lil Herb and Dreezy, among others.

Common is currently in the midst of an international tour with dates scheduled through November.