I started getting more in tune with who I am by doing roles or even just being in a class and being around people. Common More Quotes by Common More Quotes From Common The impact of a conscious artist is necessary, and it ripples through the world. Common through impact artist world One thing I have throughout my career, it felt like I did my best to align myself with quality artists, quality work, and it is a situation of steel sharpening steel. Common best myself quality work I want to be the voice of the people; black, white, everyday, oppressed people. A person trying to make it and to do it right. Common black voice white people I believe that music is about making quality things, making quality art, and no matter who you decide to work with, you and that person have to come up with something special, come up with something that is excellent material, so whoever hears it and reviews it will like it. Common you music work art After you make good, quality music, then it's your job to go out there and promote it and to market it and to get it out there to the people. Common good you quality music This is a broad thought, but loving yourself and having the support so that you can love yourself is the most important thing that young people in Chicago can get. Common yourself you love people I learned a long time ago to be honest when I'm talking to other artists. Up-and-coming artists used to come and say something, they would have a demo reel, and I would try to tell them the truth. I don't go up and say something unless I really feel it. Common feel truth time long Me as an artist, I've ventured off into doing all types of music. I'll do a jazz album, you know what I mean. Common know me you music I feel, as an artist, I should be able to express who I am and the things I come from, and the places I want to also be. Common i-am feel artist want Doing acting opened up other creative outlets; it made me feel freer as an artist. Common doing feel me artist Obviously God knew I wasn't going to make it to the NBA as much as I probably believed. This was divine order. Common going make divine god I can only speak for myself - there were times when I just wasn't inspired by creating music. Common myself music i-can speak I think you really have to remember what you loved about making music in the first place. Ultimately, people can be like, 'We've seen this dude in many movies,' but if they hear a song and they're feeling it, they can look past all the personal things and not hold it against you that you're also an actor. Common you music song people I come from playing sports. I compete, so I gotta be better than I was last year. I gotta get better, and that better gotta come from just growing. From learning new stuff to working on it, experience it in life, and failing. Common experience learning sports life I loved plays, I loved films, but I had no desire to act until I had just put out my album 'Like Water for Chocolate.' Creatively, I felt like I'd hit a ceiling, and I needed something else to express myself, and I just decided to take acting classes. Common loved myself chocolate water Technically, my first acting job was in one of my videos for a song called 'Retrospect For Life,' which Lauryn Hill directed and featured an actress by the name of N'bushe Wright, who played my girlfriend who was about to be pregnant. I remember being so nervous about it, but now I feel like I can conquer the world with it. Common job song life world It was incredible to have J Dilla in your dining room making beats - it was one of the greatest experiences I've had. Common greatest room your dining You have to be sincere in your feelings. And fear is one of those, sometimes; doubt is one of those; jealousy, anger - all your emotions are not going to be considered the strong emotions; all of them are not going to be love, happiness, joy. Common anger fear happiness love Oh man, I love what the South brings as far as the soul, and I really have noticed from even the early days of listening to OutKast and Goodie Mob that Atlanta and the South has a diverse sound to it. You have bounce music. You have soulful musicians. You have artists with vocals who try to do different things. Common you man music love