Rapper Common reveals how Brooklyn’s black queens and faith influenced his wellness journey

The generation that supported hip-hop culture’s journey from the inner-city underground to the worldwide mainstream is now middle-aged. It survived the tragic premature death of many rappers the likes of Biz Markie, Trugoy, Black Rob and more, who were the topic of an article within the New York Times Magazine last summer. On the opposite hand, Men’s Health magazine recently praised hip-hop artists who’re thriving – not only surviving – with a canopy of physically fit rappers including Ludacris, Wiz Khalifa, 50 Cent, Method Man, Busta Rhymes and Chicago’s native son, Common. As hip-hop ages, people of their 40s and 50s are making wellness their No. 1 priority in life, which is the central theme of Common’s latest book, “And Then We Rise: A Guide to Loving and Taking Care of Self.”

A practical guide to self-care through food, body, mind and soul, Common’s third book arrives just in time for people trying to pick themselves up because they’re already dragging their feet on 2024 resolutions. In the week of its release, Common stood stage at Newark Symphony Hall and signed autographs for an extended line of devoted fans of the venue’s regular Living Out Loud literary series. The event, the kickoff to the book tour, also hosted black sororities and sororities — lots of whom wore Greek letter sweaters and varsity jackets — while Grammy-winning hits like “Southside” and “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)” resounded across the room.

You first moved to Brooklyn within the late Nineties when the holistic health pioneer developed Heal Yourself for Health and Longevity Queen Afua influenced the local conscious community. How has this book influenced your health journey?

When I first moved to Brooklyn, it was stuffed with really conscious individuals who were conscious and artists. These artists included Erykah Badu, (designer) Ashaka Gives and (jeweler) Lorraine West. All of those women were powerful and talented. Queen Afua was like a pacesetter and inspiration to Erykah – just someone who helped shed light; they shared lots of information. This group of ladies really gained lots of information from the book “Heal Yourself.” I actually just learned from them. This is how I met Queen Afua, was in a position to meet her and be in her company.

It was really eye-opening for me because they were really adamant and disciplined in loving themselves. It was visible of their actions. It was visible of their skin. This was evident in the way in which they talked to one another and to me, and it became an awesome catalyst for me to know the facility I had.

Before I got here to New York, I probably only ate fish. Within a number of weeks, I became a vegetarian since it was just a lot access (to vegetarian food). It was 1998. There was a juice bar on Fulton Street. There was the Brooklyn Moon (cafe). It was a spot where black women and men were exalted. And there was a brand new awareness that was shared, that I used to be not introduced to, but that I sought.

Alicia Keys, Diddy and Angie Martinez ran the New York City Marathon. Is this your goal?

I actually have great respect for individuals who run long distances. This is a high level of discipline and commitment. At one point I managed to run a number of kilometers. But I never promised myself that I desired to run a marathon. My cardio workouts are more like playing basketball and moving around. I all the time say that it is important to seek out things that suit you and that you just enjoy, knowing that you’ll have the option to commit to it even should you get tired of it. When I saw Alicia Keys run a marathon, I assumed, “Man, you have a completely different attitude.” I actually have this attitude where I feel like I can do anything. But at that time I had no passion for running.

Does yoga practice fit into your wellness routine?

Yoga is something I actually enjoy, truthfully. I began going to yoga because a friend of mine from acting class said, “Hey, you have to go.” I used to be going through lots. She said, “Go to yoga with me.” I went and boy did I set free lots. I learned recent things about myself during yoga classes and I actually appreciated it. I’m not afraid to try various things, so I suggest this for somebody who wants to counterpoint their life and learn something that could be helpful to them, focused on them and still has a physical element. I do know yoga is a complete different level. But I actually liked going to yoga and I still need to do it. I need to support the various black yogis across the country.

You mention within the book how rap verses influenced your views on nutrition as a youngster. Did the Five-Percent Nation rappers influence your spirituality in the course of the same period?

Growing up in Chicago and attending a church that was non-denominational, our pastor is a revolutionary. His name is Reverend Jeremiah Wright and the church I attended was Trinity (Christ) United Church. When you walk in, it says “Unapologetically Black, Unashamedly Christian.” So I had no problem in search of Christianity within the Bible. What I liked about church and the pursuit of spirituality was that we were welcoming. For example, Farrakhan has spoken at our church before.

Hearing Brand Nubian, Poor Righteous Teachers, and Rakim talk in regards to the Five Percent Nation, calling themselves gods and lands, made me start in search of more. My father named me Rashid. At one point I also had to look and find every thing I could within the Quran. Because my father did it for a reason. I felt I could learn lots from this. And I still apply what I learned from the gods to this present day. It is an acknowledgment of the God who exists in each of us. I feel that is something we would have liked. I feel it played a key role in me becoming a stronger and greater person.

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What are your aspirations for Broadway? You have already got an Emmy, a Grammy and an Oscar. You’re only one Tony away from EGOT.

Last yr I played on Broadway. I used to be in a play called “Between Riverside and Crazy” written by Stephen Adly Guirgis, writer of “Jesus Hopped on the A Train” and “Motherf-r with the Hat.” He’s an incredible playwright from New York. And I played with probably the greatest casts I could ever play with. It was an incredible experience, and I intended to perform much more on Broadway. But within the meantime, I’m producing “The Wiz,” which will probably be on Broadway this spring, and we’re very enthusiastic about it. It will probably be amazing. It debuts in April.

Miles Marshall Lewis (@MMLunlimited) is a Harlem-based author and cultural critic whose work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, GQ, Rolling Stone, and many other magazines. Lewis is currently completing a cultural biography of comedian Dave Chappelle, the sequel to Promise That You Will Sing About Me: The Power and Poetry of Kendrick Lamar.