Chicago native Lonnie Lynn was one of rap's most influential underground artists in the early 90s who continues to be a force in music today. Eschewing gangsta rap for a more intellectual approach, Lynn adopted the moniker Common Sense and released the single, "Take it EZ," in 1992. A series of obscure albums followed, and Common (having dropped the 'Sense' as a result of a lawsuit) slowly built a reputation for himself as a prolific and clever lyricist. He would make his most mainstream breakthrough with his 2000 effort, Like Water For Chocolate, enlisting the help of an eclectic bunch of musicians from Mos Def to jazz trumpeter Roy Hargrove. His most recent album, Electric Circus, was released in 2002.

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An unconventional musician, Common made a career out of being the anti-commercial rapper, honing his style to include jazz elements and the occasional overload on word play. The artist has had a tendency to wander a bit, but the sheer girth of his lyrics and his ability to bring divergent styles together has consistently made for the perfect antidote to mainstream rap. Look no further than his 1994 album, Resurrection, to find a hotbed of creativity and commentary, with songs like "I Used to Love H.E.R," which disguises Common's reaction to mainstream rap's exploitative elements as a lost love song. Though he finally garnered attention with his 2000 effort, Like Water For Chocolate his follow up, Electric Circus, while being a higher profile release, nevertheless continued Common's ongoing tradition of breaking new and exciting ground.