ALICIA KEYS, KANYE WEST, WILL.I.AM, SERENA WILLIAMS & KERRY WASHINGTON (CO-DIRECTOR) SHOW SUPPORT
COMMON IS NOMINATED FOR 5 BET AWARDS HIP HOP AWARDS
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ — Grammy winning rap superstar
Common stars in his most provocative video ever, "I Want You," debuting
this week featuring Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Derek Luke, tennis star Serena
Williams, Will.I.Am and acclaimed actress Kerry Washington ("Ray," "The
Last King Of Scotland," and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith") who also served as the
co-director.
"I Want You," produced by Will.I.Am, is the latest single from Common’s
G.O.O.D Music/Geffen Records CD Finding Forever which debuted earlier this
year at #1 on Billboard’s "Hot 200" chart. After making his acting debut
last year with Keys in "Smokin’ Aces," these dynamic performers are
reunited as lovers in this powerful and passionate video inspired by the
1986 Mickey Rourke/Kim Basinger erotic classic "9 1/2 Weeks."
"Kerry and I have always admired each others work and always wanted to
collaborate on a project. When we began planning for the video for "I Want
You," I reached out to Kerry to star in it and it developed into her
directing. She had a strong vision for the song that grabbed me from the
start so we got our cast and crew together and made it happen," states
Common.
Now celebrating his 15th anniversary as a recording artist, Common has
earned numerous rave reviews for Finding Forever which was Executive
Produced by Kanye:
"[Finding Forever] possesses a timeless vibe that few rap albums have."
People Magazine
"The Chi-town wordsmith might just be the best-equipped to save hip-hop
from its commercial slump."
Billboard Magazine
"Once again, Common makes timeless hip hop seem easy."
XXL Magazine
In addition to the critical success, Common recently received his 3rd
gold-selling album certification with Finding Forever (other gold albums by
Common are Like Water for Chocolate and Be) and he is nominated for five
BET Hip-Hop Awards: Live Performer Of The Year, CD Of The Year (Finding
Forever), MVP Of The Year, Lyricist Of The Year, and Hip-Hop Video Of The
Year for "The People."
Common stars with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in one of the
most anticipated movies of the fall, "American Gangster," opening November
2nd, and he’s completed production on "Wanted" featuring Morgan Freeman and
Angelina Jolie and "The Night Watchman" with Forest Whitaker and Keanu
Reeves.
This innovative artist is also an author whose second book "I Like You,
But I Love Me" was nominated for a NAACP Image Award, and this year he
became a fashion entrepreneur with the launch of his Soji hat line in
partnership with Italian hat maker La Coppola Storta. Common is also
demonstrating his social consciousness with his Common Ground Foundation,
an organization dedicated to utilizing the cultural relevance of hip-hop to
serve as an advocate for justice, education, to fight poverty, and to
increase health awareness amongst youth in underserved communities
throughout the United States.
As a hip-hop trailblazer, actor, author, fashion designer, and
humanitarian, COMMON, is a true 20th century renaissance man. Be sure to
check him out as he currently crisscrosses the country on a multi-city
tour.
SOURCE Geffen Records
