Common performing “Gladiator” live.

Serena Williams covers the July issue of Ebony, in which she talks about dating, olympic bid, and her stellar physique. She deflected a question about her relationship with Common, but didn’t hesitate to compliment him on his mic skills.

On Common:

“I think he’s a great guy. He’s obviously a great artist who is timeless and classic. You can’t beat that. But I have to focus on tennis because that’s my goal in life.”

Oh well, I guess no more rough nights.

Common - “Universal Mind Control” (Ft. Pharrell)
Producer: Thelonius P
Album: Invincible Summer

Maybe you guys were right, after all. Common’s new direction seems frightening.

(Get it while it’s good.)

Calm down, Chris Brown is not on the album

Common’s new album Invincible Summer is slated for July, with the first single dropping in May. Based on the Billboard preview, the tentative tracklist should go like this:

• “Universal Mind Control (U.M.C.)”
• “Make My Day” feat. Cee-Lo
• “Punch Love”
• “What A World” feat. Chester French
• “Changes”
• “Party Shit”
• “Dreaming”
• “Runaway” feat. Santogold

Terribly excited to see Santogold on there.

Now that I got your attention, let’s talk about HIV/AIDS. Common wants you to help him fight the lethal disease. So, head on over to Aminutecontest.com and help his cause by participating in a rhyme-crafting contest. In true Comm style, the Chi-town MC says he’ll “take the hottest, freshest lyrics and perform them on MTV.” And just like that, you’ll become an overnight celebrity … for a day.

Fellas, please remember to stay strapped during your Valentine’s Day sexcapades.

Common endorses fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama for the White House. Comm, who was the first to namedrop Obama on a rap record (to the best of my knowledge), says he’s voting for the Illinois senator on February 5th.

Who are you voting for?

thisisme then, titled after one of Common’s songs, is a collection of hits from his early years. The compilation draws mostly from the wealth of bangers on Comm’s first fourthree albums: Can I Borrow a Dollar, Resurrection (his best work, imo), and One Day It’ll All Make Sense.

• thisisme then: the best of common tracklist

The latest video from Mr Love Song, starring Alicia Keys, will.i.am, Kanye West, Serena Williams, etc.

(Directed by Chris Robinson)

Ahhh…a video that suits the song’s concept for a change. I bet you Dame Dash is excited that someone still cares enough to namedrop him on a song.

“Your live show was hollow
You shoulda kept it local
Rapping over vocals
Sounding soft as Jojo
With 12 monkeys on stage it’s hard to see who’s a gorilla
You was better as a drug dealer
Feel the passion of this b-boy rationale…
Guess it’s time for you to stop cashing out
It’s overflown, tell your guys to put the glasses down”

I’m just saying…