Kansan reporter Andrew Wiebe got a chance to catch up with hip-hop luminary Common after the Chicago native’s Student Union Activities-sponsored show Wednesday night at the Lied Center. The conversation touched on Common’s Lawrence-centric freestyle, his relationship with the late hip-hop producer J Dilla and his acting career among other things. Look for the audio of the interview at Kansan.com.

Q: Obviously you had some personal information in the freestyle about Lawrence, Where did you pick up that knowledge so quickly?

A: I talked with some students here, man. They were very helpful, and you know I kind of absorbed as much as I could on my way here. The funny thing is I came to basketball camp here when I was younger. I mean, I don’t remember it from that. I actually just picked it up from talking to some students.

Q: You started off the show with ‘Forever Begins’ and ended up with a little bit of a tribute to J Dilla. What effect did he have on your career and what does that mean for you to be able to do that every night?

A: I feel like he is like a brother to me from a musical standpoint and just a spiritual standpoint. He was somebody significant in my life. I love him as a person and it was a joy to get his music. To know that he was making a beat tape or a beat CD, it was like ‘man…JD beats.’ His effect is eternal, man. ‘Finding Forever’ also meant how you create and exist forever through what you do, the mark you leave on this Earth. I think he left a big mark for all of us. I just love him. I miss him too. It’s great to get to perform and introduce more people to him.

Q: As far as continuing musical collaborations with people, you went with some Kanye there, can you just talk about the musical chemistry between you two.

A: Kanye and I, man, we come from very similar backgrounds in the way of Chicago South side and both our mothers were teachers, single moms but then my mother remarried. We kind of got these certain things about us that relate. Like I didn’t grow up no gangster, and neither did he. We’re just enthused about being ourselves, and creating together. I feel like that’s my brother too in spiritual way and just in a musical way. He challenged me, and I challenge him too to make music that’s progressive and pushes the envelope. He also challenges me as a songwriter, as a MC to just get better and make better songs. He sparks ideas and he’s also just a creative energy so it’s always inspiring to work with him. I love working with him.

Q: Q-Tip said ‘me and Common, we are going to have The Standard [a proposed collaboration between the two], we’re going to do that,’ but I still haven’t seen it. What’s the status on that?

A: Yeah well we got to get to it. He got into finishing his album, I just got into working on my new album and I’m coming out in the summer. We probably get to it more in the fall. It was just an idea that we really want to bring into fruition. Once we started talking about it, it was like ‘man, we really needed to have it ready,’ but that’s not where we’re at right now. So it will come in due time.

Q: You’ve got the acting career going and you’ve got a lot of stuff coming out here. Where do you see your acting career going in the next 10 years or so?

A: I would love to be a great actor, man, just somebody that people respect as an actor and becomes a big movie star. I would love to be in the Will Smith category or Denzel or Leonardo DiCaprio, leading guys that really have an impact and do good projects. Johnny Depp, you know. That’s what I want to be like. When people are like ‘you are a rapper making a transition,’ I don’t look at it like that. I look at it like I’m an artist, but I’m a new actor.

Q: You’ve got the Justice League coming. Are you at liberty to tell us what you’ll be playing in that?

A: I’m not at liberty to discuss it because the project is in the process of being brought into fruition.

Q: As far as living in New York, when are you going to get back to Chicago and do you have plans to live there again at some point in your life?

A: I don’t know about living in Chicago again. I love home. I love Chicago, but for the work that I do it’s not lucrative for me to be there. I’m not in the mix there to do things that I love to do as far as work. My job has moved me to a new place. I go home to be at home and feel at home, but that’s really it.

Q: Alright just one more, a little lighter thing. I had heard you are a vegan but I read something saying you went back to fish. What’s up with that?

A: Yeah, I eat fish, man. I needed some protein. I’ve been eating fish for like two years now, two and a half years. It’s great too. I’m glad to be eating it. It was tough being vegan. I salute all vegans and vegetarians.

— Edited by Jared Duncan