E-mail a friendMarch 14, 2007
Tavis revisits his conversations with R&B singer-songwriter-actor Chris Brown and hip-hop artist-producer Common.
Common
Common
Rapper Common makes message songs, with lyrics that focus on spirituality and love. He honed his skills on Chicago's South Side and got his break when he won a contest sponsored by The Source magazine. He made his recording debut in '92 and established a fan base with alternative and underground hip-hop fans. He's collaborated with the likes of Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Macy Gray and Mos Def. Kanye West, a fan and fellow native of Chicago, produced much of Common's highly anticipated sixth album, 'Be.'
Chris Brown
Chris Brown
Multitalented Chris Brown finished '06 as Billboard's top pop artist and a Best New Artist Grammy nominee. The 17-year-old rising star starts '07 with his big screen debut in the feature film, Stomp the Yard. Brown rose to fame in '05, at age 16, with the single "Run It!" from his platinum-selling self-titled debut CD. He initially wanted to be a rapper, but with his mom's encouragement, he began looking for recording opportunities using his singing voice. He's in production for his sophomore release, 'Graduation.'