Page 25 - NCAT Magazine Fall 2018
P. 25

greaTness  Prior to the public event,
 he met with select male
 Emmy, Golden Globe,   students (members of Aggie
 Academy Award and three-  Prep, Men on the Move and
 time Grammy-winning artist,   fraternal organizations).
 Common took the stage for
 the Chancellor’s Speaker   Known for his politically
 Series on April 26.  and socially conscious
 perspective and introspective
 Common discussed   rhymes, Common has
 “Greatness,” which drew   successfully navigated the
 upon his own hard work and   music industry and made a
 path to success, as well as   splash on the small and silver
 his deep interest in helping   screens by taking strategic
 others strive for and achieve   risks and an innovative
 greatness by making a   approach to his craft. His
 commitment to a greater   underground and mainstream
 cause.   appeal has crossed musical
 genres and generational
 “How do you achieve   boundaries.
 greatness?” he asked the
 crowd. “Find your path,   “The King of Conscious
 believe in your path and live   Hip Hop” has produced
 in your path … to greatness.”   multiple acclaimed studio
 “The beautiful thing about   albums, including his latest,
 working in your path and   “Black America Again,” that
 purpose is that it’s really not   push the boundaries with
 work.”  raw, yet thoughtful social
 commentary.
 During his talk, Common
 performed impromptu and   Common’s philanthropic
 well-known raps, shared   efforts are consistent with
 lessons learned from personal   his political and social
 experiences and fielded   work, much of it conducted
 questions from the audience.   through his Common Ground                      MeaSure
 Foundation, which focuses   award-winning artist Common
 Perhaps one of his most   on nutrition, healthy living,   with male n.C. a&t students      of
 thought-provoking   financial literacy, character
 comments of the evening   development and creative                            Men
 was “What are you willing to   expression.
 die for? Then live for that.”



 22 •  N.C. a&t MagaziNe                                                                                       NCat.edu  • 23
   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30