Common And Big Sean Praise Each Other, Talk G.O.O.D. Music Family

Common and Big Sean are both in the G.O.O.D. Music family, and the way that the two MCs talk about each other, the mutual admiration and respect is evident.

"Big Sean has definitely energized me, because I’ve been around him in the studio," Common told XXLMag.com. "And seeing his drive and his passion, knowledge of hip-hop. When he tells me, 'Man, I heard Can I Borrow A Dollar?' I’m like, 'What?' But then I’m like, wait, I’ve heard James Brown records that were made when I was a kid. That’s just to say that he studied the music. He’s been into everything from Lil Wayne to Kanye to Slum Village to Jay to Common. He’s like, 'That Be album, it meant something to [me].'"

Not only is the distinguished MC impressed with Sean's knowledge of hip-hop, but he's been invigorated by his approach in the booth, too. "I’ve been around him and just watched him create spontaneously and use different styles," he continued. "I always appreciated artists—whether it was Big Daddy Kane or KRS-One, Kanye, Q-Tip, [Andre] 3000—people that can do different styles. Being around Big Sean, he’s definitely been inspiring and someone that put a spark to me."

“That’s incredible," Big Sean told XXLMag.com in a separate interview when he heard what Common said. "He’s somebody who has been in the studio with me while I’ve been working on my stuff, and we’ve been working on things together. That’s tight he feels like that. I don’t have a lot of people around me in the studio. He’s one of the few people who’s heard my new stuff and heard my album. And it’s crazy that he feels like that. He’s a legend, man. He’s one of my idols. To have him say that, it lets me know I’m doing the right thing.”

Common also mentioned Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Drake as younger artists that he believes are breathing life into the game. "For me, what I like about it is they are being true to the time but at the same token can appreciate and learn and know some of the stuff that came before," he concluded. "That don’t mean you trying [to be] old school. That mean you just know: This is where the art form come from, this is where I’m taking it." —Adam Fleischer (@AdamXXL)