Grammy, Emmy and Oscar-Winning artist, author and activist Common spoke on Texas State University’s Common Experience theme of “Truth” in front of a record-breaking crowd inside Strahan Arena on Tuesday.
“If we take away the title of rapper, we take away the award-winning name, what truly is your purpose and what truly is my purpose,” Common said. “It’s a question I want you to continue to ask of yourself as you continue on your journey. Who are you? What is your purpose? Well, I found, for us to find our core truth of who we are, it’s essential we find our purpose.”
Common delivered his speech as a part of the university’s Lyndon Baines Johnson Distinguished Lecture Series. He began Wednesday’s conversation with a freestyle rap as a packed Strahan Arena, which seats 10,000, cheered along. Tuesday’s discussion with Common set an attendance record for the lecture series at approximately 6,000, according to Director of the Common Experience Twister Marquiss. The previous record was set on Sept. 28, 2005 when Maya Angelou spoke in the Mall on campus between Alkek Library and the LBJ Student Center.
