The Playlist: Common on Uplifting Music and Crafting “Vision” for ESPN’s Stuart Scott Doc

Skip to main content By Nicole Fell Plus Icon Nicole Fell Assistant Editor nicolemfell Follow Sign Up View All June 26, 2026 9:00pm Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Common Common - The Playlist - THR video - 2026 Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Common is almost always listening to music. “Morning, daytime and night, I’m listening to music,” the actor and rapper tells The Hollywood Reporter in the first episode of The Playlist. The Grammy Award-winning musician uses a different type of music for his different moods.

When he’s heading into a meeting, he plays music that will give him the confidence he needs. But, mostly, Common uses music to bring light into his day. “A lot of the music [I listen to], especially starting at the beginning of my day, is music that will lift me up and make me feel like everything is going to be all right, the immortal words of Bob Marley,” he says.

“I love the type of music that just gives me that brightness.” Related Stories Movies Composer John Powell on His 'Minions & Monsters' Score: "Overwrought, Overplayed, Overwritten. Everything Was Over" (Exclusive) Music 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Star Miranda Hope Releases Debut Country Song "FU4THAT" Common crafted a five-track playlist for THR, which he’s dubbed “The Light Will Last Forever.”

His music taste is varied, and this playlist is evidence. “I thank God so much for music because it has given me a way to understand and express myself more and connect with human beings,” he says. “As a musician, I’m able to explore.

I’m able to be free,” he continues. He’s tried many other things over his long career, but the only that he’s felt has come close to his love of music is his love of acting. Ironically, Common previously felt that being a musician almost put him into a box when it came to acting.

“There was a point where was difficult for me to get into the rooms and work with the actual directors and actors that I wanted to work with because they classify me just as a musician,” he says. “I’m grateful for the fact that music gave me that pathway to discover new artistic things that are gifts and blessings,” he says. Common breaks down his uplifting playlist “The Light Will Last Forever” below.

1. “Eternal Light” by Free Nationals and Chronixx This is a song I discovered that within the past few years. I love the energy of it.

It has this reggae type vibe to it. Chronixx is this amazing voice and the soul of it. Music that I love, it has to have a feel to it.

It has to make me feel something. Anytime I hear this song, I feel good. I feel uplifted.

I feel like even the title itself, “Eternal Light,” it’s a reminder of purpose in a way. A reminder of what I have to give. Sometimes I use that music before I’m about to go out to perform, before I’m going to go meet with someone.

I use music that inspires me and “Eternal Light” by the Free Nationals… It got that umph for me. I love this song.

And, Chronixx, he’s a bad brother. 2. “Umi Says” by Mos Def “My Umi says shine your light on the world.”

As I said, light is kind of the theme for some of the songs I’ve been choosing. “Umi Says” is a song created by the incomparable Mos Def, also known as Yasiin Bey. This is one of my comrades, this is one of my friends and fellow musicians.

We have come up together in music, and that’s my brother. When I heard this song, I was like, “This song was like no other song I’d heard before.” Just because you thought of Mos as this rapper, and I knew he could sing some, but just his style of singing was very unique and it’s like no other.

Last night, I got to see Yasiin perform this song and one of the musicians on it, Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas was in the house too.

I just thought about how they created this song together because Mos is also playing, I think, drums on the song. The feel of that song, it takes me to a place of gratitude and thinking about all the things that I can do. Him chanting, “I want my people to be free, to be free, to be free.

I want my people to be free.” It just tops off the song. 3.

“Golden Time of Day” by Maze and Frankie Beverly I’m a kid that grew up on the south side of Chicago, a little Black kid who loves music, who loves art. Man, we had some wonderful times in our neighborhood, block parties, barbecues, parties at the park. Frankie Beverly and Maze is a theme throughout all these events of celebration, and who we are and joy.

“Golden Time of Day” is a song about that beautiful time of day, where the sun is about to set and it’s like no other. We all have seen that sun, looked and said, “Wow, look at that. That’s amazin