The Gap introduces its new fall, industry-inspired ad campaign via 12-page inserts in the September issues of some of the Condé Nast publications, such as Vanity Fair and Details. Hip-hop artist Common joins Eva Herzigova, Mia Farrow, Jeremy Piven and others in the full-page spots. Flipping through the 400-page VF, his page is actually one of the very, very few splashes of color in an otherwise homogeneous landscape of well-coiffed Abercrombie and Ralph Lauren clones.
Common probably doesn't get enough credit for this, but, he is one of the few, major gay-friendly hip-hop artists. After spewing the usual homophobic rhetoric in his early years, the Chicago-based artist changed both his lyrical style and outlook toward the gays. Recently, After Elton recognized the artist for his supportive lyrics in tracks like “Between Me, You & Liberation”, where "Common speaks of a childhood friend who reveals his gayness to him, and of his own conflicting feelings in confronting his own homophobia towards his friend."
Plus: He ain't bad-looking.
Previously:
"Taking the Homophobia Out of Hip-Hop" (Rod 2.0) Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton (Rod 2.0) Pharrell Sets the Record, umm, Straight (Rod 2.0) Pharrell Teams with Louis Vuitton (Rod 2.0) Boy from Ipanema (Rod 2.0) Nelly for Judith Lieber (Rod 2.0) Fashionista Nelly (Rod 2.0) John Legend & Cornel West vs Homophobia (Rod 2.0) Kanye on Gay Bashing (Rod2.0) Kanye: "My Own Homophobia" (Rod 2.0) Beverley Knight on Gay Bashing (Rod 2.0)
no he isn't bad looking and has great style and wears the fitted clothing without fear.
Posted by: hood | 07 August 2006 at 07:18
Common is the man. Somebody needs to give him my phone number!
Posted by: James | 07 August 2006 at 08:49
those sweet lips...omg
Posted by: seahawk | 07 August 2006 at 08:57
i've always dug common's style, even way back from his early days as a local rapper (i grew up in chicago).
been away from your site for a while rod (my work server blocked it for some reason) but good to see you still holdin it down.
Posted by: byron | 07 August 2006 at 09:19
JAMES
I could do that, but then I'd have to kill you, because RASHID LYNN is MINE.
Common is such a real guy, with such heart and such a sense of self!
THANKS FOR SHINING LIGHT ON THIS COOL CATDADDY!
Once again, Rod does it right!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 07 August 2006 at 10:13
Rod et al, you may want to actually go to a Gap store. Ours has large photos of Common (and others, but who cares?:) up on the walls. Mmmmm...And he was here doing a free concert back in July.
Posted by: ReggieH | 07 August 2006 at 19:36