> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Living through his words - URL: https://www.smdp.com/living-through-his-words/ - Published: 2007-08-01T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-25T00:25:50.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: local, Promenade, #archive-import *Rapper Common draws a crowd during performance on Third Street Promenade* DOWNTOWN There are the few Third Street Promenade performers that can grab the attention of shoppers passing by, wowing a modest crowd by balancing a bowl on their head or impersonating Frank Sinatra. Then there are the even fewer that can draw in loyalists and shoppers by the hordes. Cheers and screams could be heard for blocks as hundreds of fans swarmed around a promenade stage on which hip hop legend Common was performing on Tuesday, the Chicago native belting out tunes from his new album, “Finding Forever,” which dropped in stores that day. “Man it feels so good to be rockin’ out here,” Common said in between songs, commenting on the beautiful Southern California climate. The outdoor concert and autograph session was hosted by Starbucks Hear Music, a coffee and CD store on the 1400 block of the Third Street Promenade. The performance by Common was the third in a series of Starbucks-hosted summer concerts taking place on the promenade, called “Let’s Meet at Starbucks.” Previous performers this summer included Rocco deLuca and the Burden band, and Low Stars, both of which attracted a crowd of about 200 to 300 people, said Tiffany Lee, spokeswoman for the Starbucks Coffee Company. “Santa Monica is such a great neighborhood,” Lee said. “We wanted to give back to the community.” Tuesday’s performance drew the largest crowd to date. The concert was held on the promenade between Arizona Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, the block nearly packed to capacity with not only fans who traveled from near and far, but the lucky few who just happened to work in the stores and didn’t have to wait for hours to secure a spot. Tunji Sookram of Rancho Cucamonga was told this morning by her husband to get dressed, they were heading to a mysterious destination for a surprise. It wasn’t until they landed in Santa Monica when Sookram learned of her surprise — a free concert by her favorite hip hop artist. “It was just beautiful,” Sookram said after the performance. A sea of fists, raised in the air for unity, encircled Common as he started rapping his way through the new album. Some young fans getting into the beat started dancing, others seemingly caught in a trance, swung their heads back and forth. “How y’all feeling out there?” Common piped into the microphone, greeted with cheers from the crowd. Pearl Boakye was among those who got lost in Common’s lyrics, moving along with the rhythm of the music. Boakye works in Downtown Santa Monica and decided to take a trip to the promenade after learning about the concert. She’s been a fan for as long as she can remember, attracted to Common because he’s the only man she knows who can free-style so well. “I thought the performance was awesome,” Boakye said. “The lyrics are on point and are socially conscious.” Many of the fans who came to the concert say they find Common and his lyrics refreshing, a nice departure from the music of many hip hop stars who sing about pouring Cristal down the drain and slapping bitches and hos in the meantime. “He’s responsible with his celebrity,” said Nikrumah Farrar, whose been a fan since Common’s sophomore album, Resurrection. “He has influence over young people and few use that responsibly.” The party didn’t get started until the clock struck 1 p.m. and a long line began forming from the Starbucks Hear Music — where Common started signing copies of his new album — all the way down to the Broadway Deli. It wasn’t until close to 4 p.m. when the last fan got the last face-to-face interaction with Common. The long line apparently was daunting enough to scare many fans away. Germain Reefer was the last person standing in line about an hour after the autograph signing session began. Thirty minutes later, he had only moved 15 feet. “We’re making progress,” said Reefer, who works at the Equinox Gym nearby. “I’m fine, I don’t have anything to worry about.” Nathan Gauer joined the line behind Reefer about fifteen minutes later. The long-time Common fan learned earlier that morning about the concert and couldn’t get away from work in time. When he heard about the autograph session, he darted to the promenade and bought a CD. The sight of the long line almost scared him away and Gauer said he would leave if the line became a drag. “I really want to connect with him as a person,” Gauer said. “I want to show him my appreciation not just for his music, but the example he sets for young people.” Fans had been waiting in line as early as 8:30 a.m., about 30 minutes before the store opened, Lee said. “I think the most interesting thing about him is the way he stands for people,” said Erin McIntrye, a rarity in the crowd who had just become a dedicated fan. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/080107-12_01.jpg) RHYMES AND LINES: Common signs copies of his latest release Tuesday outside of Hear Music on the Third Street Promenade on Tuesday. (Photo: Photos by Fabian Lewkowicz) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/080107-12_02.jpg) RHYMES AND LINES: Common signs copies of his latest release Tuesday outside of Hear Music on the Third Street Promenade on Tuesday. (Photo: Photos by Fabian Lewkowicz) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 1, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/080107.pdf?ref=smdp.com)