Grammy Preview: Common

After he experimented with psychedelic grooves and abstract lyrics on 2002's Electric Circus, Common returned to soul samples and witty wordplay with this year's Be. The Academy rewarded him with a nod in the Best Rap Album category, putting him up against fellow Chicagoan Kanye West (who produced much of Be). But Common has no doubt who made the best hip-hop album of the year.

Did the nominations surprise you?

I gotta say they didn't. I believe in the music, and I felt that the timing was right. I made the decision not to go into my albums like, "People aren't going to understand this." I really believe that if we don't underestimate people, then they will get to it.

Do you have an early Grammy memory?

Yeah, I remember seeing Michael Jackson at the Grammys. And I remember my first time being there [in 2000]. I actually had a good time; there was some really good music. They had Ibrahim Ferrer from Buena Vista Social Club, God bless his soul. That year, the Roots won with Erykah [Badu, for "You Got Me"], and it gave me hope. I was like, "Damn, the Grammys are saluting real music!" I really was feeling it.

Do you think you deserve to win all the categories you're nominated in?

Yeah! [Laughs] I want to and I deserve to. Kanye made an incredible album too, and he's my family, so if he wins it's all good, but I definitely want to win. If you're gonna ask me if I have the best rap album of the year, I'm gonna humbly say, "Yeah."

Next: Rob Thomas