He’s one of the most successful “conscious” rappers of our generation, but even Chicago’s own Common isn’t immune to a little controversy.

The Republicans up in arms over Michelle Obama’s decision to invite actor/rapper to come to The White House Wednesday night for an evening celebrating poetry. FOX News personality Sean Hannity criticized the First Lady’s invitation because he believes it sets a bad example to allow the “controversial” rapper — whose real name is Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr. — inside the nation’s house. Some of Common’s politically-conscious writings are at the epicenter of the battle. Common spit out an anti-Bush verse while performing at a Def Poetry event in 2007. Much to the chagrin of conservatives.

White House Invite To Rapper Common Stirs Up Controversy: MyFoxDC.com

The offending poem, titled “Letter to the Law,” is also offensive to law enforcement, some cops say. And further alienates an administration already facing questions about its loyalty to those who protect and serve. Critics also believe Common’s song “A Song For Assata” offends law enforcement. The track is the story of Assata Shakur, who was convicted of killing a New Jersey police officer in the 1970s. She escaped prison in 1979 and is now living in Cuba under political asylum.

The White House says it doesn’t approve of violent and vulgar lyrics, but argue that there is more to Common.

“While the President doesn’t support the kind of lyrics that have been raised here, we do think some of these reports distort what Mr. Lynn stands for,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

White House Invite To Rapper Common Stirs Up Controversy: MyFoxDC.com

Rapper/actor Common is bringing his life story to the book aisle. On Wednesday, publishers at Atria Book inked a deal to release a memoir penned by the star, 38, The Associated Press has learned.

The book, titled One Day It’ll Make Sense, will be co-written by Adam Bradley and chronicles the Chicago-bred lyricist’s tough childhood on the city’s hardscrabble South Side and his rise in the entertainment world, including the Grammy-winning collaboration with Kanye West and appearances in films like American Gangster and Street Kings.

In July, Common became the first person cast in the upcoming AMC TV’s historical drama Hell on Wheels.

One Day It’ll Make Sense is set to arrive on booksellers’ shelves in June.

Common and Serena: Take 2. Tennis champ Serena Williams and Grammy Award-winning rapper Common have reportedly rekindled their romance after scheduling conflicts put the kibosh on their love affair.

The couple were spotted getting close at the exclusive Shore Club Hotel in Miami over the weekend, according to a scoop from Life & Style Magazine.

“They’re 100 percent pack together. They were all over each other poolside,” an eyewitness-type told the magazine’s Scene Queens this week.

Serena and Common dated for two years before splitting in May.

The inspirational single is a revival of the ’70s anthem first made famous by Harold Mevin & The Blue Notes — featuring Teddy Pendergrass on lead vocals.

Wake Up: The Album debuts Sept. 21.

Common is putting down his mic for a new role in the upcoming AMC dramatic series Hell on Wheels.

The rapper is the first person to be cast in the project, described as a Reconstruction-era historical western with a focus on the creation of the transcontinental railroad.

Common will play Elam, a freed slave who arrives in the west looking for work.

Common’s acting resume is almost as impressive as his catalogue. The musician/actor most recently starred in the romantic comedy Just Wright, playing a basketball player who falls in love with his trainer, played by Queen Latifah. He’s also appeared in American Gangster and Date Night with Steve Carell and Tina Fey.

Hell on Wheels goes into production this August.

Tennis champ Serena Williams, 28, reveals the reason behind her April split from rapper/actor Common
on the pages of the August issue of Harper’s Bazaar.

Harper’s writes: “She was dating the rapper and actor Common, but they broke up in April. ‘His schedule is actually worse than mine,’ she sighs. ‘He didn’t want the responsibility. It’s really tough.’ Common then began promoting his latest film, heaping enough praise on Williams that people assumed they were still on. (‘Beautiful, intelligent woman, fun and spiritual woman. I think she’s an incredible person,’ he told Access Hollywood.) Williams looks befuddled — befuddled but coquettish. ‘So I called him and I was like, Why are you saying all this stuff when we’re not together?’ Probably because she looks so good.”

Uh-oh — is off-court drama throwing a monkey wrench in the game of love for tennis ace Serena Williams? According to the June 7 issue of In Touch Magazine, Williams and rapper/actor Common have split after two years. The celeb weekly quotes a source claiming the two “just grew apart.”

The couple were last seen together in April. The final warning sign came when Common took his mother as his date to the premiere of his new film, Just Wright.

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