American rapper and actor born Lonnie Rashid Lynn on March 13, 1972, in Chicago. One of the most respected lyricists in conscious hip-hop. Long-running collaborations with producers No I.D., J Dilla, and Kanye West.
Released 14 studio albums between Can I Borrow a Dollar? (1992) and And Then We Pray (2023). Critical peak: Resurrection (1994), Like Water for Chocolate (2000), and Be (2005). Won the 2015 Academy Award for Best Original Song ("Glory," with John Legend) for Selma. Pursues a parallel acting career with roles in Hell on Wheels, John Wick: Chapter 2, and the Now You See Me franchise.