Patti LaBelle and rapper Common graced the stage at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night in Chicago. The event’s theme, “A Bold Vision for America’s Future,” featured speeches from Barack and Michelle Obama.
Patti LaBelle opened the second night of the DNC, performing her powerful hit “You Are My Friend” during an In Memoriam segment. Mitch Landrieu, the former mayor of New Orleans, introduced LaBelle, acknowledging the many patriots lost since the last convention. He urged the audience to join him in remembering them before the night continued.
Dressed in black lace over a white blouse, LaBelle captivated the crowd, singing, “My friend, I feel your love when you’re not near.” She passionately shouted, “Kamala! God bless America, Kamala Harris!” as she exited the stage to enthusiastic applause.
LaBelle, often referred to as the “Godmother of Soul,” boasts two Grammy Awards and 13 nominations. Her career began in a Philadelphia girl group that evolved through various names, including “LaBelle.” She launched her solo career after the group released five albums and achieved a massive hit with “Lady Marmalade.” LaBelle’s solo success includes tracks like “On My Own” and a celebrated cover of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”
Common took the stage about thirty minutes into the program, accompanied by fellow Chicago native and Grammy-winning gospel artist Jonathan McReynolds. The two performed a mash-up of Common’s new song “Fortunate,” from his recent release “The Auditorium Vol. 1,” and McReynolds’ track “God is Good.”
Before performing, Common expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of a moment that he believes will lead to positive change in the world, thanks to Kamala Harris’s leadership. He began his performance, rapping, “The feeling is free. We live at the DNC.”
Common, whose real name is Lonnie Rashid Lynn, is a renowned rapper, actor, and activist with a career spanning back to the ’90s. He has received three Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award throughout his career. He started rapping in high school and eventually established himself as a significant artist in the industry, collaborating with names like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Kanye West.
In recent years, he gained acclaim for his work on the song “Glory,” featured in the film “Selma,” alongside John Legend, for which they won an Academy Award. Additionally, Common has appeared in the Apple TV+ series “Silo” and will be touring later this month.