Lonnie Lynn facts for kids

Lonnie Lynn Jr. (born May 24, 1943 – died September 12, 2014) was an American basketball player. He was also known by his nickname, "Pops." Lonnie Lynn was the father of the famous rapper Common. He often appeared on his son's music albums, sharing his thoughts and wisdom.

Lonnie Lynn's Early Life and Basketball Career

Lonnie Lynn Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois, on May 24, 1943. His parents were Mabel and Lonnie Lynn. His father worked in construction.

Lonnie was tall, standing 6 feet 7 inches (201 cm) and weighing 215 pounds (98 kg). He played basketball as a forward. This position usually involves scoring points and getting rebounds.

He played basketball at DuSable High School in Chicago. After high school, he continued playing at Wilberforce University and Upper Iowa University.

Playing Professional Basketball

In 1966, Lonnie Lynn was chosen by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1966 NBA draft. This is when professional basketball teams pick new players. He was picked in the 12th round.

Later, he played one season for the Pittsburgh Pipers. This team was part of the American Basketball Association (ABA). That was in the 1969–70 season. During that time, he scored about 5.0 points and got 5.0 rebounds per game.

Lonnie Lynn's Influence on Hip Hop

Lonnie Lynn was well-known in Chicago for his basketball skills. But he also became famous in the rap music world. This was because he was the father of the popular rapper Common.

Lonnie Lynn, or "Pops," appeared on several of his son's albums. He shared his ideas, life experiences, and wise advice. He did this using spoken word poetry. This is a style of poetry that is performed aloud.

Many of his appearances, like "Pops Rap" on Common's album Resurrection, talked about "hippie" ideas. These ideas are about peace and love. They found their way into hip hop culture.

A journalist named Robert Siegel from National Public Radio wrote about Lonnie "Pops" Lynn. He said that Lonnie Lynn was a regular part of his son's albums. He also mentioned that Lonnie felt Common's influence helped him in his own life.

Lonnie Lynn had six other children besides Common.

His Early Life Experiences

Even though he grew up in Chicago, Lonnie Lynn was deeply affected by visits to the Southern United States when he was young. He was also very moved by the murder of Emmett Till. Emmett Till was another young person from Chicago.

Lonnie Lynn's Passing

Lonnie Lynn passed away on September 12, 2014. He was 71 years old. He died from prostate cancer.