Lonnie Lynn

Lonnie Lynn Jr. (May 24, 1943 – September 12, 2014), nicknamed "Pops", was an American professional basketball player and spoken word poet. He played college basketball for the Upper Iowa Peacocks and Wilberforce Bulldogs. Lynn played professionally in the North American Basketball League (NABL), Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) and American Basketball Association (ABA) for four seasons.

Lynn performed as a spoken word poet on albums produced by his son, rapper Common.

Early life Lynn was born on May 24, 1943, in Chicago, the son of Mabel and Lonnie Lynn. He was named "Lonnie" after his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His parents split when he was eighteen months old and he was then raised by his mother as he rarely saw his father. Lynn received 25 athletic scholarships to play college basketball and had desired to attend Michigan State University.

College basketball career On January 29, 1962, Lynn registered for the second semester at Upper Iowa University. He had been encouraged to enroll at what was a smaller school by his high school coach who believed it would give Lynn more individual attention. He transferred to Wilberforce University for the 1963–64 season; Lynn appeared in five games before he was ruled ineligible in December 1963 by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) because Wilberforce did not disclose he was a transfer. He returned to Wilberforce for the 1964–65 season and was selected to the NAIA All-District second-team. Lynn averaged 22.2 points and 23 rebounds per game during the 1965–66 season.

Lynn majored in sociology at Wilberforce University. He was also selected in the fourth round of the 1966 North American Basketball League (NABL) draft by the Battle Creek Braves. He attended rookie camp with the Hawks in June 1966. On November 3, he signed with the Braves, Lynn also worked as a counsellor for the Job Corps while he was playing for the Braves. He was invited to their training camp in September, Lynn was bought by the Tri-Cities Flyers in January 1968. On February 8, Lynn was traded to the Scranton Miners. He had averaged 20 points and 25 rebounds per game in three home appearances with the Flyers but disenchanted his head coach, Gene Guarilia, who had tried to encourage Lynn to work on his defensive rebounding to return to the NBA. He joined the New Haven Elms in December 1968.

On September 17, 1969, Lynn signed with the Denver Rockets of the ABA. He became good friends with his teammate, Spencer Haywood. On January 23, 1970, Lynn signed with the Pittsburgh Pipers. He re-signed with the renamed Pittsburgh Condors for the 1970–71 ABA season on July 25, 1970, but was waived before the season started on August 22.

Lynn claimed that he, Haywood and Paul Silas "practically invented offensive rebounds." Lynn was arrested and charged with false imprisonment and possession of heroin.

On his son's records, Lynn shared opinions, experiences and wisdom to a younger hip hop audience in spoken word poetry format. Many of these appearances, in particular "Pops Rap" on Resurrection, feature Lynn discussing the hippie ideals that have found their way into hip hop culture. In an article for National Public Radio, journalist Robert Siegel wrote of Lonnie "Pops" Lynn:

Lonnie "Pops" Lynn is the father of the rapper Common, and a regular contributor to his son's albums. Lynn's spoken poetry graces the last song on each CD. Lynn says tells Robert Siegel Common's influence set Lynn himself on the right path.