Over this past weekend, we sat down with Common before his performance at Tanqueray's Trunk Show after-party. The Chicago-born rapper received an Oscarno nomination last month (and won a Golden Globe) for his song "Glory," which he wrote for Selma, the 2014 historical drama directed by Ava DuVernay.

We got his perspective on the film's nominations and whether or not he felt it was snubbed, as well as his opinion on what can be done to curb racial tension in America. Before his performance, he gave a powerful and inspiring speech, touching on his love for hip-hop, along with the power of belief. Check out the video above for the full interview and performance.