Rapper/actor Common and model Selita Ebanks are steaming up the September issue of Uptown magazine. Before anyone starts to speculate the pair is NOT together, but you gotta admit, they do make a hot looking couple. Inside the pages, the Chicago native opens up about his long-standing career in music, his romance with Serena Williams and much more. Check out the excerpts below.

On critics and fans thinking he’s softened up a bit:

“I’m harcore which to me is coming from the heart. Putting your heart on paper and being true.

His mission to raise awareness on the talent in Chicago:

“One way of giving back is having young Chicago artist on album. This album is an action to increase awareness of the people in the city. I owe it to Chicago. The most beautiful thing about this project is it’s not ahead of its time, its not a throwback album. It feels like today. I feel like a new artist. There are people out there that don’t know my music, but they know me from acting. Some don’t know me at all.”

On live after his relationship with Serena Williams:

“If I’m in it as much as I was with Serena, as much as I loved her…it takes time to heal and find people to be able to move on.