He's a chart-topping rapper, the star of hit films like "Wanted," and a socially conscious citizen who just happens to be BFFs with our new president. With so much news in his life, what's taken Common so long to launch his own bells-and-whistles Web site?

Just moments ago, the soulful Chicagoan flipped the "on" switch, taking ThinkCommon.com live for the whole world to see. Taking a break from stocking it with blogs, videos and tiny robot aliens, he spoke exclusively to MTV News about surfing the Web, out-rapping Hillary Clinton, and his audacious plan to sell his upcoming album for 99 cents.

MTV: On the new site, one of your first blog entries says: "After years of not giving in to the Internet world, I finally got sucked in." What took so long?

Common: I've definitely been avoiding technology. It was due to me wanting to focus on other things, and I didn't get drawn into it until now.

MTV: So you're not the type of guy who rushes out and buys a new iPhone the day it comes out?

Common: No, I've still got the Motorola phone, one of the earlier ones — I've got the RAZR phone. [Laughs.] But I do appreciate those that communicate on the Internet, and I respect that community, so that's why I felt like I wanted to be a part of that and be able to dialogue with people that enjoy music, art and communicating on positive things. ... The Web site is very creative and it looks good, man. This is a reflection of what I want artistically.

MTV: When you check out ThinkCommon.com, the first thing you see is Common's Chicken Shack restaurant. What's going on in there?

Common: That's based on a place in Chicago called Harold's Chicken Shack. ... We created it to be a vault that would house a lot of old music from Common. It's like a vault holding a lot of historic and classic things that come from Common throughout the years. The whole site is based on the Chicago skyline in the future. We wanted to create something that looked futuristic, so a lot of the buildings that you'll see are based on Chicago buildings. Those are my roots.

MTV: So your vision of Chicago's future has the city being taken over by Martians? Because I'm seeing UFOs, and I think an alien is peeking up at me from the Chicken Shack window.

Common: [Laughs.] Yeah, you know that alien/robot thing comes from the video for "Universal Mind Control." [In] my imagination, I believe those spaceships are coming to beam down good information. Positive things are coming from those friendly flying saucers.

MTV: When we click on the theater marquee, we see blog entries about what's going on in your life. Is this going to be a daily thing?

Common: Yeah, I'm going to do my best to do it daily. I have a team of bloggers that will work with me and bring information, and I want to make clear now that this is straight from me. I'll be typing it — or, if I'm not typing it because my typing is slow, I may have my assistant Val typing, but the words are coming from me.

MTV: You've got a tower on your site called "Foundation," and if you click there, you get info for your Common Ground Foundation charity for children. Do you think it's important for a celebrity to give back to his community?

Common: Yeah, and man, we are doing a lot of great things. ... We just had a fundraiser in Chicago in September that brought together a lot of different corporations that donated, and we give the money to programs that are encouraging children to read, encouraging them to educate themselves on health and self-awareness.

MTV: Our new president-elect similarly talks about the importance of public service, and you've been a supporter of Barack Obama's for years. Does it feel like a new day to you, or are you just waiting until January 20th?

Common: I've been feeling a new day since November 4th at 11:35 Chicago time. [Laughs.] Ever since I first heard that announcement and witnessed everything that I witnessed, being at Grant Park. I've been feeling like I'm breathing new air, and I feel the energy coming for a lot of people. I really love it.

MTV: Any truth to the rumor that Barack is considering you for secretary of state?

Common: [Laughs.] Well, they are trying to figure it out between me and Hillary, and I keep telling them I've got some things I can bring to the table that they've never had before. [Rapping] I would be a great secretary of state/ And I'm going to innovate/ Have you ever had a secretary of state/ Who could rhyme so great?

MTV: Wow. I don't think Hillary Clinton could do that.

Common: Exactly!

MTV: Are you going to the inauguration?

Common: Yes, I will be there for the inauguration. I can't wait.

MTV: If you click on your new site's Ferris wheel, it takes you to a shop where you can buy your new album, Universal Mind Control, when it comes out December 9th. But it's only going to cost 99 cents — is that for real?

Common: Yeah, Zune worked out something with the label. Zune has been very supportive of good music. They've been doing stuff with N.E.R.D. and me. I've done a commercial with me and Afrika Bambaataa. They worked out something with the label where you can get the album for 99 cents, and I'm grateful.

MTV: Recently, we've seen bands like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails give away their albums at reduced costs. When an artist does something like this, is there a danger you might lose a lot of money in the end?

Common: Well, no, [not] for me. I won't make as much as I would have made. But at this point, it's more the "long-run" thing to me, to be honest. ... They'll sell this for 99 cents, and people will be getting in tune with my music, so they'll come out and support a show, go to the Web site and buy some merchandise. ... The most important thing for me is for people to continue to get aware of the Common brand and see something that they want from Common that they can implement into their lives.

MTV: Can we assume that if we buy something at Common's Chicken Shack, it'll be a little bit better for us than normal fast food?

Common: [Laughs.] Yeah, my chicken shack is definitely a little healthier. There might be a little bit of grease on it to give it some flavor, but I'm cooking up comforting food for the soul.