How Common's Life Has Changed Since Winning an Oscar for 'Glory'

— -- Common is still on cloud nine after his Oscar win last month for his song "Glory."

"It's a wonderful feeling because I always dreamed of being heard by the world and being recognized as an artist by the world," he told reporters Monday in New York City about his big win. "To have the platform, and for it to be the Oscars, is the greatest level of achievement."

Common, 42, not only won for Best Original Song, he performed alongside John Legend and had the room in tears, including "Selma" star David Oyelowo. "Selma" is based on the 1965 Selma march for voting rights led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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"For us to represent 'Selma,' to be up there with that type of message was really important to me," he added. "I wouldn't want my first award to be for anything else but that. It's definitely a blessing that it was through 'Selma.'"

Common spoke to ABC News and other media outlets while promoting his most recent movie -- playing an evil assassin gunning for Liam Neeson, 62, in "Run All Night."

"I feel great about playing the bad guy," he added. "It's a lot of exploration for me as an actor to go to those places, because I don't get to go to them in real life."

He added, "When I told my friend I was in a movie with Liam Neeson, he was like, 'Ah, you are going to get your a** kicked!'"

The rapper and actor said an Oscar win doesn't stop him from striving to accomplish other goals.

"I want to keep growing, maybe at some point do theater," he said. "And we are looking to do a television show. One day, I want to have that EGOT [Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award]."

He's halfway there and already owns multiple Grammy Awards.

"But I have to say, life has changed some [since winning the Oscar]," he said. "It's like a whole broader audience that knows who I am and approaches me, in another way. It's not like they look at me and 'We label you just a hip-hop artist.' Now, it's 'Okay, you are a hip-hop artist, but you've got something to say.' More than anything, people approach me and say they feel the same way. 'We're glad about what you said and your performance moved us.'"

He continued, "We are connected and we do feel the same way. We want a better world ... no matter what color you are, or background you come from, or sexual orientation."

The award winner also recognized and explained when his career took a turn from just hip-hop to his Oscar win.

A couple years back, "I made the decision that I'm not settling for good. I want to do great things," he said. "I strive for greatness."