Mos Def

“I believe the projects were a social experiment; we were laboratory rats stacked on top of each other, and people just knew, inherently, that there was something wrong. There's not a lot of regard for the property by the residents.”

“African art is functional, it serves a purpose. It's not a dormant. It's not a means to collect the largest cheering section. It should be healing, a source a joy. Spreading positive vibrations.”

“I never had any ambitions of being a movie star or anything like that, but you know, this is nice.”

“I'm inspired by playwrights, novelists, poets: The value of language has been a lifelong passion of mine. I enjoy it. I'm good at it.”

“I don't wanna get into that space where a lot of guys now, their solo album is like eight or 10 songs with other people, you don't get an idea of who this guy is. I just wasn't interested in that.”

“I didn't want to have to deal with having any moniker or separation between the self that I see and know myself as.”

“I'm growing as an individual, but your always growing. All of my albums are snapshots of where I am artistically.”

“I get reminded a lot of the time that my life is a little bit different, but I'm just trying to keep it as regular as possible because I like it that way.”

“If Islam's sole interest is the welfare of mankind, then Islam is the strongest advocate of human rights anywhere on Earth.”

“I got my first exposure to Islam when I was 13.”

“That's what I've been trying to strive for - to draw a clear picture, to open up a new dimension.”

“I have no confidence issues with the impact or the quality of the music. No one in hip-hop, before this point and to this point, with all due respect, has done this.”

“My presence speaks volumes before I say a word.”

“You have to experience life, make observations, and ask questions.”

“Bob Marley performed the 'One Love Peace' concert in Jamaica with the two different warring political sides. There's always been that in black music and culture in general. It's no surprise because black music is such a reflection of what's going on in black life. It's not unusual for hip-hop.”

“When people say, 'I don't see you enough,' well just because you don't see me don't mean I don't exist, or just 'cause you haven't heard me don't mean I haven't been making noise. But if I keep making noise, you'll pick up.”

“But even creeps deserve to live someplace halfway decent.”

“It wouldn't be fair to cast aspersions on an entire cultural movement based on the actions of a few. To quote my grandfather, 'One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch.'”

“I've been fortunate with my acting career. A lot of scripts come to me. I don't mind auditioning if something that requires that, but I haven't had to in awhile, which is a nice place to be 'cause I've been on quite a lot of auditions in my life.”

“To me, playing an instrument and singing, all of these different things are just as natural to me as rhyming.”