We develop social systems for the handicapped, but when you're handicapped in your mind, society doesn't handle those situations well. I think we don't recognize or acknowledge the power of messages and how deeply affected we all are by the messages we receive from the media.

In school, I studied psychology, linguistics, neuroscience. I understand that there is a real lack of respect for the brain.

I think by the next generation either we'll have a lot of idiots who are just completely immersed in media and corporatized information, or we'll have people who enjoy media and corporatized information, but are more interconnected with human beings around the world ... And who share common goals and are willing to accept that they are a global citizen. I think the latter is more the direction.

Hip-hop educated me about other forms of music, because it sampled from all different styles.

People in the Middle East may consider the U.S. an evil hegemony that has tainted their culture, but when I look at the growth of racial and ethnic tolerance and understanding in my generation in the U.S., and see those sentiments make it around the world, it makes me feel proud.

What do you actually need? Food, clothing and shelter. Everything else is entertainment.

We live in an era of consumerism and it's all about desire-based consumerism and it has nothing to do with things we actually need.