I came from a mother and father who always made me secure in my beliefs, and that's where the love came from.

The best American is one who considers themselves as a citizen of the world.

A lot of artists have been persuaded into doing whatever they can do to gain attention. The media, of course, will position and promote the worst of them to the front page. The sidewalk to crime becomes the marketing campaign. These artists have seen it work and sell millions and millions of records for other artists.

The Internet is one area that I have used pretty effectively to break free of corporate control.

It ain't this big I, little You. Music is to be shared. Music is not a hustle. [Hip hop's become] cultural stripmining [by the major labels]. Some people get into this music to make a killing but music is a way to make a living.

Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and when people start getting it confused, that means they need to sit down with some real people.

Rap is supposed to be about keeping it real and not relinquishing your roots in the community. Without that, it's just posturing. Somebody who claims to speak for the 'hood don't need no private jet.