The biggest thing that has happened to hip-hop is the clinging on to the corporation as the all-mighty hub of the music.

Of course voting is useful. But then again, I don’t put a big glow to it. Voting is about as essential as washing yourself. It’s something you’re supposed to do. Now, you can’t go around bragging, expecting to get props because you voted. That’s stupid.

Public Enemy started out as a benchmark in rap music in the mid-1980s. We felt there was a need to actually progress the music and say something because we were slightly older than the demographic of rap artists at the time. It was a time of heightened rightwing politics, so the climate dictated the direction of the group.

There are too many leaders anointed because they have a public voice - television, radio, or record, or whatever. That even includes myself. In the past, I'd say, 'Don't anoint me when you can anoint yourself.'

Bigger doesn't mean better unless you really understand what bigger is.

The real thing is the heart, you know the heart shouldn't be covered with concrete.

Downloadable music is the biggest musical phenomenon since the Beatles, and the music industry is slow to come to grips with that.