There was a time when hip-hop was its own musical principle, aside from sampling. Like the entire Wild Style break is instrumental. Kurtis Blow's earliest stuff was studio musicians playing. Whodini had a real clear sound, things like "five minutes of funk," stuff that you could write really beautiful, lush string and horn arrangements around, stuff that was just music.

I just don't think it's very dignified to ask people to like you. You can just wind up being somebody's ottoman.

Focused. I'm a hustler. And my hustle is trying to figure out the best ways to do what I like without having to do much else.

I don't hate nobody. I hate certain conditions that are inflicted upon the people - and they're helpless with it.

Speech is my hammer bang the world into shape now let it fall - HUNGH

Record companies are not necessarily interested in you realizing your artistic dream. The bottom line is that they got to sell records.

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.