I'm just an artist and I'm doin' what I like to do.

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

If 'Life in Marvelous Times' can't get on the radio, then I don't need to be on the radio.

You're not gonna get through life without being worshipful or devoted to something. You're either devoted to your job, or to your desires. So the best way to spend your life is to try to be devoted to prayer, to Allah.

I think hip-hop is actually one of the most challenging things that's happened in music in a long time. The people who are in charge of what people see or hear are afraid. What you hear on top 40 or what you see on BET or MTV is not a fair representation of what is really going on...

I give a damn if any fan recalls my legacy, I'm trying to live life in the sight of GOD's memory.

It's possible and available to any artist to be himself or herself on their own terms, to be accepted and embraced by black people. You don't have to be a thug to get love from black people.