I don't rap like nobody, I don't try to sound like nobody.

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

In the early '90s, when I really started to find my voice, I was reading a lot of books, and I was moved by the writers, like Chinua Achebe, and I wanted to be able to write rhymes that were as potent as what I was reading.

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

Fame is like getting across the street. It's like, if there's nothing to be across the street for, it's a pointless destination. It's like, "I gotta get across the street, man! I gotta be there! I gotta be there!" Then you get across the street and you're like, "Yeah I'm here!" And then, that's it. Fame doesn't make you particularly happy.

You have to experience life, make observations, and ask questions.

I'm retiring the Mos Def name after 2011. I'm actually doing it.