I began to fear that Mos Def was being treated as a product, not a person, so I've been going by Yasiin since '99. At first it was just for friends and family, but now I'm declaring it openly.

There are a lot of people who call themselves teachers or leaders, but they're really just propagandists.

I've been fortunate with my acting career. A lot of scripts come to me. I don't mind auditioning if something that requires that, but I haven't had to in awhile, which is a nice place to be 'cause I've been on quite a lot of auditions in my life.

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

It’s one thing to be the greatest; it’s another thing to be necessary. The best are the most necessary: those who take less than they give and love more than they hate.

And remember don't high post when you're far from home, and high posting when you're all alone.

They say that when a man faces his destiny, the destiny ends and he becomes the man that he really is.