I ain't no perfect man I'm tryna do the best that I can with what it is I have.

I don't want to waste anyone's time or money. I want to give people some truth and positive heart lift.

At its heart, music is all higher mathematics.

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

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.

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.

Why do I need I.D. to get I.D.? If I had I.D. I wouldn't need I.D.