Hip-hop ain't died because of the South, that's retarded. When I named the album originally, I thought I bit off more than I could chew but you'd be an idiot to think I'm talking about how the South killed hip-hop or how New York isn't where it should be or where it once was. It was like, "Damn, I need to explain this?" But I thought, "Nah, the proof is right there. We should know what it is." I expect the hip-hop audience to be avant garde. I want them to be where I'm at or beyond where I'm at.

Freedom or jail clips inserted, a baby's being born/ Same time a man is murdered, the beginning and end.

My duration's infinite, money-wise or physiology.

I had a pretty public divorce. They're not easy - divorces - and it took me a long time to really get through.

I don't go out unless I'm working. My quality time is when I'm doing nothing.

The whole thing is, do as much as you can, when you possibly can, and don't stress.

I think you gotta always do things that keep you excited in an [rap music] industry that's so bullshit. When you know that you have so much energy and so much to give, it would be a shame if the facilitators of that aren't enthusiastic about you doing it, because you've been doing it for so long. So you just gotta figure out ways in this insane business to keep it fresh.