People give me a better understanding on things that I said, or a different way to look at it.

That buck that bought a bottle could have struck the lotto

Somehow the rap game remind me of the crack game

When I made Illmatic, I was trying to make the perfect album. It comes from the days of Wild Style. I was trying to make you experience my life. I wanted you to look at hip-hop differently. I wanted you to feel that hip-hop was changing and becoming something more real.

Working with great people makes you great; you learn a lot and it also gives you the experience and confidence to move on with your own career.

Unfortunately, man, a lot of places in America have to deal with unnecessary violence. Somebody like me who knows it firsthand and could relate... I had a best friend killed, plenty other friends killed. I been through it. I seen it.

I talk about life, and I make universal music with an American style - and that's what I do.