The battle thing is very important in hip-hop, but at the same time, I want to sit down and have a beer and listen to Rakim.

There's a need for pop. There's a need for radio. There's also a need to understand the brilliance and the depth of jazz and soul - and what hip-hop can be at its most brilliant and what hip-hop can be at its most simplistic.

His momma said, Donovan why are you, on the corner of linden and guy R. Brewer?

I mostly write to music, even though I know I sound free-form a lot. Then there are times when I'll have a concept and hold on to it until I come across the right music that makes a marriage.

New York City gritty committee pity the fool that act shitty in the midst of the calm, the witty.

I'm doing what's in my heart at the time.

You've rarely got an artist that's not being chauffeured into the business by some huge-ass names.