Well, it's the last step of the Civil Rights Movement: you know, wrap your hands around some money.

Most artists are making as much money now as they could have made... in the heyday of Def Jam [when the] Beastie Boys would sell 10 million records or DMX would sell 6 or 7 million records. Those records are one thing, but then all the other ways to exploit the emotional relationship between artist and community is so much greater that I would guess that they're making as much or more money than they could have ever made.

Being materialistic is part of the hip-hop community's nature, because jazz and blues and rock 'n' roll, when they started out in the urban communities, were about the American Dream, and the lack of opportunity in that structure. So they talked about everything - uplifting and getting what is perceived as success in America.

Everything you need to know about success is inside of you, because I believe it is inside of all of us. That is, all human beings have potential for infinite success.

Young people, when they're left alone, always want to have compassion, and they always want to give. They always want to help people who are less fortunate.

Whatever you chase will run away from you. So, stop chasing success and realize you already have it all.

If you learn late, you pass it on to people so they can learn early. It's a step process.