The most powerful political voices are those with a different way of seeing and processing the world and the sounds that emanate from it.

Why shouldn't rap be esoteric, able to take in current events, history and criticism? I guess it's this old idea of containment - that rappers, because they're black, can't and shouldn't aspire to look outside the ghetto for influence.

I'm somewhat of an empath, I would say. I relate easily to ideas and stories, books, films, music. I'm moved by all of these things. Art in general. But not just art, you know?

I hear the weed is really strong in California.

There is nothing more negligent than attempting to address a problem one finds on a branch than by censoring the leaves.

If we're gonna progress as a people we are going to realise that, as one of my favourite poets says, the other is a lie. There are no other people. Race is a social construct.

I didn't ever want to make a rap album. I considered it too limiting. Now that's exactly what I've gone and done