the greatest Americans have not been born yet they are waiting patiently for the past to die

The hero is the person who's afraid to run away.

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

It was always important to me to be that kid who could rock the party as well as rock the English professor's mind.

The only reason I've been so critical of hip-hop is because I've always been aware of the effect that it has, and the reflection that it gives of the African-American community.

You start to realize connections between experiences and things that push your buttons, and things that have touched you in those vulnerable areas and what-have-you. And they form a little collection over time - at least I do - and as time progresses and new things are learned, you kind of sift through those things until they're air or danceable, you know? But they start as this thing that's either too hard or too soft to dance to.

Hip-hop is too young to put a definition on it