I see that happening with hip hop purists now. Where you have an artist like a Kendrick [Lamar] or a Drake, who are really trying different things emotionally, different things musically, and on a mainstream level. And you have underground hip hop fans dissing it, for the simple fact that it's mainstream - not because what they're doing is whack, or what they're doing is not sincere.

Once you're signed to a label you compromise.

Why give you the cure when the disease makes money?

People consider Black Star a great album, and I think it's a classic album. But the fact is, both me and Mos Def have made better albums since Black Star.

I don't feel comfortable making empty music.

It’s very seductive to focus on what you don’t like as opposed to celebrating all that it is that you do.

You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts.