The responsibility of an artist is to be honest with themselves.

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.

"Art Imitates life," of course, is that phrase by Oscar Wilde. I called that song "Art Imitates Life" because Oh No was in the studio and he actually came up with that hook. When I was trying to figure out a name for the record, it just kind of made sense.

But you have to be creative on how you sell yourself and market yourself.

I gotta be dope first. I gotta be appealing to your senses, and to what you like first. Then the message happens. Then you relate to the message.

Do the math: You never settle for less than the whole if you knew the half.

Just because someone has great content doesn't mean you like them as a rapper.