Music is not an exact science so depending on the time and the mode and the energy when we do it that will determine what happens with it.

I like collaboration because, first of all, I'm good at writing lyrics. I don't know how to make beats. I don't play instruments. I'm not a good singer. So even when you see a solo album of mine, it's still a collaboration.

My musical influence is really from my father. He was a DJ in college. My parents met at New York University. So he listened to, you know, Motown, and he listened to Bob Dylan. He listened to Grateful Dead and Rolling Stones, but he also listened to reggae music. And he collected vinyl.

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.

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

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

As an artist, I have to be a leader of my fans, not like follow them. Because if I chose to follow them, you know, they could do it.