I think all those artists are artists who are appreciated because you believe their words and you appreciate their honesty in their music. If you don't appreciate the honesty in the music, the beat can be fly as hell but you'll never give an emcee props.

Artists look at the environment, and the best artists correctly diagnose the problem. I'm not saying artists can't be leaders, but that's not the job of art, to lead. Bob Marley, Nina Simone, Harry Belafonte - there are artists all through history who have become leaders, but that was already in them, nothing to do with their art.

Being called a conscious rapper is quite a compliment. It's a great thing to be. But as an artist, my nature is to not be in a box.

I tour whether I have album out or not. I tour more than any other hip-hop artist.

Coltrane had a sax, Dale Earnhardt drives a race car and everybody has their tools.

I have a luxury of people coming to see me whether I play for the crowd or not. I don't take that lightly.

Well if somebody's giving me a script, I'll consider it. But it's not something I'm chasing.