“My record company had to beg me to stop filmin’ music videos in the projects.”

I want to have fun. It’s a beautiful life. You learn, you win, you lose, but you get up.

Whenever I received too much praise, it just didn’t feel right to me – ever.

I’ve been called everything. Gangsta rap. I’ve been called conscious rap. You know, everything. Whoever feels like calling it whatever they want to call it, that’s on them.

Anybody I’m dating, I don’t want them to talk about my music. I don’t talk about my music to them.

I go with the rhythm of it and the words start to come to my mind and those words could be based on things that’s been on my mind for the past year, the past month, the past week, whatever; I write it.

I love PBS! I grew up on it. If I had to say which channels were good, I’d say, you got your PBS, your History Channel, your Discovery.

The things that I have said when I was young and curious about whatever the subject matter was, I respect those – those are growing pains.

Let’s not forget, art can sell. You ain’t gotta front all the time on your records.

Divorce can be crazy. Man, if you’re happy… Love is a beast, man. Hold on. Be prepared for any way it may go, and be honest.

To me, creatively challenging myself is my version of owning the Nets.

I think the fact that I made enough noise in the world that I might be remembered is an amazing achievement. You can’t ask for more than that.

Anybody can be a rapper, but not anybody can be a classical artist.

Unfortunately, man, a lot of places in America have to deal with unnecessary violence.

You know, rap is sort of like a form of talking, right? So it’s like you can hear, you know, the slaves doing it.

Hip-hop is the streets. Hip-hop is a couple of elements that it comes from back in the days… that feel of music with urgency that speaks to you.

It’s never been seen that a street artist go as far as I’ve gone – keep consistent without wanting to do a bunch of ventures outside of music to keep my face out there.

Would you want to breathe if you were to ask for oxygen? Would you want to drink if you were to beg for a glass of water? would you want to eat if you were to pray for a plate of food? Well, I wouldn’t.

My words are written like prayers begging to be answered by you.

Even though negativity begs for my attention, I will still choose to focus on the joy in my life.

Learn to be difficult when it counts. In school as in life, having a reputation for being assertive will help you receive preferential treatment without having to beg or fight for it every time.

Would you want to breathe if you were to ask for oxygen? Would you want to drink if you were to beg for a glass of water? would you want to eat if you were to pray for a plate of food? Well, I wouldn’t.

You will never gain anyone’s approval by begging for it. When you stand confident in your own worth, respect follows.

Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn.

You can’t expect others to stay if you’re begging them not to.