“I’ve been able to sell records still. I want to be the guy that stands out there and says thank you personally to everyone. And I try after my shows and kick it because I want to genuinely say thanks.”

Everyone’s been on the “hip-hop is dead” campaign for years, and now it’s the most unsure-of-itself genre ever.

I started freestyling with friends about eight or nine years ago. I started writing also around the same time, but didn’t meet blockhead until about ’94. I started making beats not until about ’96.

People are very adamant about maintaining a certain sound or a certain era, like, “There were three years of rap that were great, so let’s just keep doing that.” The genre itself is just stuck in place. It’s been treading water for a while.

The alleycats manipulate the blocks with gutter magic

If I had interesting things to say, I would have been a speechwriter.

The only bridge I’ve ever burned along this legacy

I’ve been able to tour because of my music and I’ve learned a lot about myself while on the road. I think some of the imagery of my writing are snapshots of where I’ve been and my feelings about the world.

I think it gets to musicians’ heads a lot of the time. Just because people like your records doesn’t mean what you have to say is going to be interesting.

The older I get, the less I care about what’s cool. I realize I’m old and weird.

God helps those who have no-cut contracts.

I dance is the one that linked the cities of prosperity and chance.

In a time where everything’s a flavor of the month, and it’s hard to have any sort of longevity,

Now we the American working population Hate the fact that eight hours a day Is wasted on chasing the dream of someone that isn’t us And we may not hate our jobs But we hate jobs in general That don’t have to do with fighting our own causes.

There’s smoke in my iris, but I painted a sunny day on the insides of my eyelids

It’s hard to stand around and make conversation with people I’ve learned. But I do want to be the guy that can do it easily.

…I’ve never had a dream in my life, Because a dream is what you wanna do, but still haven’t pursued.

Too bad your inner sheep never forgets to follow.

I’m just tryin to be somebody I can talk to in the morning with a smile.

We the American working population Hate the nine-to-five, day-in day-out When we’d rather be supporting ourselves By being paid to perfect the pastimes That we have harbored based solely on the fact That it makes us smile if it sounds dope.

I don’t think that there’s a problem with being too concerned about videogames, especially for me, because I’m not in the industry. I’m just a consumer. But hip-hop is constantly like, “What are you doing for the scene?”

Honestly, I don’t feel pressure to live up to anything I’ve done because I tend to not listen to my work once a year passes.

You can’t get someone to like something they aren’t feeling. After you press play, there isn’t anything you can do.

I knew what I wanted, and did it till it was done. So I’ve been the dream I wanted to be since Day One.

I’m Mozart with a focus on the tide Hiding the inconsistencies of man behind water and wine