“I see N.Y. hip-hop like I see N.Y. streets. N.Y. streets are grimy; it’s a grind. N.Y. rappers are hustlers – whatever sound is in, we can adapt to that; there’s nothing wrong with that.”

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.

I’m not talking about Russia in my music. I’ve never been to Russia. I’m not talking about Africa, Switzerland, China.

No one’s promised anything. You could have the biggest record on radio and sell no records.

I talk about life, and I make universal music with an American style – and that’s what I do.