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

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

No matter who you are, black, white, green, there’s going to be things in your way, you know what I mean?

We’re all Africans, everyone – black, white, yellow.

Calling Michelle ‘Obama Barack’s baby mama?’ Tell me, is that acceptable? But the Obamas aren’t the only targets. Fox’s pattern of race-baiting and fear-mongering regularly focuses on black leaders, black institutions and ordinary black people.

I think marriage is a beautiful thing. I’m still a supporter of it.

Even if you make mistakes, I go back to those things, my not-so-great moments because those are my truest moments; those are my human moments. I’m not even mad at the things I said that were a little dicey.

Your look reflects what’s happening in your mind. You gotta have some swag to you.

When I say ‘hip-hop is dead,’ basically, America is dead. There is no political voice. Music is dead.

I don’t want any title. I just say what I say, and hopefully somebody gets it, man. I’m not perfect, and I’m just here and trying to make a dollar, and being real at the same time, you know?

With age comes common sense and wisdom.

Hip-hop lasted and survived all these years that you have to give it credit. Even though it’s not up to people’s expectations anymore, its still here, and that’s says a lot.

I think hip-hop could help rebuild America, once hip-hoppers own hip-hop… We are our own politicians, our own government, we have something to say. We’re warriors. Soldiers.

N.Y. hip-hop is ok, but we gotta become brave again; we have to be brave enough and do something new – that’s what New York is about… New.

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.

I just talk about what’s going on, but of course, you know, Bob, before rappers, was already laying that kind of thing down.

There comes a time when things can work out and everybody can be happy. And that’s what it’s all about in the end – everybody being happy and working it out.