Woman are complex creatures.
When I look at the arc of my career, my focus is on lyricism, right? I own that.
Well if somebody's giving me a script, I'll consider it. But it's not something I'm chasing.
When Occupy Wall Street happened, I took my money out of Citibank. I already had problems with all the banks - Citibank, Bank of America - but I was kind of just too lazy to take my money out until I saw how Citibank responded to Occupy Wall Street.
Ain't nobody making music to not be heard and the easiest way to be heard is to be on the radio, but you should never compromise who you are, your values or your morals.
You have to learn how to harness technology so you can use it for positive stuff without being disconnected from nature.
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.
You'll be fooled if you only get your hip-hop from the mainstream, you know. The things that move people are not just found in the mainstream cultures. And when we talk about hip-hop in general, hip-hop's basically preoccupied with life.
I think its man's nature to go to war and fight.
A lot of these people, these program directors, just like anybody else in the world, even though they're supposed to be leaders in the world, they're followers. They follow what they think someone else is doing, instead of trying to blaze a trail.
And you know, art as commerce, doesn't really make too much sense, they don't go together.
As far as being on a major label, some labels get it and get what they have to do, and some labels don't. I don't think the label I'm on necessarily gets it, but I think over time they're gonna have to.
But it becomes disrespectful when the artist's process is not respected.
Even an independent label is looking for a hit, they're not looking for a record that's not gonna do well.
Hi-Tek is on three or four songs on the new record.
Hip-hop isn't as complex as a woman is.
I don't feel comfortable making empty music.
I met Mos Def around that time but I didn't hook up with him until I was about 17 or 18.
I started rapping because I wanted people to hear what I have to say, I want as many people to hear me as possible, and I do everything in my power to make that pop.
I think music sharing of any kind is great.
