Jay-Z
I've said the election of Obama has made the hustler less relevant. People took it in a way that I was almost dismissing what I am. And I was like, 'No, it's a good thing!'
I'll make a song with Rick Rubin, a song with Beyonce, a song with Lenny Kravitz. I just believe in making good music. I'm not trying to section myself off into just making hard-core rap music.
As an artist, you make music. And if you see people who don't know how to market your music, you get involved in it. Otherwise, what you want to accomplish 'gets lost in translation' - no pun intended.
Growing up where I grew up, we looked to athletes. They were our first heroes. They came from the same places we came from. I mean, you can't watch TV and see someone who is successful that you can really relate to. That person isn't real; he doesn't exist. But athletes traveled the world, had these big houses and gave their families a better life.
Hip-hop from the beginning has always been aspirational. It always broke that notion that an artist can't think about money as well. Just so long as you separate the two and you're not making music with business in mind. At some point, it has to be real when they touch it, when they listen to it. Something has to resonate with them that's real.
That was the greatest trick in music that people ever pulled off, to convince artists that you can't be an artist and make money. I think the people that were making the millions said that. It was almost shameful, especially in rock n' roll.
If I go into a studio and find my truth of the moment, there are a number of people in the world who can relate to what I'm saying and are going to buy into what I'm doing. Not because it's the new thing of the moment, but because it's genuine emotion. Its how I feel. This is how I articulate the world.
If just the presence of Tidal causes other companies to have better pay structure or to pay more attention to it moving forward, then we've been successful in one way. So we don't really view them as competitors. As the tide rises, all the boats rise.
I was an artist, I was executive producer on my first album, so I've always had to manage both. I couldn't get a record deal. It wasn't by choice - I couldn't get a record deal, so I had to figure it out.
My mom had early rap records, like Jimmy Spicer. In the middle of the records was a turntable and a receiver - I used to scratch records on it - and on top was a reel-to-reel. In front of that wall were more stacks of records. It was either Mom's record or Pop's record, and they had their names on each and every one.
Nothing me and Kanye can do musically was gonna match the event of what we were trying to do. So we were trying to deliver an album and experience at one time; that was the idea for 'Watch The Throne'.
I never wanted to just glamorize the playa lifestyle and not touch on the down side. I wanted everyone who's in a desperate situation to know that, if they wanna choose that kinda lifestyle, they gotta be aware of everything that comes with it! It's not just about the cars, the ladies and the money.
Primarily I see myself as so much more than a rapper. I really believe I am the voice for a lot of people who don't have that microphone or who can't rap.
I listen to everything - from Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morissette all the way down to rap like Scarface, UGK and Lauryn Hill.
If you look at my career and you look at the span of my work and the things I have done, as far as to garner fame, you'll see that I have turned down more interviews than I do. Or I turn down more things than I do.
My passion is music, you know, and music influences culture, influences lifestyle, which leads me to 'Roc-A-Wear'. I was forced to be an entrepreneur, so that led me to be CEO of 'Roc-A-Fella' records, which lead to Def Jam.
Music is the soundtrack to your life. It's not going to go anywhere. But the way people are purchasing music has changed. It's not the same anymore. It will never be the same.
I think reviews have lost a lot of their importance now because of the Internet; everyone is experiencing things at the same time.
I got love for Damon Dash as I did before. I don't know if we can be around each other in that way because times have changed. He may be a totally different person. I know I'm a different person. But nothing can erase that era, those times, those memories, those fights to get 'Roc-A-fella' where it was.
I don't profess to be a political rapper, like groups such as 'Dead Prez' or 'Public Enemy', but I think social commentary should make its way into your music. Speaking on your neighbourhood is social commentary - what happens, what's going on.
With rap, you go in the studio, you make music, you put the music out, then all of a sudden, you're a star: you have a big record on the radio, and you're on stage, and you've never done it before. Let's say your first show is 'Summer Jam,' and you're in front of 60,000 people, and you've never played an arena, ever. You're gonna suck.
New York - I'm connected. This is my core. I feel like if I'm not connected to New York, then I don't even know what to do with myself.
I don't think any rapper can go back. You can be a car salesman, a bank teller - I mean, really good jobs, and people are still gonna look at you and be like, 'You used to rap; what happened?'
Remind yourself. Nobody built like you, you design yourself.Collection: Design
Don't ever go with the flow. Be the flow.Collection: Flow
Without the work, the magic won’t come.Collection: Magic
Don't tell me what was said about me. Tell me why they were so comfortable to say it to you.Collection: Rapper
A wise man told me don't argue with fools. Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who.Collection: Wise
Be true to yourself- and keep things simple. People complicate thingsCollection: Simple
Identity is a prison you can never escape, but the way to redeem your past is not to run from it, but to try to understand it, and use it as a foundation to grow.Collection: Inspirational
Everybody can tell you how to do it but they never done itCollection: Done
I look in the mirror, my only opponentCollection: Mirrors
You can pay for school, but you can't buy classCollection: School
You not feeling me, fine. It costs you nothing, pay me no mind.Collection: Feelings
I seen the worst of the worst. I deserve every blessing I receive I'm from the dirt.Collection: Blessing
Ain't nothin' wrong with the aim, just gotta change the target.Collection: Target
Only he without sin can tell me if my means justify my ends.Collection: Mean
I'm hungry for knowledge. The whole thing is to learn every day, to get brighter and brighter.Collection: Hungry For Success
Niggas pray and pray on my downfall, But every time I hit the ground I bounce up like round ballCollection: Balls
Males shouldnt be jealous. Thats a female trait.Collection: Jealous
The genius thing that we did was, we didn't give up.Collection: Giving Up
Leave a mark they can't erase, neither space nor time.Collection: Space
May the best of your today's be the worst of your tomorrow'sCollection: May
You can't turn a bad girl good, but once a good girls' gone bad, she's gone forever.Collection: Girl
I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man!Collection: Business
And now we're lethal, infected with D'EvilsCollection: Evil
In the end, you can't censor the truth, especially when it comes packaged in hot music.Collection: Hot
You put the right artist on the right track in the studio and leave the door open to let God in.Collection: Letting Go