Nas
I think marriage is a beautiful thing. I'm still a supporter of it.
I never stood for any president in my life, never voted, before Barack Obama. It changed my life to vote. It starts there with me. I never cared for politics before Barack Obama. I never thought it mattered to people like me.
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.
I've been called everything. Gangsta rap. I've been called conscious rap. You know, everything. Whoever feels like calling it whatever they want to call it, that's on them.
I talk about life, and I make universal music with an American style - and that's what I do.
Some people say I'm conscious, some say I'm a gangsta rapper - it's just me doing me. I'm stomping in my own lane. I'm doing what I do.
DJs play a big responsibility of what hip-hop is doing... At the end of the day, it's up to us to control and to own hip-hop. DJs need to challenge us rappers. They got so much power, they need to challenge us.
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. 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.
Whenever I received too much praise, it just didn't feel right to me - ever.
I definitely have plans to do more collaboration albums in the future. I'm a big fan of Common. I'm a big fan of Scarface; I'm a big fan of so many people, from Jeezy to... well, there are a lot of people's music that I respect. I don't know who I will collaborate with, but there's a great chance of something happening.
GaGa is one of my favourites. Her voice is incredible and she's fearless and she's ahead of the game. She's ahead of the entire game, and I admire that.
Africa has been going through so much for so many years; it's time that it stands up the way other nations are standing up.
My earliest memories of rap music was mixed with my earliest memories of reggae music. They were big sounds around the way, heavy bass lines, strong messages, definitely.
Marley is someone before his time, man. He's - he's almost - he's like a deity, like almost, you know what I mean? I just talk about what's going on, but of course, you know, Bob, before rappers, was already laying that kind of thing down.
No matter who you are, black, white, green, there's going to be things in your way, you know what I mean?
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.
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.
My record company had to beg me to stop filmin' music videos in the projects. No matter what the song was about, I had 'em out there.
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.
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.
Hip-hop artists, especially the older ones, are the ones who knew hip-hop was a worldwide phenomenon before the mainstream caught on, so hip-hop artists are forward thinkers. We want to stay with the new.
Unfortunately, man, a lot of places in America have to deal with unnecessary violence. Somebody like me who knows it firsthand and could relate... I had a best friend killed, plenty other friends killed. I been through it. I seen it.
Much success to you, even if you wish me the opposite.Collection: Opposites
Turnin' nothin' into somethin' is God work, and you get nothin' without struggle and hard workCollection: Motivational
You have to keep your vision clear, cause only a coward lives in fear.Collection: Hip Hop
No idea is original, there's nothing new under the sun, it's never what you do, but how it's doneCollection: Ideas
I never brag, how real i keep it, cause thats the best secret.Collection: Real
Beyond the walls of intelligence, life is definedCollection: Wall
No temporary chaos is worth your sanity.Collection: Chaos
If you scared to take chances, you'll never have the answers...Collection: Hip Hop
Don't ever give up on yourself. Keep pushing because the change of guards is what life's all about. [...] You've always got to stick with whatever you're into because you're day is going to come. You're day is destined. If you walk away from that, whether it be from fear or whether you're just giving up. [...] The greatest sin is fear and giving up.Collection: Giving Up
For my hustlers, here's some motivation: He who has begun is half done.Collection: Motivation
You lose money chasing women, never lose women chasing money...Collection: Rap
How can you lose when you're doing you?Collection: Doing You
Just sitting in silence is one of the best things a man can do.Collection: Men
Play it cool, that's the old school rule man.Collection: School
My success symbolizes loyalty, great friends, Dedication, hard work, routine builds character. In a world full of snakes, rats and scavengersCollection: Loyalty
Use your own intuition. You are tomorrow.Collection: Intuition
The further I get, the further I want to goCollection: Want
It's foul what this money could do, cash corrupts the loyal.Collection: Hip Hop
Always observe, watch, and talk to older people.Collection: People
"Never stop. Never settle." I believe in this message.Collection: Believe
I've learned not to be surprised by what people do no more.Collection: People
I broke into shakespeare's tomb and stole his remains, grinded the bones, smoked it, then got in the gameCollection: Games
Freedom or jail clips inserted, a baby's being born/ Same time a man is murdered, the beginning and end.Collection: Baby
I got the opportunity to meet people all over the world. Brilliant women, tall women, short women, slim women, thick women, you name it. But, I don't meet them. I have the opportunities to and it's a little bit - I'm a little shy, so I don't meet them and I don't know who's right for me.Collection: Opportunity