A wise man told me don't argue with fools. Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who. Jay-Z More Quotes by Jay-Z More Quotes From Jay-Z So many people that I've seen can't get clean water. It's a crime. Jay-Z crime water people We create music to express ourselves and when the world relates, that's a beautiful thing. We're all trading off each other's culture, so no matter what lines you put--country indie rock, rap, we're all somehow gonna find a way to come together. Jay-Z rap beautiful country I love that because that's what I'm supposed to be doing - whether it's accepted b everybody or not. I'm supposed to be pushing that envelope and trying new things. And people are supposed to say, Hov, you might have went too far. Jay-Z growth trying people I collect art, and I drink wine... things that I like that I had never been exposed to. But I never said, 'I'm going to buy art to impress this crowd.' That's just ridiculous to me. I don't live my life like that, because how could you be happy with yourself? Jay-Z crowds wine art On the night he died - he was twenty-seven - Basquiat had been planning to see a Run-DMC show. When people asked him what his art was about, he'd hit them with the same three words: "Royalty, heroism, and the streets. Jay-Z running night art I noticed that difference early on, like if you were successful in rock 'n' roll, that was a really bad thing, you almost had to hide it. You had these guys selling 200 million records with dirty T-shirts on. I was like, 'Come on, man. Come on. We know you're successful.' Hip-hop is more about attaining wealth. People respect success. They respect big. They don't even have to like your music. If you're big enough, people are drawn to you. Jay-Z successful men dirty Driving Benzes with no benefits, not bad huh, for some immigrants? Jay-Z immigrants driving benefits I am not a businessman. I am a business, man. Jay-Z business-man businessman men I dumb down for my audience and double my dollars... Jay-Z audience dollars I had success. I had a number one record. I had a number one album. I have to make this kind of record again or else I'm going to lose it all. That's how you end up making the same song over and over. Jay-Z albums numbers song Whoever said that artists shouldn't pay attention to their business was probably someone w/their hand in some artist's pocket. Jay-Z pockets artist hands I learned to ride a ten-speed when I was 4 or 5. My uncle gave me the bike, hand-me-down, and everyone used to stare at me riding up and down this block. I was too short to reach the pedals, so I put my legs through the V of the frame. I was famous. The little kid who could ride the ten-speed. Jay-Z ride me bike riding Excellence is being able to perform at a high level over and over again. You can hit a half-court shot once. That's just the luck of the draw. If you consistently do it... that's excellence. Jay-Z high you luck excellence Belief in oneself and knowing who you are, I mean, that's the foundation for everything great. Jay-Z everything great you foundation Politics - I still think it's a bunch of liars and a bunch of self-interest. It's not about the people: it's about themselves and their rise to power. They are voting on things based on whether they will have the support of the people when they vote next time. They don't have the balls to say, 'I believe in this. I don't care what happens.' Jay-Z politics power time people Everyone's supposed to stay in their lines and be neat. 'You're a rapper. You're supposed to rap, carry a boom box, wear chains, and go to the club - that's all you do. What are you doing collecting art? What are you talking about? Wait a minute, you're getting out of the zone.' People hate when people cross lines. Jay-Z you hate people art I am against discrimination of any kind, but if I make snap judgments, no matter who it's towards, aren't I committing the same sin as someone who profiles? Jay-Z i-am someone discrimination matter I've always believed in good music over bad music. I believe in two sorts of musics. And the lines that separate us, I don't believe in that. That's for people who need to easily define what they're hearing. Me, I'm cool with everything and anything I'm hearing that's music. It comes under one definition for me. Jay-Z good cool me music I'm just saying the producers and people who work on music are getting left out - that's when it starts getting criminal. It's like you're working hard, and you're not receiving. In any other business, people would be standing before Congress. They have antitrust laws against this kind of behavior. Jay-Z you music business work I think reviews have lost a lot of their importance now because of the Internet; everyone is experiencing things at the same time. Jay-Z think internet lost time
