This thing called rhymin' is no different than coal minin'; Mos Def More Quotes by Mos Def More Quotes From Mos Def I was taught when there's somethin' you can change around keep quiet, you got nothin' to complain about. Mos Def taught complaining quiet If Islam's sole interest is the welfare of mankind, then Islam is the strongest advocate of human rights anywhere on Earth. Mos Def islam earth rights I got my first exposure to Islam when I was 13. Mos Def exposure islam firsts Fame is like getting across the street. It's like, if there's nothing to be across the street for, it's a pointless destination. Mos Def streets destination fame I learned [playing Chuck Berry] that there's something to be said for the courage of conviction, that sense of belief, being bold enough to believe in your vision. And there's a quote that really fits his particular energy. It says - they say don't go where the path may lead, but go where there's no path and leave a trail. I think that's exactly what Chuck did, you know. It's an inspiration to a lot of folks, not just musicians, but people everywhere. Mos Def inspiration believe thinking Why do I need I.D. to get I.D.? If I had I.D. I wouldn't need I.D. Mos Def rap hip-hop needs Fame is like getting across the street. It's like, if there's nothing to be across the street for, it's a pointless destination. It's like, "I gotta get across the street, man! I gotta be there! I gotta be there!" Then you get across the street and you're like, "Yeah I'm here!" And then, that's it. Fame doesn't make you particularly happy. Mos Def yeah fame men To me, the job of the artist is to provide a useful and intelligent vocabulary for the world to be able to articulate feelings they experience everyday, and otherwise wouldn't have the means to express in a meaningful and useful way. Mos Def artist meaningful jobs I give a damn if any fan recalls my legacy, I'm trying to live life in the sight of GOD's memory. Mos Def live-life sight memories I have no confidence issues with the impact or the quality of the music. No one in hip-hop, before this point and to this point, with all due respect, has done this. Mos Def impact issues hip-hop I seen her on the ave, spotted her more than once. Ass so fat that you could see it from the front. Mos Def ass rap hip-hop You have to experience life, make observations, and ask questions. Mos Def observation manipulate asks I'm really quite bipolar, and the depressed times, when everything felt like night, sometimes you get to such a low point that you physically beat at it until it bleeds - as you would say - bleeds till sunshine. You get to a point where you say, 'I will not take it anymore! I'm gonna do something drastic if I stay this depressed. I've got to break out of there!' Mos Def bipolar sunshine night I'm trying to get low. People's personalities can get in the way of their own work. Mos Def personality trying people I think hip-hop is actually one of the most challenging things that's happened in music in a long time. The people who are in charge of what people see or hear are afraid. What you hear on top 40 or what you see on BET or MTV is not a fair representation of what is really going on... Mos Def mtv long thinking Bob Marley performed the 'One Love Peace' concert in Jamaica with the two different warring political sides. There's always been that in black music and culture in general. It's no surprise because black music is such a reflection of what's going on in black life. It's not unusual for hip-hop. Mos Def jamaica reflection two Hip-Hop went from selling crack to smoking it Mos Def cracks hip-hop smoking There was a time when hip-hop was its own musical principle, aside from sampling. Like the entire Wild Style break is instrumental. Kurtis Blow's earliest stuff was studio musicians playing. Whodini had a real clear sound, things like "five minutes of funk," stuff that you could write really beautiful, lush string and horn arrangements around, stuff that was just music. Mos Def real writing beautiful With guys I revere, like Marcus Garvey or Malcolm X, their look is less about style than purpose and the expression of beauty. It wasn't just about being noticed, you know? Mos Def style guy expression We blasted holes in the night until she bled sunshine Mos Def sunshine holes night
