You want to know how to rhyme, then learn how to add. It's mathematics. Mos Def More Quotes by Mos Def More Quotes From Mos Def I'm a passionate person. I'm a lot of things, like most people are. Most people are dynamic. The focus is not on me though, I'm a screen. The aim is to always keep myself in the position where the screen is clear. Mos Def passionate focus people My Umi said shine your light on the world, shine your light for the world to see Mos Def shining light world You can positively affect and change a social circumstance with art, and it’s vital that a change happens now. Mos Def social circumstances art I'm blacked than midnight on Broadway and Myrtle Mos Def broadway rap midnight The test in life nowadays is just trying to keep yourself charged up with enough good feeling. It's like, "OK what am I going to do to feel really good today?" Not like, some chick or a drink. Mos Def tests feelings trying Live now for the promise of the Infinite Mos Def infinite promise Every time you ask yourself where hip-hop's going, ask yourself where you're going; how are you doing? Mos Def hips hip-hop hops It's possible and available to any artist to be himself or herself on their own terms, to be accepted and embraced by black people. You don't have to be a thug to get love from black people. Mos Def thug artist people I like to read the 'Financial Times' when I'm traveling. 'Economist.' 'Ad Busters.' Mos Def busters economist financial So rather than really have, like a close relationship to anything that's coming out today, people are just, they've got it on as background music. It's kind of the same way the cabdrivers use music; it's very disposable. But, that doesn't mean there aren't a great number of artists who are doing things to change that. Mos Def artist numbers mean Reckless capitalism kills black people. Mos Def reckless black people It's difficult to really be an artist nowadays. People are just on another page. You have a society that needs you to say something, but they don't want to give you the environment to be able to be just a functioning, happy, normal person. It's like, the industry is at odds with you, the society is at odds with you. You start to live in this very confined box where it's like, It's "me" and "them." Mos Def odds artist people African art is functional, it serves a purpose. It's not a dormant. It's not a means to collect the largest cheering section. It should be healing, a source a joy. Spreading positive vibrations. Mos Def cheer healing art Why did one straw break the camel's back? Mos Def rap hip-hop secret I just don't think it's very dignified to ask people to like you. You can just wind up being somebody's ottoman. Mos Def wind people thinking It wouldn't be fair to cast aspersions on an entire cultural movement based on the actions of a few. To quote my grandfather, 'One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch.' Mos Def apples movement grandfather What I take from writers I like is their economy - the ability to use language to very effective ends. The ability to have somebody read something and see it, or for somebody to paint an entire landscape of visual imagery with just sheets of words - that's magical. Mos Def landscape language use I know what it feels like to have the door slammed firmly in my face, so I'm cool with that. Mos Def faces feels doors The new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis. Shinin', like "Who on top of this? Mos Def crowns hip-hop moon I can't take it y'all Mos Def hip-hop leaving cities