Black Star Quotes
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I'm not looking to set a standard... but, I believe I have offered a challenge to others with my work.
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The materialism, the brashness, the misogyny - everything in hip-hop is amplified. Misogyny is a good example of something that is completely amplified in hip-hop. I do think there is more than enough of a balance, though, for fans who are willing to search it out.
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I met Mos Def around that time but I didn't hook up with him until I was about 17 or 18.
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I like to read the 'Financial Times' when I'm traveling. 'Economist.' 'Ad Busters.'
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My fondest memories were watching the Beastie Boys get prepped to come on stage. They had a lot of antics and they play a lot of basketball... then they were giving out cameras to the crowd, and performing from the bleachers. The most important thing I learned was that you control your crowd, not the other way around.
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I think its man's nature to go to war and fight.
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Before Eminem, the idea that there would be a white rapper that anybody would really check for was fantastic or amazing or impossible.
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Music is not an exact science so depending on the time and the mode and the energy when we do it that will determine what happens with it.
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These cats drink champagne and toast to death and pain, Like slaves on a ship talking about who's got the flyest chain
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Why do I need I.D. to get I.D.? If I had I.D. I wouldn't need I.D.
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So I think hip-hop is moving and is going to continue to move in the direction of rappers just being honest with themselves, whether you're talking about Common and Mos Def or Nas and 50 cent.
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What's more condescending and corny than someone telling you how much more money they have than you and telling you basically, 'I don't care about poor people,' which is a large part of what you hear of corporate hip-hop on the radio.
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If you're going to do Chuck Berry, you got to, you know, go all out, and the duck walk is just kind of you know, cursory. That's like standing.
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You gotta eat right, you gotta have healthy habits, you know, and balance out your decadence with a healthy lifestyle during the day.
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War is not civilized.
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When I look at the arc of my career, my focus is on lyricism, right? I own that.
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Even an independent label is looking for a hit, they're not looking for a record that's not gonna do well.
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If I'm performing with a DJ, it's all on me to draw the energy. I like the camaraderie of a band.
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Fear not of men because men must die. Mind over matter and soul before flesh.
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I can't control what people think. I'm not trying to manipulate people's thoughts or sentiments. I write all the time. You have to experience life, make observations, and ask questions. It's machine-like how things are run now in hip-hop, and my ambitions are different.
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I take certain steps to make sure I'm relevant artistically. I always have new music and a reason to be on the road. I'm not just playing 'Get By' over and over. I have 12 albums.
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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.
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So I just had to step up how I was doing it and the moment that I stepped up and the moment I focused all my energy on that is when things started to happen. So there's a direct relationship between my inspiration and my output.
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I don't wanna get into that space where a lot of guys now, their solo album is like eight or 10 songs with other people, you don't get an idea of who this guy is. I just wasn't interested in that.