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As an artist, sometimes you'd rather not do the interview. You might feel the interviewer isn't educated on you... or what you're about.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
We got to mediate our greedy levels, Cause the lust of currency can have us sleepin with the devil.
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed A Tribe Called Quest
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That's always been the process of our music, in a sense, keeping it simple, not being so heavy that you are beating people over the head, it's just weighted down and it's like, "oohhh I can't relate." People are able to relate because we talked about things that everyone has experienced, it doesn't matter your race or genre. Music was your mainstay. There was something in our element of music that connected.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
I instruct you to be the obeyer, A rhythm recipe that you'll savor, Doesn't matter if you're minor or major, Yes, the Tribe of the game, rhythm player, As you inhale like a breath of fresh air
Malik Izaak Taylor A Tribe Called Quest -
I think that any story that intends on being culturally authentic and true to life experiences will be a great story. Even if that culture isn't a hip-hop-centric one.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
So pay attention, it's not hard to decipher, And after the horns, you can check out the Phifer
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed A Tribe Called Quest -
I like them brown, yellow, Puerto Rican, or Haitian Name is Phife Dawg from the Zulu nation.
Malik Izaak Taylor A Tribe Called Quest -
Discipline is not consistency, and the reason why I say that is - like, for an example, making prayer five times a day, that establishes routine and consistency. That I can do. And having certain fundamental consistencies in business, can do. But time management, outside of that, that's where that's a challenge.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest
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I think at some point there may be artists who will get fed up, and they deliberately want to use their art as a means to rock the waves a little bit. And instead of doing the status quo, they'll deliberately go out to really make a change. I think Kendrick Lamar is an example of that.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
Some people become artists for whatever reasons. Some of it's frivolous. And I don't think there should be any shame on that, but I think there comes a point in life where you want to offer more.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
You should be able to be influenced by art no matter where it comes from.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
I've never been good at getting on people's nerves, and from the little quotes I read, it's like, 'You're not doing enough in your life if you're not making someone angry.' And I'm like, 'Man. But my life - I seem to help people get somewhere, so am I not? Should I be more aggressive?' That's the way my inside voice sounds.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
I am the ambassador to the world. I use music to talk to the world - to try to unite masses. To try to spark conversations. To try and evoke legislation to change that'll really be for the people. That's behind-the-scenes kind of thing for me. And that's what the music is for me.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
Back in the days when I was a teenager, Before I had status and before I had a pager, You could find The Abstract listening to hip-hop, My pops used to say, it reminded him of be-bop, I said, well daddy don't you know that things go in cycles, The way that Bobby Brown is just ampin' like Michael, It's all expected, things are for the lookin', If you got the money, Quest is for the bookin'...
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed A Tribe Called Quest
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Here in America, our use of time is not harmonious with humanity's better spirit.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
My mom used to be concerned 'cause I would never go outside. And when I'd go outside, I'd have friends, but I just was always in the house listening to music, practicing DJing all the time. Then my uncle got a keyboard, drum machine, so I'd just be in the house at 12, 13, just, like, messing up his presets. And my mom was like, 'My son is strange.'
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
Hip-hop has had this history where the predecessor just is so harsh and not nice to the next coming generation that it creates this separation and this gap.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
The world is kinda cold and the rhythm is my blanket Wrap yourself up in it, if you love it, then you'll thank it.
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed A Tribe Called Quest -
Satisfaction, I have the right tactics... And if you need em I got crazy prophylactics.
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed A Tribe Called Quest -
Our records are commodities. We're looking to make a sale. The radio stations are looking to get the advertising dollars. The end.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest
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There's divinity within because we come from the divine, A force that's not seen, but you feel it every time: When the wind blows, and the world turns, And the rain drops, and the baby cries, And the bird flies, and the ground quake, And the stars gleam.
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed A Tribe Called Quest -
When it comes to music, something I'm passionate about, and knowing the reach and the power and how it transforms, it saves lives. Music does.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
Music is an important thing of energy. And there are a lot of wonderful aspects that come with it and vibrations, the physical vibrations, the movement of notes through an instrument and creating a wave that resonates into our spirit.
Ali Shaheed Muhammad A Tribe Called Quest -
So concisely, musically we are the herb So sit back and light me. Inhale... My style's kinda fat, reminiscent of a whale.
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed A Tribe Called Quest