Quotes By Mos Def

I never had any ambitions of being a movie star or anything like that, but you know, this is nice.

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.

I was taught when there's somethin' you can change around keep quiet, you got nothin' to complain about.

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.

I feel like being into the beat of your own drum has become too prominent in the culture.

I'm an independent thinker. And I'm not the poster child for any movement. I'm trying to support whatever's right no matter where it is.

I don't rap like nobody, I don't try to sound like nobody.

I come from a family of very devout, praying people. That idea of peace and love toward humanity shouldn't be nationalistic or denominational. It should be a chief concern for all mankind.

I began to fear that Mos Def was being treated as a product, not a person, so I've been going by Yasiin since '99. At first it was just for friends and family, but now I'm declaring it openly.

I'm not shy about heated debate or passionate discourse, but when people get crazy or rude, that's a buzz kill. There's got to be a better code of conduct, some basic etiquette.

You want to know how to rhyme, then learn how to add. It's mathematics.

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.

I just don't think it's very dignified to ask people to like you. You can just wind up being somebody's ottoman.

I'm growing as an individual, but your always growing. All of my albums are snapshots of where I am artistically.

Twitter freaks me out. You have followers? It feels so obsessive and proprietary.

There are a lot of people who call themselves teachers or leaders, but they're really just propagandists.

I feel like I was the only person who was capable of making this type of music in this type of way. I don't rap like nobody, I don't try to sound like nobody.

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.

I believe the projects were a social experiment; we were laboratory rats stacked on top of each other, and people just knew, inherently, that there was something wrong. There's not a lot of regard for the property by the residents.

Reckless capitalism kills black people.

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.

I'm trying to get low. People's personalities can get in the way of their own work.

But even creeps deserve to live someplace halfway decent.

And remember don't high post when you're far from home, and high posting when you're all alone.

Record companies are not necessarily interested in you realizing your artistic dream. The bottom line is that they got to sell records.

Good art provides people with a vocabulary about things they can't articulate.

Focused. I'm a hustler. And my hustle is trying to figure out the best ways to do what I like without having to do much else.

My presence speaks volumes before I say a word.

I don't have advice for people on how to dress. People should dress based on what they find beautiful. My best advice: Keep your clothes clean.

I don't hate nobody. I hate certain conditions that are inflicted upon the people - and they're helpless with it.