Mos Def

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

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.

Everything's got space between it, the planets, trees, your eyes. Your eyes get too close together, it's a whole different world. You can lose perspective.

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.

If Islam's sole interest is the welfare of mankind, then Islam is the strongest advocate of human rights anywhere on Earth.

I like to read the 'Financial Times' when I'm traveling. 'Economist.' 'Ad Busters.'

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

I don't mind being black. I'm black out loud. It's more than the people that they are, it's the condition that they represent.

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

I'm just an artist and I'm doin' what I like to do.

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