Statik Selektah

When I went to AI New England in Boston, I used to do my mixtapes, and honestly, if you look back at any of my mixtapes, every single mixtape tells a story.

Gang Starr was like the blueprint of my career.

My mother used to stop me from going to DJ battles. I'd, like, cry, get really upset.

I had completely changed from being a mixtape DJ to being a producer and working with Nas and stuff like that.

I get mad if I'm not presented as an actual artist on tour. I don't want to be seen as just some DJ that plays between sets. I have a bigger brand than that.

Every record I make, I want people to feel what I used to feel when I used to crack open a CD and press play.

Some artists send their verses, and others record in my studio. Depends. I prefer them being there.

Life imitates art and back around.

You got to have the right lawyer and good management. I went years and years without management and even a good lawyer; I used to handle contracts on my own, and it was definitely corners that they would cut. It wouldn't have happened if I had a good lawyer behind me.

I don't do albums for album sales. I just do it as a conversation piece and a business card.

I come from a traditional hip-hop background.

I kinda gave my childhood to hip-hop, literally. I didn't go to parties in high school. All I did - well, I was DJing parties in high school.