A person's age can be determined by the degree of pain he experiences when he comes in contact with a new idea.

I didn't mind being in school. But I was usually uninspired and always late. I did what I had to, but not more.

When the ideas are coming, I don't stop until the ideas stop because that train doesn't come along all the time.

We're lucky, real lucky. Our friends lost their house. We just had some burning embers put holes in the screens.

When I was six, God was a white man with a big beard riding on a white cloud. That's the image television pumps.

One takes what the river offers, both good and bad. The joy of living by running water far outweighs the sorrow.

I found this out over the years, that racism is a thinly veiled disguise over economics and money. It really is.

Even when I have someone playing the song I give them the idea. I'm learning. I'm getting better over the years.

Writing a song is about inhabiting a specific frame of mind and conjuring a mood, a character, an entire vision.

One of the reasons that the Ramones were so unique and original was that they were four original, unique people.

Think you figured it out, but you don't have a clue. Think you on top of the world, but the world on top of you.

Large Professor, none greater none fresher, Won't fold under pressure...grew up down the road from Fran Drescher.

To me, in a perfect world, you have the flavor and the magic of movies like 48 Hours, Lethal Weapon and Bad Boys.

When I did 'Boyz N The Hood', I never thought how we grew up in South Central was interesting enough for a movie.

My problem is that I never get through the whole book. I skim through this one, that one, and then the other one.

Can't step from one movie set to the next. Only Samuel L. Jackson can do that. All us mere mortals can't do that!

My grandfather's a little forgetful, but he likes to give me advice. One day, he took me aside and left me there.

He doesn't even suit ya, and he's surely not your size, I'm surprised that you slept on a heart that's worldwide.

I like Biggie. Like 'Pac, he was one of the best rappers in the business. Why would I try to do something to him?

Bowie's 'Hunky Dory' influenced me. 'Ziggy Stardust' influenced Johnny Ramone a lot, especially his guitar parts.

I want to be interested in the music I make until I die. That's more important to me than the size of my audience.

'Xen,' to me, was a necessary excursion inward, into myself. 'Mutant' is a response to it and is more extroverted.

If you try and kind of focus on hope, but you know what it's like to be in the dark, then hope is more meaningful.

No matter how hard you work to bring yourself up, there's someone out there working just as hard, to put you down.

I'm high off the indo creepin' with the quickness to the cut, bust one to his head while he munches on that donut.

I never was in the Nation of Islam... I mean, what I call myself is a natural Muslim, 'cause it's just me and God.

I go light on breakfast. Sometimes it's a yogurt, but a lot of times it's leftovers from one of my wife's dinners.

The best songs don't get recorded; the best recordings don't get released; and the best releases don't get played.

Ringo Starr may not have much of a voice, but when he sang a song on a Beatle album, it had its own special charm.

I think anybody that is going to be taken seriously in [music] industry needs to produce their own original music.

Between 2014 and 2016, I was just, like, extremely sad. Like, really, really just not able to be in the spotlight.

I understand freedom of speech but if I made my living spreading rumors about people, my family wouldn't claim me.

I ain't never been the type of person out at the movies and holding hands and riding around listening to R. Kelly.

I wake up, eat, make a beat. Play Xbox, make another beat and go to bed. Occasionally do something. I rarely party.

I'm the keeper of the flame for Whitney Houston. She was the greatest... and I don't want the world to forget that.

For what it's worth, I've been a hip-hopper from birth. Try to disrespect, and get your ass played up like a Smurf.

Sometimes you got to start somewhere. And it's cool, as long as where you start is not where you plan on finishing.

When I was in N.W.A. and didn't get paid all the money I was owed, that's when the business side of showbiz hit me.

I don't know what makes someone hip. The goal is artist achievement and the best work we can do with no limitation.

Baby Got Back' was already a reflection of what was going on. I didn't see it as this gigantic political statement.

Married to the game. If we're dancing with the devil at least teach us how to dance when the son of making dollars.

I have the utmost respect for synthesizers - Soft Cell, early Depeche Mode. But that's become a cliche for the '80s.

I know that Kelly Clarkson is going to continue to have an important career. And I believe it will be a lasting one.

No matter what type of equipment you have, you still have to have a certain talent to be able to make a good record.

You're either recording a hit song or you're not; you've either got something that's worth recording or you haven't.

You really have to challenge yourself to come out of those parameters that they put you in, even if that's your job.

Perhaps we have more in common by virtue of our common humanity than we have differences by virtue of our religions.

Putting styles on lock, and making beats by the bundle, Scooping more props than Bryant Gumbel...and staying humble.

Count Basie practically adopted me at 13. We became closer and closer and I ended up conducting for him and Sinatra.

I'm not arrogant but I'm confident enough to know what I can do and what I can't do. And I'm fine with what I can't.

Share This Page