Rhymes: "Hip-hop reflects the truth, and the problem is that hip-hop exposes a lot of the negative truth that society tries to conceal. It's a platform where we could offer information, but it's also an escape."

Rhymes: "My thinking is that if we're going to take from a culture, let's take from a culture that has exemplified success for thousands of years."

Rhymes: "Brooklyn is where I primarily developed. I had an opportunity to make records and perform in clubs here and there, and I started networking with the right people in the right places."

Rhymes: "I have no trouble being a good dude because that's what I am."

Rhymes: "My craziest ideas come from cartoons. I approach music by taking that cartoon extreme and the real life extreme and finding somewhere in the middle. The animated element lures people in, but the real-life substance puts the nail in the coffin."

Rhymes: "I feel like I introduce another level of my creative ability on every album."

Rhymes: "I feel like the quality of privacy and respect of people's personal space has been completely disintegrated. You can ask to take the picture. I will be so glad to take the picture and pose and look good for the picture."

Rhymes: "You're gonna notice me when I come in. I'm gonna make a statement without opening my mouth, and when I leave, you're gonna remember that."

Rhymes: "Whether it's working on five or 10 different things at the same time, I've got to stay in people's faces."

Rhymes: "I am extremely happy. It's just an amazing feeling to be in this space at this stage of my life after all that I've gone through and still be able to make the music that is garnishing this powerful momentum in the game right now and you know, get the excitement of my record company and my family and my kids, coming home from school, talking about how their friends declare me the unanimously as the hottest artist in the game right now."

Rhymes: "At the end of the day, man, you can't protect yourself from a haymaker that's coming in toward your face if you don't see it coming."

Rhymes: "I appreciate the additional additives and preservatives that help sell a project, but I'm sticking to what works best for me. I gotta sell the album live on stage and make people believe in the songs."

Rhymes: "The personal threat is something that's always been a part of our lives."

Rhymes: "For me the best thing about winning an award is when the people cheer for your win. When you can see that the people are really happy that you are winning something, that's the most reward thing in the world."

Rhymes: "New York is traditional New York, you know what I'm saying? It's the stomping ground of the hustlers and go-getters."

Rhymes: "I'm trying to set up opportunities for myself so that I don't only have one outlet to go through and rely upon as far as a support system financially, emotionally and mentally."

Rhymes: "I will be so glad to take the picture and pose and look good for the picture. But when you catch me while I'm looking real sideways and the picture's ugly as hell, I don't want you to have the picture like that!"

Rhymes: "I'm concerned with being in shape, and I definitely experienced the results of being in shape. And I know how incredible it makes me feel, so when I feel like I'm gaining a little weight, I make a conscious effort to return back to being in shape. Being shape has given me a feeling and an ability to perform in many different areas."

Rhymes: "My making it is a combination of grinding, grinding, grinding and being lucky enough to finally get a shot."

Rhymes: "I really only respect the Arab culture. I ain't really trying to pay no attention to, ya know, these little people in political positions and executive positions that ain't Arab culture oriented people because a lot of the times, what are you really showing all of this concern for?"

Rhymes: "I feel like the quality of privacy and respect of people's personal space has been completely disintegrated."