If You're Going To Do Chuck Berry,

I Feel Like Being Into The Beat Of Your Own Drum Has Become Too Prominent In The Culture.

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.

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 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 Just Don't Think It's Very Dignified To Ask People To Like You. You Can Just Wind Up Being Somebody's Ottoman.