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.
Mos Def

All the things that are worth doing, take time.
Mos Def

And remember don't high post when you're far from home, and high posting when you're all alone.
Mos Def

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.
Mos Def

Focused. I'm a hustler. And my hustle is trying to figure out the best ways to do what I like without having to do much else.
Mos Def

Good art provides people with a vocabulary about things they can't articulate.
Mos Def

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.
Mos Def

I come from a family of very devout, praying people. That idea of peace and love toward humanity shouldn't be nationalistic or denominational. It should be a chief concern for all mankind.
Mos Def

I didn't want to have to deal with having any moniker or separation between the self that I see and know myself as.
Mos Def

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


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.
Mos Def

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.
Mos Def

I don't want to waste anyone's time or money. I want to give people some truth and positive heart lift.
Mos Def

I feel like being into the beat of your own drum has become too prominent in the culture.
Mos Def

I feel like I was the only person who was capable of making this type of music in this type of way. I don't rap like nobody, I don't try to sound like nobody.
Mos Def

I get reminded a lot of the time that my life is a little bit different, but I'm just trying to keep it as regular as possible because I like it that way.
Mos Def

I guess something that you love to do, you gotta ease up off it and give it a little space, come back and be fresh to it.
Mos Def

I have mad brims.
Mos Def

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.
Mos Def

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