Mos Def Quotes

I never had any ambitions of being a movie star or anything like that, but you know, this is nice.
Mos Def

Nice, Star, Movie

I was taught when there's somethin' you can change around keep quiet, you got nothin' to complain about.
Mos Def

Change, Around, Keep

I'm an independent thinker. And I'm not the poster child for any movement. I'm trying to support whatever's right no matter where it is.
Mos Def

Trying, Matter, Child

I'm growing as an individual, but your always growing. All of my albums are snapshots of where I am artistically.
Mos Def

Individual, Growing, Albums

I'm just an artist and I'm doin' what I like to do.
Mos Def

I'm retiring the Mos Def name after 2011. I'm actually doing it.
Mos Def

After, Actually, Name

I'm trying to get low. People's personalities can get in the way of their own work.
Mos Def

Work, Trying, Low

My presence speaks volumes before I say a word.
Mos Def

Before, Word, Presence

Reckless capitalism kills black people.
Mos Def

Black, Capitalism, Reckless

Record companies are not necessarily interested in you realizing your artistic dream. The bottom line is that they got to sell records.
Mos Def

Dream, Interested, Line

That's what I've been trying to strive for - to draw a clear picture, to open up a new dimension.
Mos Def

Trying, Picture, Open

There are a lot of people who call themselves teachers or leaders, but they're really just propagandists.
Mos Def

Themselves, Call, Leaders

To me, playing an instrument and singing, all of these different things are just as natural to me as rhyming.
Mos Def

Different, Playing, Natural

You want to know how to rhyme, then learn how to add. It's mathematics.
Mos Def

Learn, Rhyme, Add

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

Positive, Art, Healing

Bob Marley performed the 'One Love Peace' concert in Jamaica with the two different warring political sides. There's always been that in black music and culture in general. It's no surprise because black music is such a reflection of what's going on in black life. It's not unusual for hip-hop.
Mos Def

Life, Love, Music

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

Music, Person, Try

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

Music, Respect, Confidence

I'm a passionate person. I'm a lot of things, like most people are. Most people are dynamic. The focus is not on me though, I'm a screen. The aim is to always keep myself in the position where the screen is clear.
Mos Def

Focus, Person, Keep

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.
Mos Def

Family, Fear, Person

I believe the projects were a social experiment; we were laboratory rats stacked on top of each other, and people just knew, inherently, that there was something wrong. There's not a lot of regard for the property by the residents.
Mos Def

Wrong, Social, Knew

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

Idea, Guy, Space

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

Life, Time, Different

It wouldn't be fair to cast aspersions on an entire cultural movement based on the actions of a few. To quote my grandfather, 'One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch.'
Mos Def

Bad, Whole, Few

It's possible and available to any artist to be himself or herself on their own terms, to be accepted and embraced by black people. You don't have to be a thug to get love from black people.
Mos Def

Love, Black, Artist

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Biography

Nationality: American

Born: December 11, 1973

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