147 Quotes by 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.

To me, the job of the artist is to provide a useful and intelligent vocabulary for the world to be able to articulate feelings they experience everyday, and otherwise wouldn’t have the means to express in a meaningful and useful way.

Hip-hop is the last true folk art.

What I take from writers I like is their economy – the ability to use language to very effective ends.

History has proven that it’s impossible to crush the artist. There’s always gonna be a need for somebody to write a poem or sing a song about something, about life – that makes it real. There’s the word that goes beyond the word.

I’m inspired by playwrights, novelists, poets: The value of language has been a lifelong passion of mine. I enjoy it. I’m good at it.

The test in life nowadays is just trying to keep yourself charged up with enough good feeling. It’s like, “OK what am I going to do to feel really good today?” Not like, some chick or a drink...

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.

I like to read the ‘Financial Times’ when I’m traveling. ‘Economist.’ ‘Ad Busters.’