88 Quotes by Rakim

Sometimes I write from the end of the verse to the beginning of the verse.

When you listen to old-school music, you can smell your mother's food in the kitchen. You can feel where you was when you first heard that song. That's what's beautiful about music. It's for everyone, but we all have individual memories that make us love it.

I'm not a mainstream artist. But I've seen my kids being born; I've seen them take their first steps, I've seen them grow up and start school. That's worth more to me than any umpteen million dollars.

I'm very smart with my paper! I stopped buying things for myself a long time ago - now I just buy things for my kids or my wife.

I was an athlete in college - a quarterback, a leader - so people telling me what to do doesn't work.

I was heavily influenced by Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz, but I kind of wanted to take it somewhere else.

I stick to my guns - that's what keeps me going as an artist. Stevie Wonder never changed from what he wanted to do, and each new album that came along was dope.

I had nothing but respect for Pac.

Maybe I'm too sensitive to the struggle, but I think a lot of people that listen to music are trying to escape.