88 Quotes by Rakim

New York is responsible for bringing that raw, that real gritty hip-hop, because we... originated it.

People always tell me that they grew up with me - like I'm their brother or uncle or some other family member. That keeps me going.

Without no disrespect to any artist, there's a lot of degrading music out there as far as degrading the culture and degrading society as well. That's individuals that choose to make that kind of music.

My aunt Ruth Brown was a jazz musician. I got hooked on it at a young age, understanding what John Coltrane was doing playing two notes on the saxophone at the same time, which is impossible.

I can't look at TV without seeing something that's been influenced by rap. Even commercials for cereal. When I was small, I was a fan of cartoon characters - now the cartoon characters are rapping!

I know how to read music, watching my mom and listening to Mom play music.

My mother sang jazz and opera - she even performed at the Apollo on Amateur Night.

Eminem is a master.

When I started rhyming, my favorite rhythms were from John Coltrane and some of the things he did on sax. And certain rhythms that I hear on drums, I try to emulate with my words, dropping on the same patterns that them beats or them notes would hit.