Mos Def

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

— Mos Def

To me, it's like happiness is about happiness, but happiness is a fight.

— 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

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

— Mos Def

If Islam's sole interest is the welfare of mankind, then Islam is the strongest advocate of human rights anywhere on Earth.

— Mos Def

This thing called rhymin' is no different than coal minin'; We both on assignment to unearth the diamond.

— Mos Def

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

— Mos Def

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

— Mos Def

I'm a passionate person. I'm a lot of things, like most people are. Most people are dynamic. The focus is not on…

— 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…

— Mos Def

It wouldn't be fair to cast aspersions on an entire cultural movement based on the actions of a few. To quote my…

— 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…

— Mos Def

The test in life nowadays is just trying to keep yourself charged up with enough good feeling. It's like, "OK what am…

— Mos Def

Michael Jordan on the court is a completely different guy. If the play requires him to leap out all the way and…

— Mos Def

You're not gonna get through life without being worshipful or devoted to something. You're either devoted to your job, or to your…

— Mos Def

When people say, 'I don't see you enough,' well just because you don't see me don't mean I don't exist, or just…

— Mos Def

Breathe in...inhale vapors from bright stars that shine, Breathe out...weed smoke retrace the skyline.

— Mos Def

I want to be necessary and do good works. I ain't here to waste nobody's time, because I don't want you to…

— Mos Def

Hip-hop is a beautiful culture. It's inspirational, because it's a culture of survivors. You can create beauty out of nothingness.

— Mos Def

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

— Mos Def

My Umi said shine your light on the world, shine your light for the world to see

— Mos Def

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

— Mos Def

I ain't no perfect man I'm tryna do the best that I can with what it is I have.

— Mos Def

I give a damn if any fan recalls my legacy, I'm trying to live life in the sight of GOD's memory.

— Mos Def

If 'Life in Marvelous Times' can't get on the radio, then I don't need to be on the radio.

— Mos Def

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

— Mos Def

Beef is not what Jay said to Nas; Beef is when the working folks can't find jobs.

— Mos Def

You can positively affect and change a social circumstance with art, and it’s vital that a change happens now.

— Mos Def

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

— Mos Def

Fame is like getting across the street. It's like, if there's nothing to be across the street for, it's a pointless destination.

— Mos Def

I don't care about what brand you are, I'm concerned what type of man you are, what your principles and standards are.

— Mos Def

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

— Mos Def

Twitter freaks me out. You have followers? It feels so obsessive and proprietary.

— Mos Def

Why did one straw break the camel's back? Here's the secret: The million other straws underneath it.

— Mos Def

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

— Mos Def

Crack mothers, crack babies and AIDS patients Youngbloods can't spell, but they could rock you in PlayStation.

— Mos Def

If you're going to do Chuck Berry, you got to, you know, go all out, and the duck walk is just kind…

— Mos Def

If it's just fame for the sake of being famous, no one even cares about you - and you don't even care…

— Mos Def

I began to fear that Mos Def was being treated as a product, not a person, so I've been going by Yasiin…

— Mos Def

I believe the projects were a social experiment; we were laboratory rats stacked on top of each other, and people just knew,…

— Mos Def