"The hardest part about changing is making the decision that it's what you want to do and sticking to it. It's hard when you've been living one way all your life. Then, at some point, you've got this motherfucking shot. You've got to straighten up and drop everything else." - Young Jeezy, Vibe September 2005
"You know what I started doing? Not doing shit I don't do. I know I can tell a joke. I know I can write a song. I know I can act on television and in a movie. Those are my things. At the end of the day, if you can say on my own terms, that's what power is."- Jamie Foxx, Vibe September 2005
"Doesn't Teairra Mari look like a life-size Bratz doll?" - 20 Questions, Vibe September 2005
"I don't think it's a rapper's responsibility to be a role model. I think that it is your responsibility as a man."
- David Banner, XXL Sept. 2005
Young, Fly and Flashy: "I've always been the youngest dude. I'm younger than Jay-Z, younger than Puff. I'm the youngest president in the music industry, period. The fly part is what I always try to instill in all my artists: You gotta be fly in hip-hop to even exist.. It's, like, almost seven years ago no niggas had Bentleys. Like, when we did "Money Ain't a Thang," I had all that shit already. Jay-Z didn't have that stuff when we did that song."
- Jermaine Dupri, XXL Sept. 2005
"Yeah sometimes I feel slept on. But you know what, G? I ain't even trying to be funny, I'm not religious, I don't claim no religion. My religion is what goes around comes around, do unto others what you want them to do unto you, listen to your first thought 'cause that's the voice of god,' that's my religion .. But on some real shit yo, Jesus was slept on. Cats are still sleeping on Jesus. If you listen to Jesus album, that shit is hot. He's telling you some good shit to do that will have you on a more positive note.
I know the masses are easily led in the wrong direction. So if I come out like, Yeah bitch my dick is big / I threw three circles. Bubblin oh's / get in the car / close up the door ho / I got cats on the Puma bag / Send shots through your Ave that make you look like a Swiss cheese flag.
If I'm kickin that bullshit, my diamonds are shining like Bambi's eyes. All that fly shit, cats will be like, 'ohh,' the streets will be like, 'yeah, yeah let's get it poppin,' that shit will sell quick. It's like Satan saying 'rob the bank, yeah fuck this girl.' All that shit is negative, when you're ignorant, you're happy. The more knowledge you have, and learn how things are, you can still be happy, but it's harder, like you feel sad for what's going on and you want to change it." - C Ray Walz, Synthesis, August 2005
"If there's a hell below, we're all gonna go." - Curtis Mayfield (shaken in by yumgirl)
"You know how Kanye says that he can see beats? I listen to beats in terms of the weather and the time of day. If it's rainy out in December I see that as a Gangstarr beat. If it's summer and humid, and it ain't after 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. Mobb Deep ain't getting play from me. Whatever time of day and season that I associate with you that's what you getting from me." - 9th Wonder, Tablist, Premiere Issue
"The meaning of our lives is not in any book or something that somebody can tell us , It is the sumation of all the things in the world and how you affected them." - (shaken in by Biggie fan)
"People rarely act on the ideas that pop into their heads because they think it is stupid or farfetched or they don't want to put in the effort. I act upon the craziness of what I think. Each idea I come up with I wonder how many record labels I will get dropped from with it, and then I just go for it. If nobody else cares I made myself happy." - Prince Paul, XLR8R, August 2005
"The only mistake to be made in doing something incredibly stupid is not filming it."
- Johnny Knoxville, Entertainment Weekly, August 2005
"I make black history every day I don't need a month." - Kayne West (shaken in by renabobena)
"I have had dreams, and I have had nightmares. I overcame the nightmares because of my dreams."
- Jonas Salk
"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."
- (shaken in by big angry black man)
"Okay, here’s one example of how a person becomes a hater: think about all the people you came in contact with throughout your life: high school, college, clubs, parties, grocery stores, anywhere...all the people who may have even considered you "a friend" ...then all the sudden in a highly publicized event, you become rich. MTV, BET, magazines, radio, you’re everywhere. Now these people who considered you "a friend" are having a hard time getting in touch with you; you're flying all over the place, doing this, doing that. Meanwhile, these "friends" are back at home telling their people they know you, they used to chill with you, whatever...the "friends" friends are like "yeah, yeah whatever you don’t know him, you’re a liar, how come he don’t hit you up, how come yall never chill… woo woo woo."
This gets old fast, and this little envy spot in their brain gets bigger and bigger until eventually they become haters. They usually make some lame excuses to themselves as to why "you left them behind," and they proceed to spread rumors and hate throughout the community. Haters are can’t step outside their own vanity to see the big picture. But they come with the territory, and they drive me to do work harder. Thanks to them, I know I’m doing the right things. Hell I even put hate mail I got once up on my wall at the studio, just for inspiration." - K-Cino (shaken in by eavesdropper)
For the past year, I had this girlfriend who really had this problem with being in the public eye. She couldn't take the limelight, so she wanted to stay out of it. I somewhat have a girl now, but it's not really set in stone. The super-bad bitches are few and far between. Even for me it's really hard to find someone. Why do you think Tom Cruise is jumping on the couch? Because they're fucking hard to find, you know?
- Kanye West, Arena, September 2005
"Being late adds to the persona, to the whole make-up. We have rapper time. But when you're taking care of business, you should always be on time. That's why we wear two watches. One is for business. And one is for pimping." - Nas, GQ, August 2005
What's your porn name? "My what? My first pet and my mother's maiden name. It would be Lady May!"
- Alicia Keys, GQ, August 2005
"Yeah, I'll tap a big girl! About 190 pounds, I'm not talking about girls that are like 500 pounds. All I mean is that I don't need a perfect woman 'cos none of us are perfect. She can have a lil belly, some cellulite, she don't even have to work out." - Tony Yayo, Touch, July 2005
