Mos Def quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Mos Def

Mos Def Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Mos Def on Wise Famous Quotes.

The moment you start thinking it's hopeless, then it is. [But], if you think it's gonna get better, it really does. Life is a test.

I've always loved rhyming. I love language.

I thought everybody got into rock 'n' roll because they didn't want to follow instructions.

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

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

Why do I need ID to get ID?
If I had ID, I wouldn't need ID.

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

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

Every time you ask yourself where hip-hop's going, ask yourself where you're going; how are you doing?

At its heart, music is all higher mathematics.

Speech is my hammer bang the world into shape now let it fall - HUNGH

They say that when a man faces his destiny, the destiny ends and he becomes the man that he really is.

I didn't want to have to deal with having any moniker or separation between the self that I see and know myself as.

Man, I smashed her like an Idaho Potato

Hip-hop is the last true folk art.

I'm growing as an individual, but your always growing. All of my albums are snapshots of where I am artistically.

But even creeps deserve to live someplace halfway decent.

I'm blacked than midnight on Broadway and Myrtle

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

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

I never had any ambitions of being a movie star or anything like that, but you know, this is nice.

Hip-hop is rock & roll. What the hell is Wu-Tang but Motorhead?

Hip-Hop went from selling crack to smoking it

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

I was taught when there's somethin' you can change around keep quiet, you got nothin' to complain about.

You have to experience life, make observations, and ask questions.

My presence speaks volumes before I say a word.

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

We blasted holes in the night until she bled sunshine

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

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 waste mine.

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

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

Make today's solid ground out of yesterday's quicksand.

Live now for the promise of the Infinite

I'm retiring the Mos Def name after 2011. I'm actually doing it.

I know what it feels like to have the door slammed firmly in my face, so I'm cool with that.

I don't have advice for people on how to dress. People should dress based on what they find beautiful. My best advice: Keep your clothes clean.

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.

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

I'm an independent thinker. And I'm not the poster child for any movement. I'm trying to support whatever's right no matter where it is.

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

We can be beautiful and feel beautiful about who we are everyday.

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

I've always loved music and I love the language, which is a huge reason why I'm part of theater.

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

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

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

I don't mind being black. I'm black out loud. It's more than the people that they are, it's the condition that they represent.

I guess something that you love to do, you gotta ease up off it and give it a little space, come back and be fresh to it.

I just don't think it's very dignified to ask people to like you. You can just wind up being somebody's ottoman.

I don't hate nobody. I hate certain conditions that are inflicted upon the people - and they're helpless with it.

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

If you're going to do Chuck Berry, you got to, you know, go all out, and the duck walk is just kind of you know, cursory. That's like standing.

I seen her on the ave, spotted her more than once.
Ass so fat that you could see it from the front ...

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

I don't want to waste anyone's time or money. I want to give people some truth and positive heart lift.

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

Fear not of men because men must die. Mind over matter and soul before flesh.

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

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

I'm just an artist and I'm doin' what I like to do.

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

I got my first exposure to Islam when I was 13.

The new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis. Shinin', like Who on top of this?

All the things that are worth doing, take time.

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.

Don't look down, it's an impossible view; Fly like an eagle whatever you do

Focused. I'm a hustler. And my hustle is trying to figure out the best ways to do what I like without having to do much else.

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

Restlessness is my nemesis/ It's hard to just chill and sit still

Young bloods can't spell but they can rock you in Playstation

I have mad brims.

That idea of peace and love toward humanity shouldn't be nationalistic or denominational. It should be a chief concern for all mankind.