The song, ‘Life is Better,’ is about hip-hop. It’s about my love for hip-hop. And, you know, I go through all the artists from the beginning to the end, you know. And, well, not to the end, but since the beginning to now, you know. Q-Tip Read Quote
I feel like Obama in a way. His idea that hope means not shrinking from a fight; it’s the courage to reach for something. My music is that. Those are principles I try to embody. Q-Tip Read Quote
I think I have great responsibility, and when I do my music, when I try to relate to my audience, I just try to do it in an honest fashion, you know, just try to be as earnest as possible and sometime it may be self-effacing. Sometimes it may be finger-pointing. Sometimes it may be beautiful, and sometime it may be ugly. Q-Tip Read Quote
I do try to speak of positive things. I still try to, like, present two sides of the story, and I do try to relate to life in a 360 degree and not be one-dimensional. But by all means, manage expectations. Q-Tip Read Quote
I read the Koran and it appealed to me. At the time I was agnostic and it really breathed spiritually back into me. For me it’s really a cushion; it’s cool, I’m cool with it. Q-Tip Read Quote
On the radio there’s only a certain amount of artists: Jay-Z, Beyonce, Kanye, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, T.I., Mary J Blige, Alicia Keys. Other artists are achieving things that are really special, they have a hard time getting people’s attention. Music has been just a little bit lacklustre. Q-Tip Read Quote
For people who love Tribe, I’m the defector. They say, ‘You should get back with Ali to do the beats.’ But a lot of people don’t realize I did all the music in Tribe. In the first three albums, I did all the beats! Q-Tip Read Quote
In theory, people would pick progression every time over being idle. But if you look at us as a culture, as a people, you would say that if you get up at five o’clock in the morning, eat your breakfast, go to work, make money, pay your bills, you’re progressing, when you’re still doing what’s comfortable. Q-Tip Read Quote
I’m in a hallowed league of artists. Whether it’s Billie Holiday or Rakim or Jimmy Hendrix or… I don’t know, MGMT, we’re all blessed to be able to create. It’s a lineage that extends a long time. And to be able to be active in it and have made a difference in it, it’s humbling. To know I had a place in all of this; that’s the rewarding part. Q-Tip Read Quote
