Nas

'Stillmatic' is the rebirth of 'Illmatic,' my first debut album to come out in 1994. 'Stillmatic' is me coming full circle in my career and with everything, and just bringing pure hip-hop back.

I never stood for any president in my life, never voted, before Barack Obama. It changed my life to vote. It starts there with me. I never cared for politics before Barack Obama. I never thought it...

Let's not forget, art can sell. You ain't gotta front all the time on your records.

To me, creatively challenging myself is my version of owning the Nets.

I'm not talking about Russia in my music. I've never been to Russia. I'm not talking about Africa, Switzerland, China. I'm talking about me being American and growing up in a crazy world and helping...

I'm just little me, an American who wants to see his country do better.

Hip-hop is really standoffish. It's really competitive and it's really about who's number one all the time. Sometimes it gets out of hand.

My record company had to beg me to stop filmin' music videos in the projects. No matter what the song was about, I had 'em out there.

I'll always love rap, no matter what's going on.

Hip-hop is making a lot of noise. It should get some more spotlight.