In rap music, even though the element of poetry is very strong, so is the element of the drum, the implication of the dance. Without the beat, its commercial value would certainly be more tenuous.

You get a show where people are jumping up and dancing, but it's not a critical event in the sense of profound catharsis. Essentially it's celebratory.

A whole generation of young whites have involved themselves with traditional Negro music.

Negro music and culture are intrinsically improvisational, existential. Nothing is sacred. After a decade, a musical idea, no matter how innovative, is threatened.

Music and culture are intrinsically improvisational, existential.

And when I met Cecil Taylor it was a complete transformation of musical identities. All the tenets that I had grown up with were thrown out the window.

Yes, the audience is so important to Negro music, especially the element of call and response.

All the tenets that I had grown up with were thrown out the window.

I find that here in the States, audiences are generally less knowledgeable, from the cognitive point of view, though they are emotionally more receptive.

I can't see any separation between my music and my life. I play pretty much race music: its about what happened to my father, to me, and what can happen to my kids.

Rap actually took root in the Negro community, and then in the Hispanic community, long before it impacted on the larger American community as a whole.

Or maybe I, like, cuddle raped him or something.

In a war, the first casualty is human dignity.

There is more to life than just living.

There was no trust anywhere in the world, O my brothers, the way I could see it.

I sincerely pity the poor man you marry. I doubt he’ll have a moment’s peace.

Prior to my call to the Twelve, I served as a medical doctor and surgeon.

Although I am an old man, night is generally my time for walking.

Maybe it's only those who've made such chaos of their lives who can understand the heights and depths of God's mercy.

I've always been rapping before I was making money off of it. Before I made a profit, I had always been rapping.

Who needs forgiveness, should the same extend with readiness.