Chuck D Quotes

There's nothing worse than a good video and good song, and you see a band and hate them because they can't perform. That's wack.

I tell each artist they have to grow toward a revenue stream.

I've signed with major labels, and I haven't had any control over the money.

I'm a multi-tasker. I was down with that stuff before they invented the term.

The biggest thing that has happened to hip-hop is the clinging on to the corporation as the all-mighty hub of the music.

You're always going to sound like yourself, but you can make really strong attempts to keep some similarities, but move away from what you did before for popularity's sake.

I know I am judged unfairly by my physical characteristics and ostracized because of that so I say, "Yes, I'm a black man."

My daughter's 19. I'm not asking her to develop as an artist. I'm just asking her to develop as a full person, human being.

My mother went to university, my father didn't. But they are very educated, very wise people. My father went to the military, so he's worldly.

DJ culture always made us aware that the best records were going to come from the small shops

Never try to make the same record twice, even when people are screaming for the same sound.

Black folks are judged by quantity, not quality. It's a decimal point or figure. How different is that from slavery? There's no moral code, it's just about successful business for America.

When you travel the world, you have to watch and you have to listen. We're not going to come in to Ireland without an understanding that there's a history that's very sensitive.

What made me want to become a recording artist; I was the first artist that was repeatedly asked by a label to record with them. That label was Def Jam Records.

I grew up as a sports fan, and I know that a hall of fame is very different than an award for being the best of the year. It's a nod to the longevity of our accomplishment.

The Illuminati is just the evil, 'nameless' people who are behind governments.

People aren't going to support an artist just because they have an audio file. They have to feel a real connection.

When we worship, we ascend, when we ascend we gain revelation from God.

The United States is like one big jail for Black people, because we're locked into a mentality and a mindset that limits our potential. It has us against us.