Def Quotes & Sayings

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

My presence speaks volumes before I say a word. — Mos Def

We blasted holes in the night until she bled sunshine — Mos Def

I got my first exposure to Islam when I was 13. — Mos Def

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. — Mos Def

I have inherited two of the most important brands in hip-hop, Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella. Reid and Universal Music Group have given me the opportunity to manage the companies I have contributed to my whole career. I feel this is a giant step for me and the entire artist community. — Jay-Z

My biggest role model? Def my Mom and my sisters! — Kendall Jenner

I remember 'Def Comedy Jam' being a big deal and kids talking about it in school, but it was never, 'I want to do that.' — Hannibal Buress

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

We just gotta fly
I can take you thru the center of the dark
We gonna fly
On a collision course to crash into my heart
I will be your, I will be your rocket — Def Leppard

So rather than really have, like a close relationship to anything that's coming out today, people are just, they've got it on as background music. It's kind of the same way the cabdrivers use music; it's very disposable. But, that doesn't mean there aren't a great number of artists who are doing things to change that. — Mos Def

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

But even creeps deserve to live someplace halfway decent. — Mos Def

I still wasn't convinced that tossing a shoe didn't mean you harbored an anger-management problem, but I did understand love now. How it wrapped around you and made you more aware of the prickles on your skin, the roots of your hair, the intensity of every touch and every inch of you. It was like life on hi-def. Everything was sharper. — Erin McCarthy

The quality of life depends upon the ability of society to teach it's members how to live in harmony with their environment-def ined first as family, then the community, then the world and its resources. — Ellen Swallow Richards

Look at music: I've always loved hiphop and rap, and now there's this whole progressive movement, with De La Soul and Mos Def, Common. It's some of the best stuff around. — Ryan Phillippe

Love is like a bomb, baby, c'mon get it on
Livin' like a lover with a radar phone
Lookin' like a tramp, like a video vamp
Demolition woman, can I be your man?
Razzle 'n' a dazzle 'n' a flash a little light
Television lover, baby, go all night
Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet
Little miss ah innocent sugar me, yeah — Def Leppard

Across from the famous jewelry store on Fifth Avenue at Fifty-Seventh Street, we sat in the back of a graffiti-covered white box truck watching the world go by on the surveillance vehicle's hidden high-def camera. So far there had been no sign of the thieves. Or even Audrey Hepburn. — James Patterson

Mos Def is a name that I built and cultivated over the years it's a name that the streets taught me a figure of speech that was given to me by the culture and by my environment and I feel I've done quite a bit with that name and it's time to expand and move on. — Mos Def

The ability to have somebody read something and see it, or for somebody to paint an entire landscape of visual imagery with just sheets of words - that's magical. That's what I've been trying to strive for - to draw a clear picture, to open up a new dimension. — Mos Def

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. — Mos Def

The dimensions of video game characters, even when they're scanned from real people, are beefed up with exaggerated proportions in games like Def Jam: Fight for NY to give them more pop. — Cliff Bleszinski

I'm a passionate person. I'm a lot of things, like most people are. Most people are dynamic. The focus is not on me though, I'm a screen. The aim is to always keep myself in the position where the screen is clear. — Mos Def

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

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. — Mos Def

It wouldn't be fair to cast aspersions on an entire cultural movement based on the actions of a few. To quote my grandfather, 'One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch.' — Mos Def

def leppard lyric from Rock of Ages: It's better to burn out than fade away. This is not a Curt Cobain quote. He was quoting them !!!!! — Victoria Danann

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

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

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

It started off really ... claustrophobic. I feel like I was really really protected. Really guarded with myself. I feel like they [Def Jam] were giving me the blueprint and I couldn't get with that — Rihanna

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

I didn't think that and I didn't verbalize that to myself or within meetings that we ever had, but we wanted to make a hard-nosed, gritty, realistic spy thriller. Roger talked about using lenses. He shot hi-def, but using anamorphic lenses that he'd found from this warehouse. He was so thrilled with that. Him and Romain [Lacourbas] were just like kids in a toy store with their lenses. — Pierce Brosnan

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

African art is functional, it serves a purpose. It's not a dormant. It's not a means to collect the largest cheering section. It should be healing, a source a joy. Spreading positive vibrations. — Mos Def

I don't read my own press, so I don't know what's being reported on a daily basis - I only hear about things when they reach a sort of Def-Con status, and my publicist calls me because we have to do some damage control. — Megan Fox

My comedy has no color, it's for everybody, black, white, Latino, Asian. It's not a pro-black show, not a def jam show; it's just straight, wholesome type of humor. — Bruce Bruce

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

I pride myself on being the guy who can do Def Comedy Jam and Charlie Rose. And do well on both. — Chris Rock

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

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

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. — Mos Def

Def Leppard is a rock band that can sing. — Vivian Campbell

I learned [playing Chuck Berry] that there's something to be said for the courage of conviction, that sense of belief, being bold enough to believe in your vision. And there's a quote that really fits his particular energy. It says - they say don't go where the path may lead, but go where there's no path and leave a trail. I think that's exactly what Chuck did, you know. It's an inspiration to a lot of folks, not just musicians, but people everywhere. — Mos Def

I've always loved Def Leppard, ever since I was little. — Taylor Swift

When people say, 'I don't see you enough,' well just because you don't see me don't mean I don't exist, or just 'cause you haven't heard me don't mean I haven't been making noise. But if I keep making noise, you'll pick up. — Mos Def

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

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

I had an advantage because people would post me on blogs because I had co-signs from Kanye West, Def Jam, and G.O.O.D. Music. Everything I put out, the blogs would put up. When I realized that, I used that to my advantage and helped build my following on my own. — Big Sean

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. — Chuck D

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

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. — Mos Def

I met Mos Def around that time but I didn't hook up with him until I was about 17 or 18. — Talib Kweli

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

Live now for the promise of the Infinite — Mos Def

A person's strength is to know their weaknesses. — Russell Simmons

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

I think Def Jam happened to be one of the labels that really didn't have a good grip on things that were going on. I'll say that - that's my political answer. — Joe Budden

It's possible and available to any artist to be himself or herself on their own terms, to be accepted and embraced by black people. You don't have to be a thug to get love from black people. — Mos Def

I play the guitar. This year at the Sundance film festival, I joined the band from 'The Guitar' on stage. We warmed up for Patti Smith, and then the director Michel Gondry got on the drums to play some songs from the soundtrack to his film Be Kind Rewind with Mos Def. It was pretty mad. — Saffron Burrows

But the irony is that because the band isn't the focus any more, it allows me the chance to enjoy being a member of Def Leppard much more. — Rick Allen

I love jazz and pop rock and country. I grew up listening to Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Def Leppard, AC/DC, Anne Murray - if I hear something really great ... I want to be a part of it. — Natalie MacMaster

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

As soon as the doors were closed, Amelia went to her sister with her hands raised. At first Cam thought she intended to shake her, but instead Amelia pulled Beatrix close, her shoulders trembling. She could barely breathe for laughing.
"Bea ... you did it on purpose, didn't you? ... I couldn't believe my eyes ... that blasted lizard running along the table ... "
"I had to do something," the girl explained in a muffled voice. "Leo was behaving badly - I didn't understand what he was saying, but I saw Lord Westcliff's face - "
"Oh ... oh ... " Amelia choked with giggles. "Poor Westcliff ... one moment he's def-fending the local population from Leo's tyranny, and then Spot comes s-slithering past the bread plates ... "
"Where is Spot?" Twisting away from her sister, Beatrix approached Cam, who deposited the lizard in her outstretched palms. "Thank you, Mr. Rohan. You have very quick hands."
"So I've been told." He smiled at her. — Lisa Kleypas

I just didn't wanna put the pressure on myself to be in there [Def Jam South] to work as an artist and to have the hat as the executive with other projects. — DJ Khaled

I signed to Def Jam and within two months, I heard that Ja Rule was looking for someone to do a song with. — Christina Milian

You've got to validate every day. There are those who just put a stamp on it and say, "This is gonna be a good day and I'm not gonna let anything else make it a bad day." — Mos Def

What I take from writers I like is their economy - the ability to use language to very effective ends. The ability to have somebody read something and see it, or for somebody to paint an entire landscape of visual imagery with just sheets of words - that's magical. — Mos Def

Man, I smashed her like an Idaho Potato — Mos Def

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

I get reminded a lot of the time that my life is a little bit different, but I'm just trying to keep it as regular as possible because I like it that way. — Mos Def

You have to be an extremist to believe that you're gonna be the president of the United States and your name is Barack Hussein Obama! And he's using extreme methods, but his application is very smooth. Michelle Obama is extreme, her presence is extreme. And it's an extreme good. Extreme is not negative. — Mos Def

Hi-def is merely the latest in a string of evolutional leaps that have transformed the way we sit slumped in front of a box wishing we were dead. — Charlie Brooker

I can't take it y'all
I can feel the city breathin
Chest heavin, against the flesh of the evening
Sigh before we die like the last train leaving — Mos Def

I've always been an outsider. When I did magic, I was the only kid. When I worked with Johnny Cash, I was completely out of place in Nashville. And when I started Def Jam, I was the only white guy in the hip-hop world. — Rick Rubin

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

Recall Part 3c's mention of how Cantor took what had been regarded as a paradoxical, totally unhandlable feature of (Infinity)-namely that an infinite set/class/aggregate can be put into a one-to-one correspondence with its own subset-and transformed it into the technical def. of infinite set. Watch how he does the same thing here, turning what appear to be devastating objections into rigorous criteria, by defining a set S as any aggregate of collection of discrete entities that satisfies two conditions: (1) S can be entertained by the mind as an aggregate, and (2) There is some stated rule or condition via which one can determine, for any entity x, whether or not x is a member of S. — David Foster Wallace

So I think hip-hop is moving and is going to continue to move in the direction of rappers just being honest with themselves, whether you're talking about Common and Mos Def or Nas and 50 cent. — Talib Kweli

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. — Mos Def

I don't dislike rappers or hip-hop or people who like it. I went to the Def Jam tour in Manchester in the '80s when rap was inspirational. Public Enemy were awesome. But it's all about status and bling now, and it doesn't say anything to me. — Noel Gallagher

Everything's got space between it, the planets, trees, your eyes. Your eyes get too close together, it's a whole different world. You can lose perspective. — Mos Def

I'm a little different from the average dude because I'm on high-def TV now. — Ray Romano

I'm blacked than midnight on Broadway and Myrtle — Mos Def

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

I've been fortunate with my acting career. A lot of scripts come to me. I don't mind auditioning if something that requires that, but I haven't had to in awhile, which is a nice place to be 'cause I've been on quite a lot of auditions in my life. — Mos Def

There's probably a bunch of Power Stripe floating through the Def Jam offices right now. — Method Man

I have always been involved with radio, whether it was as an artist talking to radio about my own songs, or as a promotion man at Def Jam to working records through my company. In 2000 I was asked to host a show in Norfolk VA and through that show I was then asked to host the morning show in Detroit. The concept of the show was around Hip Hop. We were active in the community and we wanted to do a local show that had a hip hop feel around it. — MC Serch

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

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

I think that Mos Def is the best actor, but when you talk about rappers in films, I don't really think the quality of the acting is most important because most rappers are put in movies because of the personality and people want to see that. — Morris Chestnut

History has proven that it's impossible to crush the artist. There's always gonna be a need for somebody to write a poem or sing a song about something, about life - that makes it real. There's the word that goes beyond the word. — Mos Def

Mos Def is one of the most creative, intelligent human beings I've had the opportunity to work with. He is fun. The entire time, he would go in and out of different characters, just for the fun of it. Awesome energy. — Jill Scott

Hard rock for me is AC/DC, Def Leppard, Tesla, Kiss. Metal tends to be louder, ruder, darker, like Judas Priest, Slayer, Iron Maiden. — Eddie Trunk

I can't control what people think. I'm not trying to manipulate people's thoughts or sentiments. I write all the time. You have to experience life, make observations, and ask questions. It's machine-like how things are run now in hip-hop, and my ambitions are different. — Mos Def

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

My radio's loud like a fire alarm:
The floor vibrates, the walls cave in,
The bass makes my eardrums seem thin.
Def sounds in my ride, yes the front and back ...
You would think it was a party, not a Cadillac! — LL Cool J

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

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

AC/DC, Def Leppard, Alice Cooper - I learned stories of all these guys. That's when I fell in love with Queen, which is one of my favorite bands of all time ... I started paying attention to what made music good. I started paying attention to why I liked it. — Rico Love

I have mad brims. — Mos Def