Ishmael Reginald Butler (born July 3, 1969) is an American rapper, record producer and songwriter. He is best known for his work with such groups as Digable Planets and Shabazz Palaces.
Without sounding cliché, music is like air. It provides for me. I don't necessarily look for what I can get out of it. It's a compulsion. I've always gotten out of it everything.
You never know what your work is going to do, man, so really, you shouldn't worry about it. But pop stars have to worry about it, because that's their commerce. If you're not number one or selling units, you're not going to be able to make a record next year. For us, it's more like an indie-rock attitude. Put it out, work it, and see what happens. It'll have a shelf life.
I'm not really sure why so much people still listen us. I think we live in an era when people get attached to stuff, and it means something. Then I think a lot of people heard about it over the years - like somebody's older brother might tell them, you know, because we're from his era, and he might be like, "You need to listen to this; this is what it's all about," you know what I mean? I don't know, man, it's hard to say. But it makes us feel special.
I feel like I'm an explorer, a frontiersman if you will, and I've been able to satisfy that desire in me through music. I've continued to meet people who challenge me and inspire me as friends. I don't even know how to even quantify it in words. I've been very fortunate.
You do your work. You get up in the morning, you choose an outfit, you know? It doesn't have to be the best thing that you wear, you know what I mean? It's music, man. You do an album, complete it, and then musicians are on to the next thing. Nobody cares about how many units it sold as compared to the old one.
Vanity is so superficial. It doesn't provide the grounds for progress.
Edward Gorey
Orrin Woodward
Hipparchus
Lyle Tuttle
Ariel Winter
Tommy Lasorda
Cleveland Abbe
Mark Rowlands
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
Phil Baroni
Carol J. Adams
Michael Feinstein