Truth could be violent, could strip you of dignity and hope just as quickly as a gun.
Punish the deed, not the breed.
As far as the fans, I always say it because it's the truth: without them I'm absolutely nothing.
The people in Cuba, they know what I stand for, and there's a lot of people in Cuba that stand for the same. But they can't say it.
As far as my single selections, over the years it's been a very essential part of my survival tactic, but I have no problem being able to jump on records with whoever people think is the rawest rapper in the game or number one or King or whatever they wanna name themselves, to be honest with you. It doesn't affect me, 'cause that's what I come from; I'm comfortable in that zone. But I don't wanna make hood music, I don't wanna make street music, I want to make world music, global music, international music.
Since I've been in this industry, it's been a constant fight; "Oh, he's white, he's Cuban. " "He's tryin' to do hip-hop and he's too Spanish, he's too English. "You fight all these stereotypes through all these boundaries, and you find a way to tap-dance through all these different genres and cultures through music - that's what Rebelution is.
Now, with the Internet, you're either five years ahead or you're five years behind, and the music game is catchin' up right now.
I believe one of the requirements of good leadership is the ability to listen - really listen - to those in your organization. An effective leader is very good at listening, and it's difficult to listen when you are talking.
If one is only to talk from first-hand experience, conversation would be a very poor business.
When it gets hot like this, you know what I do? I keep my undies in the ice box.
Now that my wine has been served in the White House, why not me? Who could talk to farmers better than I? Somebody even asked me the other day if I had anything in my platform about taxes. 'Hell yes,' I said. 'Great state. But I wouldn't want to live there. '