Talib Kweli Quotes

I wanna be an artist on the whole; I don't wanna be within a genre.

I will give a proof to demonstrate with facts that there are no rules in painting and that oppression or servile obligation of making all study or follow the same path is a great impediment for the young who profess this very difficult art.

I couldn't be an artist who was told what to do, what to be, what to sing.

I think people have come to know that I am not comfortable in a box, you know, and that I love music.

I don't want to do music in a box, like everybody say what I can't do, 'he can't say this.'

Hip-hop can be limiting and I refuse to accept limits.

I don't like to be labeled, to be anything. I've made the mistake before myself of labeling my music, but it's counter-productive.

I don't like being put in a box. I just make music, you know?

I don't want to be held down by genres so much.

I wouldn't call my work Modernist. I would rust if I try to think about labels. I'd feel like the Tin Man in 'The Wizard of Oz.'

All artists are now free to express their own personality.

An artist must never be a prisoner. Prisoner? An artist should never be a prisoner of himself, prisoner of style, prisoner of reputation, prisoner of success, etc.

I've always been schizophrenic; I've never been interested in limiting myself.

I like that the art world isn't regulated.

No, as an artist, you have to be free to explore all the corners of your heart. There are no boundaries.

I think that was the whole idea behind doing the solo record was to be able to do musically whatever I wanted to do.

I don't think an artist should keep themselves categorized in a specific box.

The great thing about this thing we call art is that it has no rules.

As a film-maker, I certainly don't want to be put into some box.

I've certainly never liked the idea of being put in a box. I loved being part of shows like 'American Idiot' and 'In the Heights,' and I take pride in being able to sing different styles, not just 'Old Man River.'

I'm not going to restrict myself as an artist.

Because I feel like I can do so many different things, and people like my music for different reasons, I don't feel pigeonholed. I think people are always going to appreciate whatever direction I take.

One of the things with the second record, a word I held close to my chest was 'brave.' To take chances to go outside the box and explore. To continue to toss off any expectation that our fans or anyone else might have of us, to just tap into who I am as a writer and artist and really just operate within that freedom of creation.

I try to stay away from any genre. I like to just make music, and it just is what it is.

I'm an artist. I'm a musician. I'm not someone you can put in a box.