Derek Luke Quotes

For those from my era, my age, that 2Pac vs. Biggie war will go on forever about who is the greatest. But I was more of a Biggie dude.

My dad is from Queens. I remember visiting as a kid. My grandparents grew up here. All the actors I respected were coming out of here. All the hip-hop I was listening to - Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Biggie, Wu Tang - was coming out of New York. I'm just into it.

You know, Tupac is very near and dear to my heart. He started my career as an actor.

Tupac, Biggie, Jay. Your usual suspects. These were the people that was played in my household.

Jay Z wasn't great when 2pac and Biggie was alive.

I was raised listening to, like, Jay and Big and Pac, Cassidy, Ludacris, even some of Drake's stuff.

For me, I put Mac Dre right up there with Biggie and 'Pac as legends who have since passed on.

My favorite Eminem song is probably 'Lose Yourself' because I can relate to it a lot. That's how I feel every time I write a rhyme.

'Dear Mama' is my favorite song from Tupac, man. It touches you, and I think that that's the most important thing with music.

I like Kanye and Kendrick Lamar.

Chicago's known for the drill. Keefs, Lil Durks, and whatnot. My music, on the other hand, it has a message to it. I think that's what sets me apart. I think it gets deeper than saying anything on a trap beat. I'm putting stories together, and people are relating to what I am saying.

I'm huge into '90s rap. It's my jam.

I like Biggie. Like 'Pac, he was one of the best rappers in the business. Why would I try to do something to him?

I'm a fan of Jay-Z, I'mma always be a fan of Jay-Z.

Gucci Mane is my favorite artist.

I was a B.I.G. fan. I like all of his stuff. I don't really have a favorite song. They all are good, and each brings different memories to me. And you can still listen to it to this day and it means something.

I am like many of the women I have played onscreen.

The first time I really listened to an album and thought, 'This album is mine,' was Kanye's 'Late Registration.'

I look at Lil Wayne as being from my generation.

I'm really into the indie-music scene and listen to a lot of De La Soul.

I like Public Enemy a great deal.

Man, I listened Nas and B.I.G growing up. I listened to both of them when I was younger for sure.

I was a super-duper Tupac fan, and I realized later, when I became a huge Nas fan and a huge Eminem fan, I was drawn to the storytellers. They all told stories in different ways, but they were all like the best storytellers.

When you go back and really listen to the legendary rappers, this is timeless music. Guys like Biggie, guys like Pac, timeless music.

My earliest love, which was sort of an obsession, actually, was Nas. I was in seventh grade, I believe, when 'Nastradamus' was out, and I took it pretty far.