John Legend Quotes

I knew Kanye way before he was signed.

I had the most incredible experience of my life being signed to Cash Money.

I got Ice Cube his start. I also launched Eazy-E.

I'm still dreaming to be the next Missy Elliott.

Def Jam is an iconic label.

'Hood Rich' was super important to Cash Money.

The majority of people, especially young people, know Dr. Dre because of Beats by Dre, not necessarily from him being a rap artist.

When I was 13, I was saying that I wanted to be signed to a label. I was begging my dad to get me signed with somebody.

I always look at Akon as inspiration, and the fact that at one point Lady Gaga was signed to Konvict Muzik.

I've always loved Jay-Z's music and loved what he's done.

I was Jazzy Jeff's assistant.

I never imagined I'd meet Berry Gordy who told me when he first heard me sing, "You know, your singing's okay, but I like your harmonica playing better."

I have the weirdest career in hip-hop, and I say that because I started so young. I started So So Def when I was 17 years old.

George Martin recorded a lot of my stuff before the Beatles, so I observed their meteoric rise.

Johnny Mercer started Capitol Records, and he brought in Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Nat King Cole. He just let them sing whatever they wanted, and it became the best record company in America.

I actually had the chance to meet Jay-Z once.

There are so many talented people that are on G.O.O.D. Music that it's nuts.

Guru was actually who A&R'd and got Lord Finesse signed because he used to listen to the demos at Wild Pitch. And he was the one who actually said, 'Yo, this Lord Finesse guy is dope.' And Stuart Fine signed him to Wild Pitch. That's how we became labelmates.

Rick Rubin's amazing, by the way. I just need to say that.

I used to have visions of being a star all the time, but I never knew I wanted to be a rapper.

I found myself in a meeting on my 13th birthday, which I really had no idea the enormity of, but I was in a meeting with the CEO of Atlantic Records, who sort of signed me right then and there as I was playing guitar for him.

I was actually discovered by Kai Millard and Stevie Wonder.

I'm trying to be the Dr. Dre of Cleveland.

I was in a group called Pablo, while Will.i.am and apl.de.ap were a part of the Atban Klann. They signed to Ruthless Records with Easy-E. When Easy-E passed away in 1995 they changed their name to the Black Eyed Peas and asked me if I wanted to be a part of it. The rest is history.