Raheem DeVaughn Quotes

I think too many people look at the arts with a religious outlook. Arts, music, singing and performing, it's all make-believe.

Not all artists have a responsibility to be socially or politically aware, but they do have a responsibility to make great art. They have to find some truth and put that in their music.

Music runs through everything I do - I even think musically; even when I was acting, but, especially, when I am directing. Directing is very musical.

Whether it be through television, or through music, or through dance, or through film, whatever it is, as long as it's the right project that makes sense, then I'm all for it.

I'd like to think that we strive in film and theatre to tell great stories, and I believe in the power of storytelling in our culture.

I do like what Alicia Keys and John Legend are doing. With their music, you keep your clothes on.

We don't have to stand on a soap-box and preach because hopefully we're channelling it through the new record.

Miles Davis turned his back to the audience when he came out on stage, and he offended people. But, he wasn't there to entertain; he was all about the music. I kind of do that.

Music is art, and once you become an artist, you need to learn how to accept criticism.

When I act, I feel like I am a color in someone else's painting - I can be the best blue that there is, but I'm still only part of their entire picture - but, with music, when I am performing with Reserved For Rondee, I am the painter, you know?

Dealing with those personalities and the people who run this music thing has been most challenging. It's hard to really communicate things to people who run a business yet forget the nature of the business. They only look at the bottom line and the financial return, you know, they forget what it is they're packaging. It's art.

I design all of my costumes. I like to go out there and feel like I have contributed to every part of what I do. I choose the music, the choreographer, I've obviously chosen my coach, my costumes - all if that falls under my realm of power, my realm of influence.

In my theater, I'm not trying to change the world.

Art is not a mirror to reflect the world, but a hammer with which to shape it

I am thrilled Lady Gaga has helped to teach her audience about long durational work and performance art.

As an actor, my desire was always to be different, there was a desire to associate yourself with projects that bring about the contemporary situation.

Azealia Banks - love what she's doing.

I love Kanye, I love what he does musically, I love his ability to push the envelope.

I love the song 'Picasso Baby,' and I think the performance art piece was brilliant. I love that fact that Jay Z is continuing to raise the bar on hip hop.

I think I am an artist. I think I am Juan Gabriel, who has given so much with my songs.

At the end of the day, every decision I make about my music is about creating a collective.

I was the audience he wanted to reach. Gram Parsons' writing brought his own personal generations poetry and vision into the very traditional format of country music, and he came up with something completely different

Everything is art. Everything is politics.

I have a great deal of hope. I think that change is here, it's happening. But I know that if we think it's just going to happen on its own, that's not the way it works. We need people to keep talking about women of color writing comics and living the charge. Not just talking but doing. Making art, putting it out there.

The greatest respect an artist can pay to music is to give it life.