Chuck D Quotes

Late 20th century music was a really important thing. It changed the world, and I'm part of that, and now I'm part of the museum that celebrates that.

Every decade has its ABBA; that's the proof that pop will always be around.

Pop music was supposed to be a flash in the pan, but here we are 50 years later and it means something to us, and it always will do. It's incredibly important.

No, I don't think rock 'n' roll will ever fade.

Ain't nobody bumping Nas no more, no disrespect to him. He had his time.

I don't care about the word 'pop'. The Beatles were pop; it's just what's popular.

I think everything Joni Mitchell did for music was big.

Music never dies. Do we really need another Madonna tour? Does she have to compete with women performers 25 years her junior?

I just change with the times. I really don't have a say in what's going on. Music was here before me.

Historically, black music has influenced other cultures and other genres and created other genres.

There weren't any white people in this country who didn't know who Gladys Knight was. Or the Pips were, as far as that's concerned.

Pop music has progressed.

Music isn't like news, where it's what happened five minutes ago or even 10 seconds ago that matters. With music, a song from the 1960s could be as relevant to someone today as the latest Ke$ha song.

I think Aaliyah has influenced artists like a Ciara.

If 'Bobby McGee' lasts, if 'Star Is Born' lasts, if 'Help Me Make It through the Night' lasts, if all of 'em last, man... who cares?

Every once in awhile, the world will push up an Elvis Presley or a Beatles. But that's really outside the realm of show business.

Upcoming composers in Bollywood are falling prey to the volume game, without caring what they are doing to the history of Indian music, and that's something to worry about.

Without Mac Miller, there would be no GoldLink.

Dr. Dre's '2001' album changed modern pop music.

The thing about Shaggy's records are those records are very timeless.

There are a handful of music docs I'd love to do, including David Bowie.

Before there was Bjork, there was Prince. That's a very simple encapsulation of my personal pop life.

They say the music you listen to in your formative years stays with you and leaves an impression for the rest of your life. For me, the things that I fell in love with happened in the '70s, when artists were nurtured by record companies and it wasn't about singles.

You can still make music that people love, but there won't be more innovation. I started listening to electronic music a long time ago. But mostly I listen to rap. I think rap is the most interesting.

Led Zeppelin has been there through three generations of teenage angst. And there's a generation of kids now who won't know it, post-Linkin Park.