Michael Paterniti Quotes

When 'And Then What' was made, Jeezy already had a street appeal, but 'And Then What' put him on the national appeal.

The rappers have gone in and created a lot of hit music based upon my influence. And they'll tell you if you ask.

I think the greatest hip-hop artist of all time is Jay-Z, without a doubt. He just keeps amazing me with his performance, and since '96, that guy has been producing at least one hit every summer and every winter. That's a pretty good resume.

New York gave me hell for that 'Purple Swag,' man. They didn't respect me until 'Peso.'

You've come to me now at this point in time, when The Neptunes are just now getting our light.

With Jay-Z, it's hard not to be amazing.

I don't hate Jay-Z. I think he's dope.

I used to listen to Jay Z a lot.

There's gonna be a lot of great songs, but there ain't going to be another 'Trap Queen.'

I'm a hip-hop guy, and the first time I heard Eminem was in '96. He was on a record with Shabban Siddiq. I was like, 'Who is this guy? He's dope!' First album came out: awesome. Second album came out: awesome. Third album, I was like, 'Eh.' He started to get really successful. He wasn't 'mine' anymore.

Swag defines an artist, period. Lil Wayne has his super-tattooed pierces and dreads swag. Jay-Z has his New York, grown man, Beyonce and 40/40 Club swag.

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

Hip-hop has never had boundaries - the more adventurous it is, the more popular it seems to be.

I would love to have a rapper on one of my songs, like Ludacris, or the 'it's so hot in here' guy, Nelly.

Speaking out against rap music is useless, and it's futile. The reality is there's criticism for everything, but Jay-Z is one of the most remarkable artists of our time of any genre, and as a hip-hop artist he carries the weight of that art form with such splendor and grace and genius.

The 'Inside' record definitely opened up a whole new audience.

You look at what One Direction has done and just say, 'That is just lucky;' it is not. It is happening because they are talented boys, good looking lads; and yes, their songs might not be the typical songs that lots of radios want to play, but they are great songs, pop records, that are massive across the world selling in huge numbers.

I was successful with mediocre material because of a good recording voice that people really liked at that time.

I like Lil Wayne.

All those rappers, they're the only glamorous people working in music now. They dress up in these chains of gold, cars, girls and this and that, high-heeled shoes.

I remember being told 'Someone's gonna make a fortune out of this rap thing' and thinking 'no way'.

I'm mostly concentrating now on continuing to make history in Hip-Hop, making everybody proud of me, I'm not just a rapper now, I'm in history now.

Jay-Z, he knows precisely who he's going for - 14-year-old white suburban girls.

Fortunately, the music from the first record really connected with people, and I was really proud of that.

I am the biggest Kanye and Jay Z fan.