Rakim Quotes

Being on a television show and having so many fans is something that I've never experienced before, and it's really neat when they come up to you and are like, 'That storyline is amazing and really spoke to me in my life,' and it's really cool. I really enjoy it.

It's pretty hard to measure influence of written or visual material.

I don't want to be a big star. I just want to get my message across.

They say 15 million people are watching the show, but what does that mean, you know? It's not until I'm accosted on the street that I understand!

I can possibly say I have entertained and educated more people than anyone else in the world.

Fame can amplify the message of art in a remarkable, meaningful way.

After our life history was shown on the silver screen and much appreciated by the audiences, I have more of a responsibility on my shoulders now.

I have no idea what readership is of written editorials, but it doesn't come anywhere close to the readership of editorial cartoons.

I got to do the movie, and people who enjoyed 'The Birdcage' came out to see me on stage when I did 'Forum.' It introduced me to a whole new audience that wasn't familiar with my stage work.

I don't have the life of a famous person. But I do feel like I've been able to connect with a lot of people.

Celebrity means that I can affect people in a positive way.

My celebrity status allows me an opportunity, allows me a pulpit to preach and reach out to the people. Not even always preaching but just leading, motivating them by being a leader.

The power of network television is amazing. I've been performing for years but have been seen on only a few episodes of this show, and people spot me in public now all the time. They say, 'Hey, aren't you on 'Nashville'?' Most locals seem to really appreciate how authentic the show is.

There is a big difference between No. 1 and No. 2. I don't care who wrote it. I'd love to one day have a No. 1 that I wrote, but if that ain't in the cards, whatever. My job is right now is to make the best music I can and try to get it to the people, whether it be something that I wrote or not. It's my job to be the best I can for the fans.

Being on a television series is sort of life-altering on every level.

I've seen a lot of my friends go through different reality shows, and they just get caught up in a lot of stagnant positions, unfortunately.

I know that everyone wants to know about 'Downton Abbey,' but the truth is that it was only a few days out of my life. Still, you play a distinctive part on a hit series, and everyone suddenly knows who you are. Isn't it crazy how this business works?

I want to sing for the broadest possible audience.

Still, the change is nearly indescribable - going from total obscurity to walking down a street in New York and having everybody turn and look; to feel the temperature of a room change when I walked in.

I didn't become an actor to have power, but it just happens that I have it and so I have a lot of opportunities.

I get as much fan mail today and sign as many autographs as I did when I played. It's mind-boggling to a certain degree.

You're not anyone in America unless you're on TV.

I actually don't know anyone who wants to be famous for fame's sake, at least not anyone I respect. But you need to have a certain amount of power in order to be able to do what you want.

Someday we may have as many followers as the harpsichord.

Now that people know who I am, I get offered plays here and there. It was so much easier to do it when nobody knew who I was. I can't even imagine that somebody would come and pay money just to come and see me now.