Consistent style prevents presentation from getting in the way of content.
A design style is defined by a set of microdecisions. A clear style reflects a consistent set. A clear style may not be a good style; a muddled one never is.
You can't have 12 records on your album and none of them sound alike. You gotta kind of have something to make them say, 'That sounds like Rakim.'
Our look and image never change dramatically from one season to the next, so we need an edge.
There's a consistency in my work that pops up independent of the limitations of the technology.
My homes are similar in style because the same design principles run through all areas of my work.
And so my music, it doesn't matter if I did it 20 years ago or if I did it tomorrow. It doesn't go with trends. My trousers don't get wider and tighter every six months. My music just stays what it is, and that's the way I like it.
I understand now why Hillary Clinton always wore navy blue pantsuits. Remember, for four years? If you have one or two themes, then you have the same shoes, the same bag. Otherwise, it's a nightmare.
My style has stayed pretty consistent over the years. I always wear what I like and what is appropriate for the occasion.
I feel like I write the same album every time but each time I try to convey the message more simply.
Themes recur again and again in my work.
What I did in '06 with 'Port of Miami' was classic for that era, for that time frame, and in 2017, 'Rather You Than Me' will be the same.
It's really odd, but whatever we do and whatever style we might tackle, we always sound like us.
