Quotation by

Mos Def

I can't control what people think. I'm not trying to manipulate people's thoughts or sentiments. I write all the time. You have to experience life, make observations, and ask questions. It's machine-like how things are run now in hip-hop, and my ambitions

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Understanding this quote AI Analysis

Mos Def is saying that he focuses on expressing his own genuine experiences and thoughts rather than trying to influence how others feel or think. He observes that the hip-hop industry operates in a very mechanical way, which contrasts with his personal goals and creative approach.

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It evolved from my experience in the fifties, growing up during the McCarthy era, and hearing a lot of assumptions that America was wonderful and Communism was terrible.
I feel responsible that everyone has a really wonderful experience and to do the best work possible, and to always know my lines and to always be on time and to bring a level to the show in terms of …
Acting is not a mystery. There's nothing that I know that other actors don't know. We all act, we're all actors, we all know the same thing. The only thing that separates us is experience.

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Many children are natural fantasists, I think, perhaps because their imaginations have yet to be clobbered into submission by experience.
I got pregnant at 40 by surprise. It's funny, because when we found out we were pregnant, I said, 'Okay, let's experience that.' You just have to just go with it because it's rare.