I believe that economics is based on scarcity of markets. And it's possible to monetize your art without compromising the integrity of it for commerce.
We came up with TDE. As competitive as rap is, and as much as we're trying to exceed the standards we set for ourselves, we take their wins as our wins, too.
I want to thank my Eritrean fans for feeling connected to me and for supporting me. I feel extremely grateful.
At the core, one of my original goals is to redefine what the streets expect.
I say that in the most humble way: I always knew that I could perform with the best of 'em and I could deliver with the best of 'em.
My experience with power, you can maintain it, or you get it taken from you. You get you some newfound power and go crazy, and it get taken from you quick.
Look at Pusha-T. He makes a certain type of rap music. 'Daytona' is that on the highest level.
Snoop ain't never cosigned me, but I know everybody is like, 'That's the next Snoop.' Nah, I'm Nipsey, and I got to work to define myself.
Proud 2 Pay - that's something that distinguishes me, that's something that defines me, and we're going to keep that going.
It sounds simple telling people to work hard and never quit, but to really execute and demonstrate those principles takes discipline and faith. Those are the two factors that I believe separate the good from the great, the successes from the failures.
I knew 'Crenshaw' had elevated me and distinguished me.
L.A. hip-hop is so different; it's so diverse. Out here, it's, like, funk-inspired; it's, like, '70s-skating-rink-inspired at times. It's Zapp-and-Roger-inspired; it's house-party-era-inspired.
As is the case with most people in this game, I am driven by financial motives and creative motives; the question I had to answer is which motive I will give priority to?
I went through every emotion with tryna pursue what I'm doing, you know what I mean? And I think what's gon' separate whoever's gon go for something, that you ain't gon' quit.
I'm touring the world, not doing nothing against the law, getting money to feed my family. I got employees that have felonies, and they can't get jobs. They work for me.
Material things ain't nothing. You feel me? At the end of the day, it's who you is. You wasn't born with it; you gon' die without it.
I grew up in an environment where being polite was taken as a weakness. So I just fought everybody.
Being self-made means never making an excuse as to why you can't take steps toward whatever your goal is.
I really am a fan of Ye's music.
I'm at peace with what I'm doing, I feel good with what I wake up doing and about my lifestyle.