LL Cool J

I was listening to Jimi Hendrix; I just admire his artistry and creativity as an artist.

I think when you move past your fear and you go after your dreams wholeheartedly, you become free.

Nobody is perfect, but life is about choices.

I only do what comes from the heart.

I try to do the right thing with money. Save a dollar here and there, clip some coupons. Buy ten gold chains instead of 20. Four summer homes instead of eight.

Hip-hop's always reached out to kids. If you look at the last 10 big albums it might seem ironic. But when I look at the history of this music it's always had a lot of positivity.

I'm good at what I do, but I wouldn't be so bold and arrogant as to say something disrespectful about, say, Eminem. He's talented and he's good at what he does.

You have to always continue to strive no matter how hard things get, no matter how troubled you feel. No matter how tough things get, no matter how many times you lose, you keep trying to win.

I think the key to working out is for people to think of water - just allow the workouts to fill out the cracks in your lives and seep into wherever you can fit it in.

I do about 90 percent of my own stunts, and the things I can't do for insurance reasons, like swinging out of a flying helicopter, I wouldn't want to do anyway.

Sometimes altering your position is the right thing. Sometimes it's not.

When adversity strikes thats when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back stay strong stay grounded and press on.

What I don't do is try to like become whoever I'm rapping with. The people who go get an LL album want to hear LL.

Hip-hop can be limiting and I refuse to accept limits.

Stand up and face your fears, or they will defeat you.

I've got to see my movie to see how I'm acting, see what little things I can learn about my craft.

I think the guy who has had the better films is Will Smith. I don't know if he's a better actor than me. I don't think so. I am a rapper first. Man, I just love what I do. I am just the greatest and I can't help it. I'm sorry man.

Dreams don't have deadlines. I'm thinking of doing bigger and better things and having more fun with it.

To me, my peers are Bruce Springsteen and Mick Jagger. I'm not talking age-wise, but in terms of careers. Madonna. Those are my peers. And I'm okay with that.

As a black man, my hope is that I can touch more and more people all over the world of different races and different colours.

I just look at the high and bright side of things.

We need to make sure that there's art in the school. Why? Why should art be in the school? Because if art isn't in a school, then a guy like Steve Jobs doesn't get a chance to really express himself because in order for art to meet technology, you need art.

I'm not trying to keep up or adapt. I'm allowing myself to grow, evolve and create new music.

We're going to raise a lot of money for cancer awareness, give some to the American Cancer Society and hopefully make a big difference.

People will feel the way they feel.

Once the referee throws the ball in the air, it's either your ball or their ball and you have to just take your shot.

I don't have an image that I'm trying to, like, portray. I'm just being me.

Our world is at the crossroads. We have a choice, right and wrong.

I don't think you should go around talking trash about people because I think that's how you get your hat handed to you.

I'm not just a rapper. I'm an entertainer. That's the difference.

Stay focused, go after your dreams and keep moving toward your goals.

I want a girl with extensions in her hair Bamboo earrings at least two pair A Fendi bag and a bad attitude Thats all I need to get me in a good mood.

I'm not trying to be new school and I'm not old school - I'm classic. There's a lot of new cars and there's a lot of old cars, but I'm just classic in doing what I do.

When adversity strikes, that's when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.

I'm not giving up my history and what I've done in my music because I love it and I'm very proud of it. I just want to open it up for more people.

I don't look back. I don't live my life in the rear-view mirror because, if you do, you're bound to end up wrapped around a pole somewhere.

If you do cardio one day and the next day you can do weights, do it that way. If you need to do it at night or in the morning, do it that way. Whatever you need to get it done, just get it done.

You don't need to be the good guy to get a good message out.

The person that made me want to make movies, and the reason I do films, is Bruce Lee. He was an incredible actor, and he had a lot of charisma. Handsome, action, you know, everything was there. I loved Bruce Lee.

Do what you love; you'll be better at it. It sounds pretty simple, but you'd be surprised how many people don't get this one right away.

I think fitness is important. I think a healthy lifestyle is important. I think putting positive energy out there is important and just staying connected with the people.

You've got to stay focused without being boring - because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Skinny, but dull.

I am what I am, I'm doing very well in my life, and I'm thankful to God for that.

When you have a clear vision of your goal, it’s easier to take the first step toward it.

There's a lot of single black women who did the best that they could and that's a beautiful thing, but they don't know how necessary a father is in a kid's life and how much guys miss that deep down inside.

God blesses us all with different views and perspectives and levels of influence and power.

I feel like my peers now are artists like Madonna and the Stones, Michael Jackson and Prince. These are people who were able to take their careers beyond the normal here-today-gone-tomorrow life span.

I don't wanna abandon my identity as LL Cool J, but at the same time, I had to figure out how to let people know that I'm really serious about making these movies.

Sometimes you've just got to grab an apple - or grapes, or strawberries. Something that's healthy but maybe a little bit more adventurous, if you can see fruit as adventurous.

Once you achieve one goal, you should be looking forward to trying to build onto the next thing, and not just getting comfortable with what you're doing.

Timing has a lot to with art.

You can't let your past hold your future hostage.

I am a real person that cares about his art and cares about what he's doing - I have a heart and a soul and want to touch people and give.

I think when you move past your fear and you go after your dreams wholeheartedly, you become free. Know what I'm saying? Move past the fear.

What I say on a record and what I say off a record is two different things. And that's always been the case. There's a difference between confidence on a record and arrogance.

Our world is at the crossroads. We have a choice right and wrong.