Quotes from Malik Yoba

I know that my fans, who have followed me for years, want to know what I'm doing.

My experience has shown me that many people struggle with forgiveness of self and/or others.

I'm a rabble rouser, man!

My mother ran away from my father after 16 years of being married to him. She was 16 when she hooked up with him. She left him after having six kids.

I'm a very funny person that doesn't get the chance to do a lot of comedy, and the same thing with my accents.

I'm happy with getting older and getting more focused. I thought I was focused when I was young, but you're only as focused as experience will allow you to be.

My favorite scripture is, 'Your gifts make room for you.' It's something I tell people all the time.

It's very rare that Black actors get an opportunity to do period pieces and to have a breadth of characters to choose from in their work.

I think it's hard for anyone to get into real estate or Hollywood.

Being a part of 'Empire' was a wonderful experience and opportunity to work with everyone involved.

Film and television, one is generally faster. Television generally moves faster in terms of directing, schedules and getting things done. Film, you're on a pretty tight schedule, so the process is the dame.

I had a paper route at eight years old in Harlem.

Being raised Muslim, we had to get up at the crack of dawn to pray. There was no sleeping in, no getting up Saturday morning to watch cartoons because there was no TV in the house. But you got up and you worked, cleaned the house.

A lot of times, we don't seek the help. If you come from a family where you might have been abused, a lot of times, particularly with males, regardless of what the ethnic background is there's a sense of like 'Just keep it moving.'

Don't think because I'm a positive dude, I'm going to always say something nice. If you come at me crooked, one too many times or if too many people came at me crooked too many times in a row, then they're going to get it. I don't always exercise that self control and I don't regret it either.

We didn't even have a T.V. in my house until I was 13. My dad called it the 'idiot box.'

When you walk among your own people and you know that they have a question about your integrity and everyone's giving you the side-eye, the people that used to give you the love, that's a very interesting feeling.

I made some money, some real money on my first real estate transaction.

I've had the opportunity to work as an actor and tell stories that transform.

I've always had a lot of gay friends; transgender friends.

If you love yourself, if you truly love yourself, then you'll see other people in yourself, and you won't behave that way.

There's a lot that I'd love to do. I haven't had a chance to really show the breadth of my talent, so I look forward to that.

A lot of times people are caught between doing the things they have to do versus following their passion and I'm someone who, at a very young age chose to be of service.

People think acting is just memorizing lines and doing facial expressions. No it's about traveling along a path of discovery, intention and connection.