Quotes from LL Cool J

The people who go get an LL album want to hear LL. They don't want to hear LL trying to sound like DMX or whoever else is out there. That's not what they want to hear from me, because if they want to hear that they can go get the real thing.

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.

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.

You can do anything you put your heart, mind and soul into. Far more than you can imagine. Be fearless. Do it.

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.

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.

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

As a young boy you gave me whoopings to save my life.

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

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

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 love my fans, I love my music - I have no reason to retire.

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.

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

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.

Full of criss-crossed fits, you lie all the time. Your tongue should be embarrassed, you're a threat to mankind.

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.

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

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 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.

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

Let me tell you something - compared to a TV-drama production schedule, touring is not strenuous.

Friendship, trust, honor, respect, admiration, this whole experience has been such a revelation.

I am artistic so I reserve the right to change my mind at any point. I just like to do different things. What is more important than the name is that people know that I really like acting, I enjoy it and I want people to know that I am serious.