“Hip-hop was my first audience - I would rap in the mirror, walk down t...” — Derek Luke Quote

“Hip-hop was my first audience - I would rap in the mirror, walk down the street and listen to my Walkman.”

“Then I was working in a store in Newark, New Jersey, and I saw an actor in person, and I got so excited. My whole day changed. That's when I decided to challenge myself to make my dreams become a reality.”

“I loved B.I.G., but not like I liked Tupac, because he was an actor, so I related to him.”

“I see myself as a hip-hop artist, but I never wanted to make music for a specifically white audience. That's not what I grew up around.”

“People can look to me as a teacher, but I consider myself a student of hip-hop.”

“I think I can see people wanting to hear more music-music now as opposed to all hip-hop. You know, which I have nothing against hip-hop. I think some of it is really good. But on the other hand, some of the real great artists are just being lost because they're not getting the airplay or anything to make them inspired to record again.”