Nas / You make positive music that talks about the struggle, youth and trying to make it in this world. Controversy sells but why do you think that’s all the media cares about when it comes to hip-hop artists?

Through music, you can do so many things. You can be anybody. You can touch anybody. Share the jail yard with convicts, reach pastors, surfers, cooks, day-to-day people and stand with them. Reach people everywhere with things that can make people think, laugh, love, fight back. Controversy sells because people love excitement, most [of] the time that’s a good thing.

Do you ever get tired of defending yourself against your critics?

Critics?! I kind of forgot they exist a long time ago. Other times I got off on passing their expectations. Nowadays, maybe I’m playing with them, then I wait for them to catch up to where I’m at. Some haven’t. Most never will.

Whether it be about hip-hop, a tragedy or the problems of the world, you don’t mind voicing your opinion. Are there times you shy away from voicing your opinion to the media?

I only speak out when I feel the real urge to [because] while speaking your mind against powerful people, you can attract attention from idiots and sell-outs who want to jump in and make your mission about them instead.

Do you think mainstream America will ever be ready to freely voice their opinions on topics such as the “N-word”? Will that type of open-mindedness ever exist?

They weren’t ready for my last album. I knew it would make things awkward in the room, so to speak. Things like the “N-word” is old news. People are afraid of each other because of differences. Why can’t we all just come off the bullshit and respect each other? Everybody is so uptight about dumb shit. Like the Beatles sang, “all we need is love.”

You were quoted as saying “Kanye saved rap.” Can you elaborate on that?

Kanye, I kind of see as a predecessor of me but he’s all the colors and fly shit on steroids. The man is brilliant. Everybody in rap knows how he changed things.

What keeps you inspired and passionate about making music? What keeps you hungry?

Because the game is always changing, musically, beats are the driving force. I follow the beats. The beat is everything. That’s why on my new music I’m gonna marry the drums. When I hear different music it makes me hungry to create. But as of lately, I been listening to my own stuff to get inspired, and I’m there.

If you can put it into words, how deep is your love for hip-hop? Hip-hop saved my life. It’s in me.

Thanks to the media and the Internet, America’s exposure to hip-hop has changed dramatically. How has the explosion of hip-hop into the mainstream watered it down away from its core and also served as a positive?

It’s all good at the end of the day. Mainstream is exactly that. Hip-hop was held back from the mainstream for so long that when hip-hop finally took over the world and became mainstream it was funny (because) everybody in rap got rich. It was just funny. So now it’s just a new phase for the game. Only the strong will continue. Got to stay creative.

Your fans love you for what you and what your music represents. What do you admire most about them?

I admire love, honesty, loyalty and growth.