#wise thoughts

The universe bears no ill to me and I bear no ill to it.

~ Vivian Ayers Allen (1923-2025)

If you can’t look back over your life and see where you’ve helped someone, a group of people, a number of people make their lives better, if you can’t do that, then however many years you’ve lived I say you’ve just lived in vain. You’ve missed the mark.

~ Junior Bridgeman (1953-2025)

It was a surprise to me that so many hip-hop artists started sampling my music. It really was a delightful thing, i thought it was a fantastic thing as it started happening...I was wondering how they all knew about my music...I asked several artists why do they like my music and they say because it's a sound, they like the sound, and it made me feel good.

~ Roy Ayers (1940-2025)

Because even though Biggie never sounded like Big Daddy Kane, it was like hearing him rhyme to the same beat that me and Kane used in 'Ain't No Half-Steppin,’ it just showed me back then that he was a student of the game. He was just somebody that respected people that came, the other rappers that came, the other groups that came before him.

~ Mister Cee (1966-2024)

I can do more than anyone suspects. I pride myself on my versatility. It took 32 years of difficult parts, second leads, villains and juveniles. The Oscar changed the quality of the roles I was being offered.

~ Louis Gossett Jr. (1936-2024)