Quotes

'Pigeonholed' isn't the right word, because I feel like I've had a very wide range of characters that I've been allowed to play.

It's funny, because in drama school, my greatest strength was my range. So my early career was like that: I played all kinds of different characters.

As I got further into my career, as a character of color, if I was going to have the types of opportunities I felt I deserved, and continue to have them, I was going to have to start creating those opportunities for myself.

You don't see a lot of black rock stars. The music industry tends to be segregated stylistically. It's hard for a black artist to cross over to rock music.

If you're going to come at me, come at me respectfully, and I will respond respectfully.

Because of the way tech is changing, and becoming cheaper and user-friendly, it's becoming easier to make films cheaply, maintaining quality.

Don't be a victim; if you want to make movies, make movies.

Art is art, and journalism is journalism.

Growing up, I never imagined I would be an actor.

I'm interested not just in projects that I'll be starring in, but producing film and TV that's really quality and great for adults; and when I say 'great for adults,' it doesn't mean without humor, because I'm also interested in doing comedy.

I grew up studying music. I went to conservatory.

I'm an artist at heart.

I started acting almost on a whim to help my music career.

I mean, you know actors, we always want to do something else, something different.

I can only speak as an American, but most journalism here isn't doing its job any more. It's about selling stuff.

'The Wire' really drew on a lot of real-life situations and real-life organizations - it created fiction to make a social statement about reality.

Nothing will ever top 'The Wire.' It was historical. It was black cinema.

Notes are tricky in an audition, because I find, more often than not, my instinct is right.

The African American community is so under-served in the entertainment industry.

When you're in a high-stress situation, dynamics between people can change.

You either get better, or you don't progress.

When I went to drama school, I knew I was at least as talented as other students, but because I was a black man and I wasn't pretty, I knew I would have to work my butt off to be the best that I would be, and to be noticed.