Aretha Franklin was as important to the civil-rights movement as Malcolm X and Medgar Evers. Artists can choose to take on the tremendous amount of responsibility we have, or choose to ignore it.

When I began my political career, I identified with Malcolm X.

Everyone wants me to be this political person... I'm not Malcolm X.

When I read Malcolm X, I didn't agree with it all, but I inhaled it; I connected to his rage.

Not everyone likes sports. Gandhi and Malcolm X come to mind.

Coming up, the music of my era was very conscious. I grew up on Public Enemy, and it was popular culture to be aware. People were wearing Malcolm X T-shirts and Malcolm X hats. It was a very cool thing to know who Malcolm X was. It was all in the lyrics. It was trendy to be conscious and aware.