This interview took place in February 2006, which was around the time Jel’s solo album Soft Money was released. Link

Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface, on the Wu-Tang Clan’s song Rules, rapped: “Who the fuck knocked our buildings down?/Who the man behind the World Trade massacres, step up now…” What is your view on certain famous rappers who have come out vocally in support of the war, post 9-11?

I don’t know anything about the Ghostface pro-war stance. But I have a brother in the military, my father was in the military, and his brother was killed in Viet Nam at the age of 19. So I see and understand how people can believe in war and how that helps them deal with death and paranoia and faith. So I don’t know, Ghost might have a family member in the service. But he could also be trying to save face, and get a gig at the White House one day. I don’t know. But I thought he would have been a little more concerned about the climate of Islam against Christianity throughout the world. But what do I know about being famous?