I think when you're younger you have a more black-and-white view of things. You're more exclusively dedicated.

You have a deeper connection with people who you have shared experiences with and shared pain.

The thing with me is, I'm from a rap background so I'm not really a traditional singer in that sense.

I've always had good support of parents for doing what I wanted to do. When it became music they were just as supportive as well.

I have an urban background, but I need melody, I need a song, so I try to mix and match and keep it fluid.

When a song comes from a real story and from a real place I think it comes across to people. That's important.

I believe the things I love inwardly will be received by the right people outwardly. I believe that what I believe in will be received well. I try to keep that as a foundation to what I do.

Some people say that music isn't something you are; it's something you do. It's having a constant desire to share and express. But I believe it's something you are. To me it's more inward.

Nakedness of what you do is exactly who you are, and that's how it should come across.

The spirit of divinity lives in you. The power is unlock by faith, hope and courage.

Genius is never understood in its own time.

I believe Facebook is going all the way. They're going to reach a billion members and will be the biggest company in the world. It will be a platform everyone goes on the Internet through.

It's very important to know the history and region going into it.

The nativism behind the push to repeal or amend the Fourteenth is ugly and obvious.

It is easy to see the beginnings of things, and harder to see the ends.

There is something beautiful about photography; it allows the self to be reunited with the world.

..and me holding this moment that was as fragile as a bird in my hands

American art, like America, must wait and live a while longer.

Now you can't even carry a nail clipper on a plane. Are they afraid you're going to go..."All right! Give me the plane or the b*tch loses her cuticle." ?