I understand people have to go to work and earn money and bring up kids, but I always thought, "Why can't I just do what I want to do?"

It's nice to just do my hobby and be able to live.

My uncle was a music producer and even he'd tell me to get a proper job. I tried to get him to give me five grand to make an album - it didn't happen.

I want to move away from sampling records and just have it be quite minimal. I don't want any more hip-hop beats in there.

I'm a long way off finishing the LP, but I've got an idea in my head of exactly how I want it to look and sound.

Maybe I should disappear and not make anymore music. I mean, I think I'd take it really badly if I got slayed.

I was really into hip-hop as a teenager. I dressed up like Tupac with baggy jeans and a dodgy bandanna around my head. I was pretty confused at that time.

There's just so much stuff that sounds like Flying Lotus now - I really like what he does, but I don't want to be like him. The new stuff is more experimental.

I'm more confident in my music now because people are saying it's good - I'm trying to believe it, but it's very difficult. I don't know if it's going to end in disaster.

I usually find stuff that I hope no one really knows or cares about. If I'm ripping off something that's already brilliant, what's the point?

I have loads of stuff that never came out because I really don't think it's good enough.

Never be afraid to meet to the hilt the demand of either work, or friendship - two of life's major assets.

I wasn't the greatest reporter in the world, but I wasn't starting at zero.

In not having an appointment at Harvard, I'm in the company of a great many people whose work I admire tremendously, in particular women of color.

The writing process is very much like being in a dark tunnel, and you don't really know what you will end up with until you have created it.

My whole thing is loyalty. Loyalty over royalty; word is bond.

Poverty is no sinne. [Poverty is no sin.]

In a high school, the norms act to hold down the achievements of those who are above average, so that the school's demands will be at a level easily maintained by the majority.

Once I've accepted a role, I'll let my parents and my sisters read it because they find it entertaining.

Hatred and sorrow are power. They are yours to control. All you have to do is turn them into strength, and use that strength to move forward.

People expect me to be thin and perfect... I'm not.