I want to make music that I know that ten years from now, you can put it on and say "This is a great record".

I believe in the synergy and sharing platforms.

I'm usually writing or producing for other people. I'm like Burger King most of the time; I let people have it their way like "You want it like this? I'll give it to you like this."

Prince didn't want to sound like Michael Jackson. Neither of them wanted to sound like Luther Vandross. They didn't want to sound like David Bowie. They were all different, but brilliant.

People are getting record deals and they can barely sing. We have these new terms for artists that can dance, but they can't sing.

I just encourage everyone to make real music and it will fuel the engine and the machine. Just make it real and put your heart into it. Don't make it because you heard someone on the radio.

The major labels, they roll with whatever is making money. I don't know if R&B turned into making banjo music and it sounded like blue grass, they'll buy it if it's selling.

I think when the music and the product is amazing, people buy it.

If you're going to be called a musicianship, you have to be able to play.

The one thing I always loved about Michael Jackson: he had fun records, but he's also going to make some important statement with the music as well. He's not going to forsake the culture.

You can't say that people don't love music anymore because they do. If we say that all the music stopped, if music stops now, the world can't handle that. We need our music.

The only kind of universe that I can even begin to conceive is an inconceivable one.

When fear and suffering are disliked by me and others equally what is so special about me that I protect myself and not the other?

I personally go to the airport looking like a homeless person, because I think people will leave me alone. But I dress myself with my luggage - all my luggage matches.

I don't know about you, but in my neighborhood, they just opened a Starbucks... IN A STARBUCKS!!!

Angry and choleric men are as ungrateful and unsociable as thunder and lightning, being in themselves all storm and tempest; but quiet and easy natures are like fair weather, welcome to all.

The secret to success is to offend the greatest number of people.

Swallowing angry words before you say them is better than having to eat them afterwards.

Simple English is no one’s mother tongue. It has to be worked for.

And if it feels good... Feel it!