The Internet helps break down so many barriers. People start to see what's happening around the world, they feel more of a oneness and they get information all at the same time, so that helps.

In hip-hop, I wasn't very focused on delivering a message. It was just a string of lines that didn't connect. What I wanted to do is write stories... and affect someone's emotions with that song. I think as a soul singer, I'm able to accomplish that.

What do you actually need? Food, clothing and shelter. Everything else is entertainment.

We live in an era of consumerism and it's all about desire-based consumerism and it has nothing to do with things we actually need.

Compassion can change a lot of things, including the world. Young people especially need to know that, because they're the future.

I continue to write songs that are topically related to social, political and economic issues of our time, but I also recognize that onstage, I have a lot of fun and audiences have a lot of fun, so I'm trying to package the messages in music and sounds that are fun to perform and fun to listen to.

Salsa, classic rock, soul music, jazz... all of that was a part of my education in making hip-hop music.