I dont think being black has held me back at all. Being black makes you strong.

You leave home to seek your fortune and, when you get it, you go home and share it with your family.

I used to sing at funeral homes for families that didn't have a vocalist. I didn't get paid. I needed to sing.

My father worked on assembly lines in Detroit while I was growing up. Every day, I watched him do what he needed to do to support the family. But he told me, 'Life is short. Do what you want to do.'

I don't let people use me. That's why I like a small number of people in my life. The more people in my life, the more complex it becomes, so I just try to keep it at a minimum.

If I could be doing anything, I'd be laying on the floor in my birthday suit eating junk food and watching something dumb on TV.

I would make far more money if every song were my own, but I don't write to fill up the album with my songs.