LL Cool J was a rapper-turned-actor, and I also relate to him because he was sort of a ladies' man and had a female fan base, but yet he's a positive dude. You never read about him getting into trouble or going to jail.

Guys like Todd Bridges never overcame being a child star. You can't have any big failures. I've always felt regular. I played organized ball at the rec league. At 13, they told me I sold 3 million copies. I didn't know what that meant.

A young man who came from Columbus, Ohio and made it, and who wants every other young man and young woman, black or white, to know that if I could do it, they could do it. Me and my fans grew up together, and I believe they know I'm a walking billboard and proof of that. That's what I see when I look in the mirror.

I don't want to mess up my life. You only get one shot. I don't want to let my fans or anybody else down. So, I always think before I act. And as long as I do that, I'll be okay.

I don't prepare for my roles. I don't watch movies to get inspired. I don't dig deep. I'll never be that type of actor, and I doubt that I ever will be.

Don't follow in my footsteps. Create your own legacy! Be you! Do what you do! Stay focused! Stay positive about whatever goals you want to accomplish! Don't ever let anybody tell you that you can't, because you always can. To this day, I have people trying to discourage me, and telling me I should hang it up. I call them clowns.

All these Lil' rappers, I'm just kind of getting real irritated by it. I said, 'You know what? Drop the Lil'. Forget it. I'm Bow Wow.'