I feel it's my job to continue being a student of music if I want to continue being an artist and a producer of other artists. You have to keep filling your mind with other music. You have to be ahead of the curve.

I felt like I didn't have [any] pizzazz, and a lot of girls say I'm out of this world, so I was like I guess I'm from Mars.

And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while

I came to California and got signed at a young age. And it's not like you see in the movies, where you start rubbing shoulders with Timbaland and Pharrell, and you become a giant pop star.

I love artists like Prince, who hold on to that element of mystery.

I'm a big fan of the young 1950s Elvis when he would just go onstage and control the whole environment.

I don't throw lavish parties or nothing like that - I just want a bed and a TV.