I'm a city boy by nature - that's a big-ass oxymoron - but I do appreciate nature to the fullest because they say if you wanna see God just look around. We can't make this, it's all creation, so I appreciate that.

I try to really take my art serious, and pay attention to detail.

I'm a painter, that's what I love to do first and foremost.

I try not to be preachy, I just try to deal with people on their own level, not to try to talk down or up to a person.

I feel like I've been blessed to be able to travel with this music, so I always try to get down with the locals.

I think Islam, for me, helped me see how similar we all are. If my views are not traditional it's because of being raised in American society. Things that are taboo in an Islamic society are magnified in this society: drinking, extramarital affairs, all kinds of stuff like that. I have to apply the human aspect of all our culture dictates . . .

If it's in your personality to get out and talk to people, then you get to see what it is that city has to offer, through the people. A lot of the times with your own eyes you don't get to see that.