A lot of the time in music you get to see the place you play, or around the place you play, but that's it.

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 . . .

I'm a believer in that you can't really choose your audience, your audience chooses you.

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.