When I did the album Electric Circus, not only was it not commercially received. But even the critics and hip-hop community was like "What is this?" At that moment, I could've been written off. But I had to believe because I really love what I do. I'm passionate about it. If 12 million recognize it, that's beautiful. If 12,000 do, that's beautiful. But I'm always going to put my heart and soul in it and I'm going to shoot for the stars and go for the highest levels of recognition and creativity. I definitely doubted myself at the time. But it always come back to believing what I do.

Whether the people in Haiti, the young kids in Chicago that [are] going through violence, or whether you're in Atlanta or L.A. or Europe - it's not even color barriers for me - I go to where I know there's a lot of turmoil and pain.

No matter what walk of life you're from, you can appreciate the music - songs [can] resonate in your soul and your heart.

It's hard to see blessings in a violent culture

My mom has obviously had a powerful influence on my life and her voice can describe certain things that I couldn't see in myself.

I bathe in basslines, rinse in riffs, dry in drums

I embody EVERYTHING from the Godly to the party.