Politicians need to stop the violence because it has become a way of life in Jamaica. It's the thing to do - be violent in Jamaica.

Nas is someone who can communicate with the streets and can still keep it real in terms of being human, he doesn't try to be this super perfect person, but has respect for his history and for his ancestors and for spirituality. So Nas always displayed that in his music, while at the same time keeping it hard and something that you can relate to.

Music is an expression of what's inside of you. And that's how I make music.

Toasting is basically what you call rapping. It came off of playing the beats at the parties, however it be. You find a space in the beat, and you have somebody live just basically saying rhymes over the beat.

When you do an album about Africa, you can't be too superficial.

Music is not like sports, where you can go and do a hundred reps in a gym and come out and be all buffed up.

I grew up in uptown Jamaica; I went to a rich school. I was raised by my mother and my stepfather; they made sure education came before anything. I had a good childhood, grew up spending time with my bigger brothers and sisters. My people are good people. I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of people and culture.