I wanted to show the world, and myself too, what I can do. I came up in the world of Philadelphia soul, but I'm fluent in a lot of languages musically and I like working with different people from different generations.

What I do isn't black music, it's just my music.

I'm in the trenches; I do the best work I can always do. Having said that, the way that what I do converges with the outside world is fascinating to me. Because it ebbs and flows. People's interest and understanding, it changes all the time.

I have to say I have never been comfortable with somebody else telling me what to do - in any way.

Nobody's going to sell 10 million records by not working hard.

If you take a bunch of superstars and put them in a room where they don't have their assistants and entourage, it's funny to see what happens.

I think Philadelphia has been underrated over the years as a musical region.