Every summer, around late July and into August, I find myself in Europe, performing at any festival that will have me.

I think Naomi Klein was very astute with her book 'Shock Doctrine.' We make money on disaster.

While they flail about, you will remain calm in the knowledge that you possess strength from within.

I forged myself out of a vacuum. I crawl along the highway on hacked off stumps year after year. Some wonder how and why. I never do.

When I die, the world dies with me. I'd really like to leave it better than how I found it and I'm doing what I can to effect that.

I think that one of the hardest things in the world to be is a black male. I mean everyone hates your guts. White men are afraid of you. White women are afraid of you. The cops hate you. The government wants you dead. Your own people want to shoot you for what you got. You just can't get over it. And even if you are able to get over it you're forced to do it on the white guy's terms.

Seasonal change in Los Angeles is often a very subtle thing. It's not as if we finally stop having to shovel the snow out of our driveways and can put our parkas back in the closet.