Because of what I've chosen to do for my work in the world, almost every time that there's something that I'm afraid to do that I need to do, I have to do it in front of other people. It makes me feel exposed.

The thing that makes me most vulnerable is romantic relationship.

I'm African American, I'm a lot of other things, a musician and an artist. But that woman part holds the most pain for me. And therefore, obviously, the most lessons.

I started dealing with my emotional pain by writing. I always had been a writer, but just not songs. Saying things on paper that I would never, ever say, and saying things to myself, admitting things to myself, about myself and my personality, just putting it on paper, is how I deal with emotional pain.

In a world of smoke and ashes, you are milk and honey

God is infinitely creative, and everyone's different, and everyone has a different path, a different lesson, a different song, a different face, a different voice.

I choose to be authentic in everything I do