My fans are grown now. They are not expecting me to do the bubblegum pop I did 20 years ago, even though it was pretty substantive. It was saying more than bubblegum pop says today. I am continuing where I left off.

I've had my bubblegum years and I did them well. Now it's time to come back as the woman, artist, and musician that I am without apologizing.

I liked performing, but not the struggle.

I'm a woman with a mission. I've learned to believe in myself, my vision and to do things the way I want them done.

I knew early in life that I wanted a show business career.

We have a tendency in this country that when we say Black it automatically means Black Americans. But that's a big mistake, and that keeps us divided. There are Blacks all over this entire world-even in Africa.

I refuse to let anybody try to typecast me. It's against my nature. I like to continually do different things.