I never was the front man in any bands I played in when I was in college, and I always learned music by myself at home.

I do not think good art comes from comfort. While from a humanistic standpoint I would have much rather been at my home that I own, surrounded by friends and family and controlling my environment completely.

Hip-hop has been the guiding light of my life as a musician and a music fan. It's the one common thread through all of it from the time I bought my first record probably. It's always been there.

I made a note in my head to be aware of things as they were happening, because they might not happen again. Up to that point, I was not really that appreciative of what was going on, or thinking about documenting life in a plainspoken manner. I was talking about my life and writing songs, but then I would go back and listen and they were about dreams, and legends, and metaphors and that was just not my life!

I never looked at being a musician any different than waking up one day and wanting to be an accountant or a lawyer.

You get one chance to make an impression and coasting through is a disservice.

I have some vivid memories of walking around as a child with a cassette tape.