Shakespeare was a man who wrote poetry. I'm a man who writes poetry. Why not compare yourself to the best?

You put the right artist on the right track in the studio and leave the door open to let God in.

Men lie, women lie, numbers dont

Can I hit it in the morning with out giving you have of my dough?

For me, the challenge is just making great albums, because talent - and writing in general - is not tangible. There's no expiration date on it. At the same time, you might wake up tomorrow and be unable to write music.

Kurt Cobain OD'd on heroin before committing suicide, but he also OD'd on fame. Cobain was like Basquiat: They both wanted to be famous, and were brilliant enough to make it happen. But then what? Drug addicts kill themselves trying to get that feeling they got from their first high, looking for an experience they'll never get again. In his suicide note, Cobain asked himself, "Why don't you just enjoy it?" and then answered, "I don't know!" It's amazing how much of a mindfuck success can be.

My brands are an extension of me. They're close to me. It's not like running GM, where there's no emotional attachment.