I need my man to be my homie.

Everybody is supposed to be a part of their own community.

I chose No. 1 Ladies' Detective, or I'll say it chose me, and it was an absolute blessing, for the experience of being in Africa for seven months and learning so many different things, from languages to foods to greetings. On so many levels, it was an incredible experience.

For me, hair is an accoutrement. Hair is jewelry. It's an accessory.

There are black marriages that are still going strong 40 years later. You hear so many myths that there aren't any people making it, but there are. As long as there are some, there's hope.

That's what I enjoy most about my music, that it heals in its own time and makes us look at ourselves in its own time.

My heart and prayers go out to all single moms because it's tough, and I can't imagine any teenager dealing with a baby and all those hormones raging.