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.

My only job is to be happy. So for everybody that cares about me and is not trying to be all up in a celebrity's business, just know that I'm happy. My son is happy. We enjoy our lives.

I'm not interested in being commodified. I'm not into being sold. I'm not a slave.

I believe the relationship you have with your government is not so different to a love relationship.

People is, I think, it's their nature - some people's nature, in a way, to be angry or jealous or just spiteful about somebody else's blessings.

When I sing, I have to live in that moment, so my audience can feel that. That is my reason for doing art.

Sometimes, for principle, your gonna have to kick some ass.