What is being black? It's making the most of your life, not taking a single moment for granted. Taking something that's seen as a struggle and making it work for you, or you'll die inside. Not to say that my struggle is like the collective struggle of black America. But maybe my struggle is similar to one black dude's.

Hopefully people can see my music is tethered to my brain.

Sometimes I get so bold and I'm so confident about what I'm doing that I actually try to be more of a dork because it's a really liberating feeling to experience what it's like to not care.

The night I was recognized for 'Daughters' at the Grammys was the night this record started. I knew I had bought the time to learn everything I needed before I started this one. 'Continuum' is not a shot in the dark, it's not a guesstimation.

I'd like to think the best of me was still hiding up in my sleeve.

It's very liberating when you finally realize it's impossible to make everyone like you.

Anybody who's made it will tell you, you can make it. Anyone who hasn't made it will tell you, you can't