When I was a kid, hip-hop had that effect on me, it was escape and it showed me a different way of life.

At first you're doing it for yourself, it's about what sounds good to you. It's about expressing yourself. Then you get comfortable as an artist and you find yourself and people get familiar.

With 'Blue Slide Park' I wanted to have a number one album, and I did do it, so I'm not mad at it, but that was its goal.

Your life's short, don't ever question the length / It's cool to cry, don't ever question your strength.

I used to just think about what my fans wanted all the time. But it just started feeling weird to me. I want to just show everyone who I am and stick to my vision. I have to trust myself.

Sometimes I see the world for how f-ked up it really is. I tell myself I'll be the one to make a change in it. I could die tonight; not make it to the sunrise, then I couldn't hear the pain in it.

My ideology was, if I just make very happy music, very happy music, then people will forget about whatever their problems are. I will forget about my problems.