As a kid, I dreamed about being onstage.

I mean, I know my heart is not clean, and your heart is not clean, and none of our urban hearts are clean. But you can be washed again.

Thank you so much for supporting me from the day I stepped foot into the music industry. It really means something to me to have Maya Angelou speak on my behalf. It also means a lot to have Oprah on my speed dial!

I barely have time for my own children. To adopt more children and not have time for them, that would be poor parenting on my part.

When you come from so many damaged places you don't ever want to spiral back there, so you gotta continue to check yourself.

I decided to start my own label because so many people with talent come to me wanting to know how they can get in the music business.

My career doesn't get harder because when you have something to share, you have something to share. And when it's a trial or a situation that you triumph out of, you have to - because this is the relationship I started with my fans on the My Life album in 1994. You have to share in order for people to see how you came through it, or how you're dealing with having thoughts of doubting yourself. What songs are gonna help you? What lyrics are gonna pull you out of your slump?