By the time I was a teenager, when I went outside the house, it was about hip-hop all the time. Nothing but hip-hop, block parties.

My journey continues, because I've, you know, conquered a lot. And I know how to conquer the rest.

In the studio you can really concentrate on performing the song where as on stage you also have to worry about connecting with so many people, they're definitely different.

There are people out there who want to provoke me and bring back the old Mary but I'm not giving them the satisfaction.

Yonkers made me strong and made me believe in myself, because so many people would doubt you and not believe. There are people that would believe in you, but the environment was so harsh, nobody wanted you to get out, you know?

As a kid, I was in love with Michael Jackson, and I just knew I was going to marry him someday.

My responsibility to God is to live. That's the gift he gave me. What I do with it is up to me.