A lot of my success comes from black music. It's something I'm very proud of.

I'm pretty irreverent. There is a lot of need to find humour in life. Although I'd never be as disrespectful to laugh at someone's expense.

I accept that appearance is a big thing in this business. But being around Hollywood and having actor friends and doing music videos, it does make you more aware of how you look. With music videos they send you rough cuts, and in certain frames of me, I just see a nose advert.

It's an important thing to remember where you came from.

Its a combination of melody and lyrics, not one without the other. Its a confluence of these different elements that makes something powerful.

Someone told me there was a publisher that could find a good home for my songs, but I didn't want to give up my pursuit of a career in the business as an artist

I have to be happy in the here and now because every time you start focusing on your legacy you're really setting yourself up for disappointment.