I was appearing on the reality show R&B Divas and when I started to fall apart it was very public. But I am glad that it happened that way. It made me see myself. And it made me transparent.

The beatings, the beatings were so normal to me. The abuse was just routine. I didn't wake up the next day and say, 'Dre, why did you hit me?' We never talked about it the next day. Never.

I had to survive a lot. I didn't premeditate my life. Life just happened as it did. And I had to figure it out as I went along.

Do you see how Jerry Heller made it work? That is how he combined what we did to make the rap music into mass music. That's exactly how it happened.

My most important title is still “mom-in-chief.

In my own life, in my own small way, I have tried to give back to this country that has given me so much,” she said. “See, that’s why I left a job at a big law firm for a career in public service.

Well, right now, my music is - it's just happy. I'm not in a relationship, but I know who I am now. I have wisdom. I have the power of knowing who I am. That's huge.