If someone had said to me ten years ago "Yo, we have this role of this pimp who wants to be a rapper, he lives in Memphis", I'd be like, "Really?" But then when you read it and you see it, you say "That's a great role."

I've been in a situation where I was after the money.

A lot of people come to quote-unquote Hollywood thinking that all they just have to be different or do something outlandish or have a huge personality to become a star. But I think that if you just focus on the craft, you'll have a better chance at longevity.

A lot of times, women don't get the male perspective in regards to a relationship, what men go through when they're not really dealing well.

At one point, people thought that Eddie Murphy would only reach one sector of the audience, but now everyone sees everything Eddie Murphy does.

To me the work is so much more interesting, the parts that don't require you just to take your shirt off.

I think there's a bit of me in every character. Basically it just depends on what happens with the character.