I learned [playing Chuck Berry] that there's something to be said for the courage of conviction, that sense of belief, being bold enough to believe in your vision. And there's a quote that really fits his particular energy. It says - they say don't go where the path may lead, but go where there's no path and leave a trail. I think that's exactly what Chuck did, you know. It's an inspiration to a lot of folks, not just musicians, but people everywhere.

You can positively affect and change a social circumstance with art, and it’s vital that a change happens now.

Record companies are not necessarily interested in you realizing your artistic dream. The bottom line is that they got to sell records.

I'm really quite bipolar, and the depressed times, when everything felt like night, sometimes you get to such a low point that you physically beat at it until it bleeds - as you would say - bleeds till sunshine. You get to a point where you say, 'I will not take it anymore! I'm gonna do something drastic if I stay this depressed. I've got to break out of there!'

You have to experience life, make observations, and ask questions.

I want to be necessary and do good works. I ain't here to waste nobody's time, because I don't want you to waste mine.

Hip-hop is the last true folk art.