You're not gonna get through life without being worshipful or devoted to something. You're either devoted to your job, or to your desires. So the best way to spend your life is to try to be devoted to prayer, to Allah.

It's possible and available to any artist to be himself or herself on their own terms, to be accepted and embraced by black people. You don't have to be a thug to get love from black people.

All the things that are worth doing, take time.

My Umi said shine your light on the world, shine your light for the world to see

I like to read the 'Financial Times' when I'm traveling. 'Economist.' 'Ad Busters.'

I'm an independent thinker. And I'm not the poster child for any movement. I'm trying to support whatever's right no matter where it is.

Good art provides people with a vocabulary about things they can't articulate.