In The Sellout I tried to capture how we can talk and see race, how we see urbanity, and how we see our history.

If all the world's a stage, I want to operate the trap door.

If all the students who slept through lectures were laid end to end, they'd all be a lot more comfortable. If all the world's a stage, I want to operate the trap door.

Don't write about trying to change the world, just write about a changed world or a world that's not changing. Let that do the work.

It makes me think about how you hear these young people say, "I see you, man." Or even if you go and watch some basketball game over the summer and the announcer goes, "I see you," and you see that player smile. You know what I mean? That thing of just being recognized, especially when you do a little subtle thing. I don't know.

I just rode cross-country and the thing I noticed is just how afraid everyone is, and how nervous and scared and angry people are. From my point of view, I don't think it's all necessarily justified, but I think that's easy for me to say.

If I'm in LA, I'm close to home, and that just brings up all these other things, good and bad. There is a reason why I am not there .