The good thing about movies is that they're subjective. You can connect to different themes depending on your own perspective.

I don't have any regrets. If I could have talked to my 19- or 20-year-old self, I would have said, 'You're going to be fine. It ain't that serious!'

You just have to connect with people who believe in your vision and who will work with you and advance your cause.

I want to see 10 female rappers getting regular rotation. It can't be all about a man's opinion.

I lost my brother when I was 22. He was only 24. I was always the kind of person to live on the edge, but after that, it made me feel like I could really die. It can really happen. Before then, I never thought it could happen to me or my family.

I always loved all kinds of music. I would watch musicals a lot as a kid, on TV, watch the Fred Astaire movies. I'd watch 'The Wizard of Oz.' I was a big Jerry Lewis fan, and they'd have these big bands and someone singing - some siren, or some guy singing some gorgeous song. I was always enamored of that style of music.

You do silly things for love sometimes and not-so-smart things for love.