I feel like the downfall of any person is the second an artist starts celebrating their work themselves, that becomes problematic. And you know, I don't sit there, I don't bask in the awards I've won, you know, read my bank statements, I refuse. To me, that's how you start losing the hunger. So for me personally, I just don't celebrate it. I'm happy, right now.

My first gig was at Radio City Music Hall when I was 13.

Hip-hop is so much about character and caricature that people just see you as a character. Very rarely are you flesh and bone to people.

And even though people like to furrow their brow like they suspect you're not being honest about yourself, the truth is that they worry that you're not serving their idea of you.

During the 2008 election, I made clear to the Obama campaign that I don't think it's wise for me to force my personal political agenda on anyone.

For anyone that's ever had a musical breakthrough in their career, it's always followed by the departure period right after.

At the end of the day, I don't release any records that I'm not proud to put my name on. I never got to that point.