Not one ounce of my self worth depends on your acceptance of me.

I'm a tremendous believer and supporter in hip-hop and rap.

You have to know that your real home is within.

Every day you must be able to say, I have to get up because I'm needed by someone. As long as you have that, you're healthy.

I got a scholarship to Seattle University and I was writing arrangements for singers and everybody. But the music course was too dry and I really wanted to get away from home.

I started imagining this whole different world. It was a society of musicians, a family I hoped I could belong to one day.

I don't deserve a Songwriters Hall of Fame Award. But fifteen years ago, I had a brain operation and I didn't deserve that, either. So I'll keep it.