I grew up listening to Commission, Kirk Franklin and Hezekiah Walker. If I was found listening to any rap, my pops would throw them out, or crush the CDs and tapes - literally.

When I'm in the studio I just try to zone out and not think of whatever is in the industry, if it sounds too much like someone else, I have a tendency to erase it.

I like so many different genres of music that I guess it would be hard for me to pick one person who inspires me when so many people inspire me to make good music.

The only reason I started using samples was because people talked about me not sounding like Kanye or The Heatmakers.

You can't have somebody guide you through everything - some things you have to learn on your own.

I grew up in the church not being able to listen to anything but gospel. So, while [other] people grew up with their parents listening to Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin, I never knew they existed until I was able to listen to what I wanted to.

I just look up to anyone who made music back then because you really had to be a musician. There were no samples or drum machines. Those people back in the day paved the way for people like me.