I mean, Rick James was just a man-made image, the image I created. Just trying to live Rick James almost killed me.

I feel that I have to say something in a song and that it's not just enough to lay down the music.

I didn't even think I would make it that long. I thought I would drug overdose, like Jimi Hendrix. I thank God every day to even be here.

My music is pretty honest. I can't rap on science fiction. Punk is from the street.

I'm too old to do crazy things anymore.

I can't hang out as loose as I used to, but I can still go down Jefferson Avenue and look in the faces of winos, pimps and junkies, all the things I'm made of.

Prison was a blessing. Going to prison was the greatest thing that happened to me. It showed me that I wasn't infallible. It showed me that I was just human. It showed me that I can be back with my ghetto brothers I grew up with and have a good time. It taught me to cool out. It taught me patience. It taught me that I didn't ever want to lose my freedom. It taught me that drugs bring on the devil. It taught me to grow up.