I try to make the audience forget all their problems -- for an hour and a half or so get them out of themselves, and space, and time, and consciousness.

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

Punk Funk means to be one with yourself. To be rebellious, aggressive, able to do and say what you feel at all times, without inflicting mental or spiritual pain.

If I told you Jesus Christ was black you're going to be afraid of me because I'm telling you the truth. That's where I always come from.

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.

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

I wanted my show to look like the fourth of July.