When you're an artist, you can only do your own stuff. Even if you only write for other people, you're really more focused on yourself. So while everybody's out touring, I'm working on records.

I do music based upon who I like and who I think has the potential to win. I don't really judge them by "Oh somebody is hot right now". If I think the music is dope and I think the potential is there, I want to do it.

I really want to work with Rufus Wainwright. Michael Stipe from R.E.M. I would love to work with Kanye West.

Brandy is one of my favorite vocalists. Jay-Z is my favorite emcee outside of Biggie.

AC/DC, Def Leppard, Alice Cooper - I learned stories of all these guys. That's when I fell in love with Queen, which is one of my favorite bands of all time... I started paying attention to what made music good. I started paying attention to why I liked it.

It's a gift that I have and I became good at it. When I heard my first song I didn't even know that I could write songs.

I watch artists say they wrote all these songs and don't mention anybody else who was involved, and that's fine. I don't expect an artist to give me credit. I know that they're gonna take the credit for everything. But, it's my job to give myself that exposure and not make excuses, not grow bitter.