In the first two years of my career, there were a lot of restraints on what I could do. I couldn't wear certain colors of lipstick, like bright pink, dark pink or red; [my lips] had to be natural. Eventually, I stopped communicating with certain people at the label, and did exactly what I wanted to do. And that was to cut my hair, dye it black, change my clothes, change my sound. Really to just express myself.

Even as a child I remember thinking, She can beat me, but she cannot beat my outfit.

Hurt me with the truth,don't comfort me with a lie.

Music is what I love to do, so you'll never have to worry about me not doing that.

Never a failure,always a lesson.

Love is great, love is fine. Out the box, out of line. The affliction of the feeling leaves me wanting more.

It started off really…claustrophobic. I feel like I was really really protected. Really guarded with myself. I feel like they [Def Jam] were giving me the blueprint and I couldn’t get with that