I had to learn to forgive. I couldn't sleep at night. I got ulcers. I had to let go, to let God deal with it. No one wants to be mad in their own house. I didn't want to be angry my whole life. It takes so much energy out of you to be mean.

It's not painful to relive it. I'm comfortable with my position in American history.

Why can't we all just get along?

As far as having peace within myself, the one way I can do that is forgiving the people who have done wrong to me. It causes more stress to build up anger. Peace is more productive.

Anybody can get bigheaded once they know the seat cannot be pulled out from under them.

I don't see how you can grow as a world without being able to get along with people. So many people is hating out there and it's not making a difference.

Over the years, a lot of rappers - Lil' Wayne, Ice Cube - have used my name in their songs. I'm a real touchstone of history.