Artists don't always know. Almost every song I ever recorded that was a hit at the majors that the promotional people picked I didn't think it would be a hit. I was wrong every time!

I always had this energy level that made me want to come to New York.

Now I get exposure first with people directly in the clubs. This is a unique situation for me.

I think music all the time.

Most artists have contracts directly with the record company, and when they do music, all of their music is owned by the record company. But I did mine through a production company.

I don't think I'm really so unique. If every black person looked at their life they would quickly discover that they have been influenced by every type of music prevalent in America.

DJs and people in the street know what they like.