I was with PolyGram; that was the big label that I was with for the longest, like 12 years.

But I did mine through a production company. All the music I did, I gave to the production company. Then the production company would give the record company the album. I used to do all my albums like that. It was fantastic. But now, understand, I have never planned to do anything with these other tapes. The one that are released, like the Virgin Ubiquity you have there, I wasn't going to do anything with that music. One day, I was talking to this guy that owns BBE over in England, and I said I've got some tapes and stuff that you might be interested in, and he went berserk.

The true beauty of music is that it connects people. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers.

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.

I was being an artist, being sensitive and technical as artists are. I'm sure Leonardo Da Vinci did that. Artists don't always feel the same as others feel about their work.

I was with PolyGram; that was the big label that I was with for the longest, like 12 years.

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