If you want to say something profound, writing from your heartbeat is different than writing from the loud voices you get from music. If they're rapping from noise, it's about robbing people. It's that simple.

We need to hear everyone. We need dialogue between police and the community. They're angry. They're hurt. A dialogue can cause a shift in consciousness in the person if he's understanding you and listening.

I'm always surrounded by smart talented people. I had talented partners. Stan Latham for one. Talent scouts.

I don't believe that people create their own visions. Rather, I believe that visions are actually God's way of communicating with us.

Music is the noise that surrounds the stillness of the art form.

I want to promote poetry to the point where you got all the baldhead kids running around doing poetry, getting the music out of the way and having only words, the spoken word, and then see what happens.

I don't miss my prayers and I don't miss my yoga. Those things are important to me.