I want to take all the pain that I feel and celebrate and turn it around.

We have to truly become a united people of the United States of America, and divisiveness cannot make that happen.

Rap to me is a modern blues. But until we really confront the truth, we are going to have a Tupac or Eminem or Biggie Smalls to remind us about it - and thank God.

One of many joyful moments with BB King was him letting me play 'Lucille.' ...The thrill will never be gone.

Clearly, love is love, between a man and a woman, a woman and a man, a woman and a woman and a man and a man.

The exciting thing about a songwriter is that, you know, particularly if you're a songwriter and an artist and you play the parts and you're producing it and all that, you have various times you have to critique what you do.

Through the ages all great men have taught truth and happiness can't be bought.