Hip-hop is a vehicle.

I like the fact that I can rep New York, but my style does not - I'm not trapped in a New York thing. I can do art songs with other artists and it's seamless.

Hip hop has always been, for us, for artists who are pure to the craft - any place overseas, whether it's Australia, any place in Asia, Germany, Africa, it becomes something where you can still go and work. Hip hop is an import culture. We're spoiled by it here. It's homegrown.

I try to count the blessings rather than the problems.

Why give you the cure when the disease makes money?

As an artist, I have to be a leader of my fans, not like follow them. Because if I chose to follow them, you know, they could do it.

You gotta eat right, you gotta have healthy habits, you know, and balance out your decadence with a healthy lifestyle during the day.