Music is the soundtrack of our lives, it's essential for our lives.

I love my cross-sectioned, cross-cultural audience. Some of them are doing better than the average guy, but my audience has always been people who are struggling to stay in the middle class.

I learned early on that it's heartbreaking to - there's the editor that comes in, and then they have to craft the movie together, and sometimes you give a whole performance that's just been cut up, and maybe it's better for it, absolutely, but you still have to deal with the loss of that.

I feel like I've been successful after being done with the film is when I see it, if I'm embarrassed, if I'm slightly mortified, and if I feel super-vulnerable, I think I did something.

I believe if we make black America better, we make all of America better.

Regardless of your race, religion or political affiliation, never hesitate to question those in authority.

Music is the soundtrack of our lives, it's essential for our lives.