I believed that President Obama was a good choice a couple of years ago because I felt that, as a black man, if he could win, it would open up progressive possibilities in this country for a lot of people. That was my major reason for believing his candidacy was a good thing. However, I don't endorse candidates, given the type of work that I do. My job is to hold people accountable.

I don't want the Obama era to be more about symbolism than substance when it comes to black people. I love him, but I love black people even more.

In some states, not even 50 percent of black boys finish high school.

Troubled times do call for troubled songs, songs that unsettle our souls and our spirits unapologetically.

This is not a skill problem, this is a will problem. Does America have the will to make education a priority? We know the things that work. Why don't we scale up those things that do work.

Even behind bars, even on Death Row, you can fail up, because life is about committing ourselves on a daily basis to the best in us. Freedom is a state of mind. Freedom is an attitude. Freedom is a spirit. You may be behind bars, but you still have the capacity to be free.

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