I was born in Dallas, Texas, but I was raised in south Florida. Ice Ice Baby is about that area.

A lot of people think I was an overnight success, but I was an opening act for three or four years, and then I signed my contract with EMI. Then it kind of blew up overnight.

I didn't want the public in my personal life at all - I thought that people might perceive me as too normal, and I'd lose that larger-than-life rock star persona. You've got to protect that!

I own a mortgage company and a real estate company funded by the music. Florida is a kinda gold mine.

When 'Ice Ice Baby' was selling a million records a day, I bought several properties: a home next to Michael J. Fox in L.A., a palace in Miami and a mountain cabin in Utah. Then, a few years later, I took a break from touring, saw that my properties had cobwebs, so I sold them, and - to my surprise - I made a huge profit!

Anything less than the best is a felony.

With the mega-fame came the mega-downfall - you know, with the press and everything - and at a young age, it was very stressful to me.