I'm a business man and the reason I linked up with a major was because I understand they have that reach that I can't get no matter how hot I get in the streets. It's not always about money because I been had money. I want to be on TV and win awards. I want to be number one. You need a label to get through barriers.

With each project, whether it's an album or a mixtape, I try to learn more in the process.

I was blessed with the talent. God gave me the gift to put words together and make popular songs.

I'm a real dude from a real place and I never express myself through social sites. I don't feed into it, man. That's not real life.

It was special with me being from Memphis and knowing the history of the venue, knowing all of the artists who performed in the Orpheum before me. Even having the idea to approach it was ambitious on my part, but I thought they would turn me down at first.

The first CD said exactly what it was. I was just in the streets hustling. I come from a family of hustlers.

The kitchen is where you put all the ingredients together. The kitchen is where you prepare the plan and put your recipe together. No matter what you do in life, you have to have a plan and put it together.