Some of the best advice I was given was that me doing a bad version of me is better than me doing a good version of someone else.

My family was into music. My dad was into music down south. My mom and grandmother were into gospel music so there were all types. That was my inspiration.

Don't try to be someone else. Be yourself.

Just immerse yourself in the culture of the music - it will open some doors for you.

I'm a firm believer that you learn a hell of a lot more from your failures than you do from your successes.

Nowadays it's hard to get somebody to invest the time - everybody wants to be famous rather than be a good musician.

I'm just a restless soul musically.

When you are sitting in a room and somebody does something or says something and a thought comes, an idea or a melody - you have to just grab it while it's there because it will go away.

I like to say that I had a really good musical education because it was inclusive of all styles of music and I like it like that.

You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.

It's a silly fool who thinks killing an animal with one tool is different than killing him with another.

I'm very selective about what I write about, and whom I write about, and how much I write about somebody.

I have some women friends but I prefer men. Dont trust women. There is a built-in competition between women.

Death is a graduation. When we're taught all the things we came to teach, learned all the things we came to learn, then we're allowed to graduate.

The more abstract the truth you wish to teach, the more must you allure the senses to it.

You can be angry and silent, but it's no use - there's no distance in the spirit - besides, my words touch you more softly than my hands.

I'd love to own a bakery at some point. My grandmother could help me run it - she is an amazing baker! I'd also love to do a cookbook.

There is no harsher means of punishment, than to answer malice with kindness.

Please don't make me sound like a crazy hermit, but I don't like crowds or noise.