If we start putting music out constantly where people don't think no more, people go crazy. We're gonna lose the love of heart, of soul. And if the world lose that, I think the world is doomed.

Hip hop music is important precisely because it sheds light on contemporary politics, history, and race. At its best, hip hop gives voice to marginal black youth we are not used to hearing from on such topics.

I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the LGBTQ community for embracing me so tightly and pushing not only my music, but also championing my personal growth. My creative work is heavily influenced by both my Florida roots and the vibrant LGBTQ community.

Everyone reaches their point in time where either they die or they get sick of doing drugs. It started getting debilitating. I enjoy my music a lot better than my drugs.

When I die, I want people to be like, 'Respect the music.' I don't really care if you hate me or like me - what I want badly is the validation and respect of the people.

I make video art pieces, take photographs, and dabble in acting ever since my screen test for 'Memoirs of a Geisha' with Steven Spielberg. But music is my first love and always will be my priority.

I started writing my own symphony. I wrote about a page and a half. My mum and dad took it into music class and gave it, pleased as punch, to the teacher, Miss Montgomery. She played it on the piano for them. So I think they're the only ones that ever heard it.

I was into the music scene, but I was also a bit of a perfectionist and very hard on myself... very dark in that way.

I would never withhold information about the murder of my man Biggie, or anybody else. It's just silly and ridiculous. The accusations are just flying out. All I've been trying to do all my life is to make great music.

Everybody deserves a piece of where they live, in some type of fashion. Music is just my way of preserving that.