I started off as a recording engineer and a beatmaker. I was this skater kid that would skateboard to auditions, and then I would use the money I'd make and buy a bunch of equipment and make a bunch of beats. I still am that kid, just with a little more money.

I am more vintage than I am high fashion.

I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved who I am not. Even if you're not accepted, at least you are still yourself.

Before 'The Vampire Diaries,' I was making beats, which is how I got will.i.am's attention, and I went on tour with him.

I'm still somebody that listens to a lot of James Brown, a lot of The O'Jays, a lot of TLC... in that era, producers had more musicianship.

I just want to make sure that I'm taking roles that are positive, real, honest reflections of African-Americans because I do think the media can put African-American women in the background. Then, unfortunately, what happens is, subconsciously, our culture begins to assess that as reality.