My parents grew up during the Harlem renaissance.

I'm always cracking up when I hear what people think I should be doing.

Voices of the Harlem Renaissance

I came up not understanding that a lot of people didn't start to hear music until they went to college or were turned on by an older brother or sister.

I don't care if it's somebody else's song. Most of the time, you'll find that I'll put my own stamp on it. But I started writing more because, you know, it's easy to regurgitate what somebody else is doing, but it's exciting to be able to come up with your own writing.

It's pretty exciting. An honorary doctorate of the arts. It doesn't get any better.