You know, there are artists who are 35 and up that still make rap and that still works for them. I don't know if I want to be that guy.

I'm all into my rap grooves. I'm checking out artists like Lil' Wayne and Trick Daddy.

There were people who incorporated melody before me, but I would deem myself the first person to successfully rap and sing.

I don't really have a gimmick or a 'thing.' I'm one of the few artists who gets to be himself every day.

When I'm writing, I'm thinking about how the songs are going to play live. Fifty bars of rap don't translate onstage. No matter how potent the music, you lose the crowd. They want a hook; they want to sing your stuff back to you.

People like to build their own story about my life. I don't know if it makes them feel better, or if it makes it okay for them to not like me, but the last thing I grew up as was rich.