“The idea of recognising your strengths and using them in as versatile a way as you can is cool.”

Of course awards matter.

There’s just some magic in truth and honesty and openness.

I believe that I’m one of the best in the world at what I do, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted to be.

We were poor. But my mom never accepted that. She worked hard to become a residential contractor – got her master’s with honors at the University of New Orleans. I used to go to every class with her. Her father was my paternal figure.

I’m in this business to be creative – I’ll even diminish it and say to be a content provider.

I’m big on what’s in good taste.

My TV ain’t HD, that’s too real

I respect Drake not only as a creative person but as a business mind as well. I think Drake’s important.

I don’t intend to stop making music.

I booked my first studio at like 12 or 13. Somewhere in that season of my life, singing along with the radio became me wanting to be on radio.

I won’t touch on risky, because that’s subjective. People are just afraid of things too much. Afraid of things that don’t necessarily merit fear.

Those who are heartless, once cared too much.

Smile, it’s easier than explaning why you’re sad.

Don’t feel sad over someone who gave up on you, feel sorry for them because they gave up on someone who would have never given up on them.

How we experience memory sometimes, it’s not linear. We’re not telling the stories to ourselves. We know the story; we’re just seeing it in flashes overlaid.

It’s cool to be recognised by your peers.

I want to make pop cool again, and the only way I can do that is by being ambitious and grand.

I’m a really artistic person, and so, with the live stuff, there’s a lot that I think is really cool.

Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.

We chose it because we deal with huge amounts of data. Besides, it sounds really cool.

My perfect guy wears converse, is totally laid back, and doesn’t worry about being cool.

I don’t want people at my shows to come out and say, ‘I just saw a cool show.’ I want them to say, ‘I had fun at the show.’

What inspires me about rap is that it’s written in an almost poetic way. I just think it’s so cool.

I’m not going to say I’m cool, because I don’t really feel that. I just don’t care at all, and I guess that’s what people think is cool.