“If you started in New York you were dealing with the biggest guys in the world. You’re dealing with Charlie Parker and all the big bands and everything. We got more experience working in Seattle.”

I’m a great believer in letting lyrics just flow out, wherever they come from.

I started imagining this whole different world. It was a society of musicians, a family I hoped I could belong to one day.

I never felt like I had a mother.

Did you know you would become as successful as you have? Hell, no. But you know what? You were prepared, baby.

China’s got a billion people and a hit record over there is a million records. You know that ain’t right.

A song should have all the color and beauty of every rose.

My dream is to put together a performance of the evolution of black music with Cirque du Soleil . I would also like to do street opera and children’s books. But even as I work toward these things, I want to simplify my life.

My earliest memories are being pinned to a fence with a switchblade.

The process is the most beautiful part.

I found this out over the years, that racism is a thinly veiled disguise over economics and money. It really is.

It’s the attitude about life, man. Looking at the light instead of the dark. Looking at love instead of fear.

Young people should travel, and they don’t. You can’t know if you don’t go.

All guys get into music because they love music and they also want to get the girls.

My grandmother had this high-tech security system – a rusty nail she used to lock the door.

The only music I don’t like is bad music.

I’m just a musician and a record producer.

The pursuit of excellence is less profitable than the pursuit of bigness, but it can be more satisfying.

Sometimes your mistakes are you biggest virtues. You learn so much from the mistake. Those things that you think are the worst thing that’s happening to you can somehow turn around and be the greatest opportunity.

Nirvana was huge, but it didn’t appeal to everyone.

Every sequel needs to be bigger and better.

I think everyone has a certain kind of formula in their life. When you deviate from that formula, you’re going to fail big or you’re gonna win big.

The bigger your dreams, the taller the mountains, the more tempestuous the waters you have to cross.

I’m a big believer that, in life, we can’t succeed in everything. Most times, we lose.

The whole deal is when you walk onstage, you’re up there bigger than life. People idolize you.