“As blacks, all we got is sports and entertainment. That’s the only way out the hood sometimes.”

Petersburg, growing up at home, all by my family and friends, Petersburg really, city-raised me, you know everybody there.

I’ve never really been settled. I don’t think I’ve ever known what it was like to be a person that was used to sitting still. I think it’s given me the ability to detach from any situation.

It wouldn’t be me if I didn’t get a little nasty.

The first tattoo I got was when I was 17, and it’s a cross on my bicep with ‘Only God Can Judge Me’ underneath.

Style is a display of character. It’s also a great way to express yourself and the ladies like it.

I think ‘selfies’ are fun and expressive, as long as you don’t get carried away with it.

In my dressing room, you’ll definitely find some Starbursts and Skittles. I have a lot of candles that remind me of home, and a humidifier for my voice. I also have some digital Kodak albums where I have pictures of my friends and family.

A lot of people perceive women as sexy based on their outer appeal. But there’s no way to mistake if a woman is confident.

Singing wasn’t a reality for me, until other people started noticing I sounded good.

I think clothes are very much a representation of your attitude and the way you feel. I really love to be dressed down, though.

Versace has always been a brand that I’ve loved, a brand that has supported me. I’ve been wearing Versace for so long, I come in here and I have friends here, and they really support what it is that I do. Our partnership has been great.

I take pride in working very hard. You need to understand that hard work doesn’t instantly pay off. My career grew gradually and taught me a lesson every step of the way.

I’m a guy that appreciates spontaneity and a woman being genuine and different.

I like hair each and every way. I like to give scalp massages – to pull and tug on it. But my favorite style is long, real hair in a dusty blonde-brown color.

I grew up poor, but I didn’t really know it because of amazing places like the Salvation Army where we got a lot of our Christmas presents from.

Life in general you gotta believe in you…. you live your life for you, you do what you do for you, because the moment you start to live your life for others you’ll lose yourself within that. Focus on what it is you want to have. Go get it.

People can tell you to keep your mouth shut, but that doesn’t stop you from having your own opinion.

You should always own a black dress because no one ever remembers a black dress.

I’m not a handsome guy, but I can give my hand to someone who needs help. Beauty is in the heart, not in the face.

Say something. Have the courage. Have the backbone. Get in the way. Walk with the wind. It’s all going to work out.

Black and Third World people are expected to educate white people as to our humanity.

Me only have one ambition, y’know. I only have one thing I really like to see happen. I like to see mankind live together – black, white, Chinese, everyone – that’s all.

We need racial justice to achieve climate justice.

To shipbrokers, coal was black gold.