“I grew up in an artists community in New York, in a building that was government-subsidised for artists. No one made any money, but they made art for the sake of art.”

In Hollywood, I think I get a bad rap for being a perfectionist. It’s something that’s not always welcomed in Hollywood, because you’re always pushing people and you’re pushing yourself to be the best that you can be.

With age, you get to a place where you don’t want to knock people out. You just want to give people a hug.

I always want another actor to shine in my scene because it makes the film stronger. I would encourage people to scene steal, because filmmaking is a collaborative effort.

My mother is the most supportive mother in the world, she’s magical.

When I’m writing, I’m locking myself in a room. I’m the worst critic in the world. I write something and then I beat myself up. I’m like “Vin, you’re retarded, that makes no sense.”

I’m an actor. I can do whatever I want. As an actor, not everything has to be the most obvious choice. And sometimes, the best thing you can do is to defy expectations.

I’m not really afraid of the dark, except if I’m walking. The thing that scares me the most is the possibility of walking into a wall and busting my lip.

When people believe in you, you can do miraculous things.

When I was a child actor, I had the fear that I was going to be cast as the tree.

I’m going to do my best to channel the character on a spiritual level.

The films that I do are deep, introspective, brooding roles that you’re in this heavy headspace all the time.

I envision the future sunny and with love, harmony and oneness. I think Hollywood is changing.

I’ve directed independent film.

My mom used to say that I became a fighter and a scrapper and a tough guy to protect who I am at my core.

If you think about my filmography, I have never done a movie that a kid could go see, except for Iron Giant, and I’m not even on the screen.

Show me how you drive and I’ll show you who you are.

Being a artist comes with more then just music and videos it comes with a business .

I’ve had mixtapes that have been better than albums I’ve heard from other artists. I take my time; I put my heart into it.

I never think about myself as an artist working in this time. I think about it in macro.

You don’t hear no artists from Compton showing vulnerability.

As an artist myself I don’t like to be preached. I want to enjoy myself, so I kind of use that perspective to make music.

An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way.

I can’t say any artist inspired me, because I’m inspired by the things that go on around me.

I love, love, love just being hands on at all times in the studio.