Erykah Badu

It's almost like a lot of black people in America, a lot of young black men, are born with this cloud over their heads. It's their penitentiary cloud, this philosophy we all have, that it's harder for us.

I've had two children. I've had three boyfriends. I've had a lot of things happen that can change your opinions and values and philosophies.

There are millions and billions of atoms of memory of all kinds of musical themes in me.

I'm a performance artist first; I'm a recording artist second.

Well, if you look at all of the cultures in America, this is a great opportunity for us to really get acquainted with the rest of the world. America is the only place you can do that, but we don't have sense enough to take advantage of that.

Being honest is my job. That's what music is for me.

I love being an entertainer - not really fond of being a celebrity.

I'm not trying to win an award for being the best vegetarian, just want to be healthy. Take a salt bath. Do things that my parents were never able to do. I'm blessed to do anything I want, so I decide to take the best care of my body and my family in the same way. Holistically. Vitally.

I'm kind of a recluse when it comes to going outside.

The kind of music or the kind of arrangements that I do, the kind of musicians I choose, is just what I like to hear.

Artists need some kind of stimulating experience a lot of times, which crystallizes when you sing about it or paint it or sculpt it. You literally mold the experience the way you want. It's therapy.

From then on, I realized this is what I want to do, what I'm supposed to do: Giving energy and receiving it back through applause. I love it. That's my world. I love it. I enjoy it. I live for it.