You start singing by singing what you hear. So everyone, when they first start singing, they naturally are singing like whatever they're hearing, because that's the only way you learned how to sing. So when I was growing up on Lauryn Hill, when I started singing her songs, I literally trained my voice to be able to do runs.

Sex is biological, but gender is mental.

Sometimes I make songs about girls, and I say 'he,' or I'll make songs about guys, and I say 'she,' or sometimes they're exactly what they're about. I feel like it just allows me to get a lot more perspective.

I think writing and singing go together, but I treat them as two separate careers because I write for others. If I'm writing for myself, I prefer to be with the producer. And then we can vibe out and throw ideas back and forth, and I'll basically let the producer play me a bunch of beats until I vibe with one.

To read of a detective's daring finesse or ingenious stratagem is a rare joy.

There is no substitute for hard work. There is no such thing as an overnight success or easy money.

When there's so much freedom - financially and otherwise - smart kids get themselves into trouble. My parents did a good job of sheltering me from the negative aspects of wealth and success.

Women, like men, should try to do the impossible. And when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others.