Growing up in an Ethiopian household allowed me to feel like I had an audience before I had an audience.

It is very rare that I am just coming up with melodies off the top of my head. I usually am responding to something - it could be chains dragging on the floor - but I am usually responding to something.

Growing up, Missy Elliot and Janet Jackson were definitely major references.

Most of my friends, growing up, were upper-middle-class white kids, so it was a different reality at home both culturally and linguistically. It created a lot of insecurities for me, but it also did a lot of amazing things that I didn't know were happening at the time.

My experience on 'Jarhead' was life changing.

September 11 impressed upon us that life is a precious gift. Every life has a purpose. And I think we all have a duty to devote at least a small portion of our daily lives to ensuring that neither America nor the world ever forgets September 11.

I didn't for a moment doubt the choice, but if life is ever fearsome, it is truly fearsome then.

I don't think you can come into your wisdom until you have made mistakes on your own skin and felt them in reality of your own life.