As Far As My New York Influence,

I Think People Are Into Me Because Of My Music Choices And My Musicality.

So I Think Hip-hop Is Moving And Is Going To Continue To Move In The Direction Of Rappers Just Being Honest With Themselves, Whether You're Talking About Common And Mos Def Or Nas And 50 Cent.

When I Look At The Arc Of My Career, My Focus Is On Lyricism, Right? I Own That.

My Fondest Memories Were Watching The Beastie Boys Get Prepped To Come On Stage. They Had A Lot Of Antics And They Play A Lot Of Basketball... Then They Were Giving Out Cameras To The Crowd, And Performing From The Bleachers. The Most Important Thing I Learned Was That You Control Your Crowd, Not The Other Way Around.

When You Shine Bright, Some Won't Enjoy The Shadow You Cast.