Seriously, In America There Are More Big,

Everybody Is Supposed To Be A Part Of Their Own Community.

I Think, As An Artist, You Have To Have Experienced Some Deep Turmoil, Some Kind Of Pain, Because That's What Connects You With The World. That's What Makes It Juicy!

I Don't Want To Force Anything On Anyone. I'm Not Trying To Bust You Over The Head And Make You Buy This Record Or This Song Or Whatever. I'm Presenting It To You So You Can Take It In. You Know, It's Like Trying To Force A Kid To Eat Broccoli. If I Present It As Trees That Make Your Muscles Grow, My Son Is Like, 'i'm Down With Getting Muscles.'

Everything Starts With Writing. I Heard Nikki Giovanni And Was Blown Away. I Just Thought 'wow'; She Was Writing From A Black Girl's Perspective, And The Imagery Was So Vivid That I Started Doing Spoken Word.

Being A Mom, It Feels Like I Did Something So Powerful And Amazing. It's Such A Gigantic Blessing, And A Confirmation That The Creator Exists. And All Of That Has Made Me Feel Sexier And Stronger. I Call It 'lava In My Spine.'