Hip-hop has never had boundaries - the more adventurous it is, the more popular it seems to be.
I have the utmost respect for synthesizers - Soft Cell, early Depeche Mode. But that's become a cliche for the '80s.
I like to find an artist who inspires me and get into their world and challenge them.
I realized I liked being in the studio and working on translating the ideas into recordings.
I try not to become friends with musicians, but life happens and dinner happens and going out happens - it becomes interwoven in L.A.
I was never in the business of trying to put my name out there - I was really focused on music and records and being in the studio.
I'm still an idealist. My manager is always trying to talk me out of it, but that's just the way I am.
I've always had this impression that notoriety came when you're trying to get notoriety.
It's been said to me that I'm self-destructive because I'll walk away from things that are good.