Usually, if I hear songs, I record it on a Voice Memo first. I have to perfect it. I'm a big fan of delivery, and I want to make sure you're saying it right. I'm like, 'This has to be perfect when I do this.'
I have a son, and my son has autism. There's certain things that I deal with that a lot of people don't deal with.
I just want to be a spokesperson for the people.
I put out 'Rhythm & Bricks,' which showed my versatility, and I had a lot of melodic songs on there, then I had a lot of street songs on there, and I just wanted to know what everybody wanted from me. I did put that out so that everybody could get a feel, so 'Cut It' just happened to come out of there.
I've always been a fan of music. I listened to a whole lot of oldies - I never really listened to rap music that much.
Nobody wants to sit there and study lyrics the whole time, driving back from work when they just got their check after a long shift. It's not the same. Everybody just wants to be happy with life.
I ended up performing one time at BET. I performed my record, like, four times, and the crowd was going super crazy. And Busta just happened to be there; he pulled me to the side and asked, 'Are you signed to anybody?' So we went to the studio a few days later, spoke, and then became business partners.
I actually think that I'm a genius; not to toot my own horn or anything, but I think I'm a musical genius.
I want to be able to do any and everything. I don't want to be limited.
Music changes, life changes. It's like Jay Z said: 'If people like the old Jay, then go listen to the old Jay.' I always heard that, but never understood it.
It's different when your son is not typical, and you have to deal with him and handle him every single day.
I had a record called 'Touchdown.' It was really bubbling in my city, and I used to go to different clubs and perform.
The great thing about 'Coco' is that for anybody who hears it, it just sticks.
Genesis means the beginning. But I put the A instead of the E because I didn't wanna be criticized in church and nothing like that. And it means the beginning, but in my city, I'm the only person that's on the West Coast that has a different sound, so I was thinking to myself, 'This the beginning of a new sound, a new person.'
I'm not chasing a hit record - that's why I can make a hit record. It's not forced at all; it just happens. It's off of vibes.
I really don't care to be criticized. I stay in my lane and do me.
At the end of the day, I have a son.
