After you date a player or two it's nice to just chill with a guy that can keep it basic.
Back then, Lisa Lisa was somebody that I liked. She was Puerto Rican, and I related to her somewhat. I was a little bit of a fan.
Even though I didn't think I really wanted to do the album, I took the meetings just to meet these people and investigate the options.
Every weekend we've been trying to go out of town, to let people know about this album. I've been trying to host parties. It's hard, because it's a lot of work to do both.
Everybody portrays women in hip-hop as being just interested in ballers, the rollers with the gold. This is our ode to the regular guy.
I am going to do as much as I can do, because I hate to do anything and not give my all.
I didn't want to turn down a chance to work with Jay-Z or Snoop Dogg or Mary J. Blige. If they were down, I wanted to do it.
I got my bearings, I began to focus. My mother was very supportive. When I came back to New York I landed a job at Hot 97.
I had a lot of respect for Biggie, and it was just a weird, kinda difficult thing. When I'm doing touchy interviews like that, I just try to be fair to both parties.
I had no idea what to expect when we did Ladies' Night. I didn't think it was going to get nominated for a Grammy. I didn't know that we would have to perform on the MTV Awards show.
I knew that when it came time for me to finally make my own album, it wasn't going to be about being a jock. It had to be more personal and intimate.
I lived all over New York. I was raised in Brooklyn. I lived in the Bronx. I even lived down in Miami for a while.
I love Jay personally and as an artist; I think he's incredible.
I might like somebody, and have to go interview somebody that hates them, but I still have to be fair.
I ran into Snoop one night. I was in the studio later, and I got this beat and thought he would sound great on it. I called him and he came right through that night.
I think a lot of people who make hip-hop are also fans of hip-hop. When you start making music, you're still a fan.
I value the opportunity afforded me. I want to be a voice for hip-hop, but bring an entirely different perspective.
I was hanging out with some of what my mother would consider the wrong kind of kids. With no direction, no motivation. I would hang out in the lunchroom all day, or the handball courts.
I went to night school and summer school, I made that whole year up and I actually graduated on time. Also, I got a part-time job at the radio station.
I'm on the radio because I love hip-hop. I represent that community, but there are so many other aspects to who I am as a person.
I've always had a great respect for women, strong women, starting with my mother. She taught me to keep it honest.
Imagine the first time you are about to rap in a studio and you find yourself in a booth with Redman and KRS!
My mom was a program director for a jazz radio station. She had very eclectic taste. I learned early to be open to new sounds.
Nobody from my label called any of their labels to get this done. Most of it happened very naturally. Mary and I have been friends for a long time. Then Jay-Z offered.
Pac was definitely a serious interview. I went out there in the midst of all the East-West hype, before everyone realized how ridiculous it was. We had crossed paths at parties and stuff.
Suge Knight was definitely a difficult interview... I have a lot of respect for a lot of people that he may have problems with.
The people I chose to work with me on this album are there because I have a personal relationship with them.
We have to remember that no matter how much hardship we go through in our life, there is always going to be that fragile place in our heart.
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