My kids, they're like nine or ten years old right now so you give 'em responsibilities just to keep them up on things. It ain't just all about getting on the skateboard or putting your Heelys on, and swimming in the pool all the time. You gotta do stuff like wash dishes, take the trash out, feed the dog.

The way to judge a new artist is by listening to their albums and gauging the progress that they make from the first record to the next one.

I'm dead serious about my craft and just really serious about making music in itself. I take pride in making songs and albums where no two songs sound alike. That's the challenge and that's what it's all about, to keep it original and fresh and funky.

When I leave a room, it's gonna be footprints of funk wherever I stepped, because I'm a soul-funk crusader.

The music that I make is built on layers upon layers of musical ideas. I want to keep it fun and fresh to where listeners won't get everything from just one listen. They can go back to it months, weeks, or even years later and hear something that they didn't ever hear before. That's what it's all about.

My goal every time I make a record is just to make the funkiest, the best music I could possibly make, both lyrically, and music-wise.

My kids listen to everything because I listen to everything, so it's not far-fetched to hear them playing Metallica and then playing A Tribe Called Quest or N.W.A.

I listen to all types of music so I'm influenced by everything.

Look, I got 11,052 songs on my iPod. Cyndi Lauper, Guns N' Roses, Geto Boys, N.W.A.... push shuffle and anything will come on.

I still picture myself as a student of the music. I'm always trying to learn new things. Music is just what makes me tick.