I always was that person who was hard on myself and challenged myself no matter what I was doing, whether it was passing third grade or playing basketball.

Eventually you get to this point where you understand what you want to do and get across and sound like.

I think that's why I put my energy into making music. That's how I get my thoughts out, instead of being crazy all the time.

My passion is bringing storylines around and constructing a full body of work rather than just a 16-bar verse.

As a kid from Compton, you can get all the success in the world and still question your worth.

God to me is love.

I don't vote. I don't do no voting.

I can't help the way you was born if you was gay.

Since day one, since the first time I touched the pen, I wanted to be the best at what I do.

Me, as a person, I grow. I'm like a chameleon. You know? That is a gift and a curse for me. But more so a gift, because it never puts me in a box.

I'm sticking to the script, I'm putting that organic feeling back in the game.

When I'm in the studio, I'm looking for creativity I haven't matched yet, a feeling I haven't felt. It's a high.

I always tell people that if I move anywhere it would be Toronto.

I'm constantly thinking.

I like to let things breathe.

I've been called a recluse. There's definitely truth in that. I like to spend time alone.

It's a great, great experience to finally get the reception that you know you rightfully deserve.

I think my worst problem is actually living in the moment and understanding everything that's going on. I feel like I'm in my own bubble.

I'm only as good as my last word, my last hook, my last bridge.

I think my vice would be outdoing myself.

It's easy to forget who you are.

My whole thing is to inspire, to better people, to better myself forever in this thing that we call rap, this thing that we call hip hop.

When everybody looks at our generation of kids, they always call us the misfits - you know, like we just don't give a damn.

My word will never be as strong as God's word. All I am is just a vessel, doing His work.

I look at where I'm at today and realize that most of my success is owed to the mentors that was in my life.

I don't want to be something that just comes and goes.

People have to go through trials and tribulations to get where they at. Do your thing - continue to rock it - because obviously, God wants you here.

My moms always told me, 'How long you gonna play the victim?' I can say I'm mad and I hate everything, but nothing really changes until I change myself.

I learned, when I look in the mirror and tell my story, that I should be myself and not peep whatever everybody is doing.

If I'm gonna tell a real story, I'm gonna start with my name.

Girls are scary. Large groups of girls scare the crap out of me.

Don't let other people's conversations about what you're doing or you've done be part of your own conversation.

There's an idea about who I am that's eternally projected onto me, and then I almost feel like I have to fulfill that role. Even when things come out of my mouth, I want to be sure I'm saying exactly what I mean.

You don't need to give reasons for the things you do- you just have to do what you want. And sometimes the thing that seems messed up to everyone else is what's right for you. You have to do it and not be ashamed of it.

What I really mean is that actors do the interview process because they have to. It's a good bargain: If I can do this part then I'll sell it. I just wish it wasn't me who had to do it because it feels very unnatural.

There's no way to eloquently put this. I just can't go to the mall. It bothers me that I can't be outside very often. And also to not ever be just 'some girl' again. Just being some chick at some place, that's gone.

Some people are good at performing in front of people like that, but I'm uncomfortable at it. I think maybe that's the difference between acting and being a performer. I don't think I'm a natural performer.

When you can literally Google anything, you don't feel like you have to go see it in person. You can do a lot of traveling in your bedroom, but you're not touching anything and you're not feeling it.

Sure, 'Twilight' is really huge right now and everybody's freaking out over it, but it will go away soon and I will be back to doing what I'm used to doing: weird little movies that nobody sees.

What really kills me—it really rips me up—is when people think I’m abrasive, inconsiderate or ungrateful because I don’t go outside in a bikini and wave to the paparazzi. Come on!

You find in life that there are different levels of being in love with someone, and maybe everyone doesn't find that undeniable, indescribable... I can't describe it, it's indescribable.

What I did suffer when I was young was because I was sort of a hick coming into New York City. I was made fun of by a lot of the Factory people. Even Andy Warhol thought I was a hick.

You don't always just have to do an indie movie to feel like you're controlling it with a few people that you really have connected with, creatively. You can do it on a bigger scale.

What you don't see are the cameras shoved in my face and the bizarre intrusive questions being asked, or the people falling over themselves, screaming and taunting to get a reaction.

Success is always something completely different to people. I feel like I've succeeded, if I'm doing something that makes me happy and I'm not lying to anybody.

The best aspects of every vampire, with all of their gifts, what makes them really special is just an enhanced version of what they were when they were human.

The strangest part about being famous is you don't get to give first impressions anymore. Everyone already has an impression of you before you meet them.

With every project, you feel like you're trying to find your place to vent. For any actor, that's typically the feeling that drives you to do it.

You should never step outside of your life and look at it like it’s this malleable thing you can shape so that people view it a certain way.

There's no way to be prepared for a conversation with someone you don't know about something that means the world to you.