No one came to our neighborhoods with stand-up jobs and showed us there's a different way. Maybe, had I seen different role models, maybe I'd've turned on to that.

Some people are attracted to vulnerability. From my very first album, I've been vulnerable. I've always given parts of me, parts of my life - good, bad, ugly. I've never put up this image as a super-thug. Also, some people just like the music.

I think the problem with people, as they start to mature, they say, 'Rap is a young man's game,' and they keep trying to make young songs. But you don't know the slang - it changes every day, and you're just visiting. So you're trying to be something you're not, and the audience doesn't buy into that.

My thing is related to who I am as a person. The clothes are an extension of me. The music is an extension of me. All my businesses are part of the culture, so I have to stay true to whatever I'm feeling at the time, whatever direction I'm heading in. And hopefully, everyone follows.

I never wanted to just glamorize the playa lifestyle and not touch on the down side. I wanted everyone who's in a desperate situation to know that, if they wanna choose that kinda lifestyle, they gotta be aware of everything that comes with it! It's not just about the cars, the ladies and the money.

My passion is music, you know, and music influences culture, influences lifestyle, which leads me to 'Roc-A-Wear'. I was forced to be an entrepreneur, so that led me to be CEO of 'Roc-A-Fella' records, which lead to Def Jam.

The average rap life is two or three albums. You're lucky to get to your second album in rap!

If you look at my career and you look at the span of my work and the things I have done, as far as to garner fame, you'll see that I have turned down more interviews than I do. Or I turn down more things than I do.

I'm just going to make the music I love to make, and I'm going to mature with my music.

Providing - that's not love. Being there - that's more important. I mean, we see that. We see that with all these rich socialites. They're crying out for attention; they're hurting for love. I'm not being judgmental - I'm just making an observation. They're crying out for the love that maybe they didn't get at home, and they got everything.

Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have to connect to it in a way that other people can't.

New York - I'm connected. This is my core. I feel like if I'm not connected to New York, then I don't even know what to do with myself.

My mom had early rap records, like Jimmy Spicer. In the middle of the records was a turntable and a receiver - I used to scratch records on it - and on top was a reel-to-reel. In front of that wall were more stacks of records. It was either Mom's record or Pop's record, and they had their names on each and every one.

I don't sit around with my friends and talk about money, ever. On a record, that's different.

When I listen to Amy Winehouse, I believe that her heart and soul is in the music, or if I listen to other British artists like Duffy or Estelle. The aesthetic of it is different, and it's my point of view. It's not anything formulaic.

At the end of the day, we all want to win, so everybody has to sacrifice when you want to be a part of something special.

That's what I am trying to be, just trying to affect the game any way possible, rebounding, getting a block, or trying to get a stop even when your shot isn't falling, because, at the end of the day, all that matters is whether you win or lose.

You gotta have confidence in yourself first before anybody else will. I've always had that.

I'm the biggest mama's boy ever, and I'm proud to say it.

My parents are supportive of me, whatever school I go to.

Because I grew up in a single parent home with my mom, growing up, things weren't always the best.

I feel like when I'm out there, I'm on the court, I just try to figure it out.

I just enjoy playing in the big moments, in the big games.

Guys are going to be physical, especially with me being the young guy. That tends to happen a lot. It's just guys trying to be stronger and bigger than me, so they're just trying to be more physical.

Obviously understand what's at stake, and keep going. You just have to keep going, keep playing.

I want to be the next Paul Pierce.

It's been a dream come true, you know, just making it to the NBA and being drafted by a great franchise like Boston.

Kobe Bryant was the reason I started playing basketball - always was and will be my favorite player of all time. I love the way he could get his shot off, his footwork down in the post, just his determination to be the best player.

There's no better way to start your career than by playing probably the best guy in the league.

It helps being on a good team with a winning culture and just being confident in myself.

Man, I'm always going to back up my teammates.

I was fortunate enough to make it to where I want to be. There could be other kids as talented or more talented than me in whatever they want to be but don't have the resources to pursue their dream. Maybe they have to get a job instead to help their mom with the bills.

I think that's when I have the most fun: when things are on the line.

You've just got to bring it every night. And that's what makes the great players great.

It feels great just finally knowing where I'm going and have some place to call home. And I'm glad it's Boston.

Most guys in my position don't get drafted to such a high-caliber team like the Celtics, so it makes me work harder because I have to compete and earn everything.

I used to watch LeBron on TV growing up, and now I'm playing my first game against him.

I grew up watching LeBron and asking him to follow me back on Twitter, going to his camps. So just to be able to compete against a player like him and be a few shots away from beating him and his team to go to a championship is something I will always remember.

When I was, like, 4 or 5, I'd just always tell - my mom would ask me what I wanted to be when I got older. And I would just be like, 'I wanna be Kobe.' She'd be like, 'You wanna be in the NBA?' 'No, like, I wanna be Kobe.'

I'm a pretty good free-throw shooter, so getting fouled is a good thing.

Just keep having fun. It's basketball. So that's what I'm going to keep doing.

I play the best and have the most fun when the stage is brightest.

I am growing up, but I still need help along the way.

I dreamed of having big moments and having a big role. That obviously came a lot sooner than I thought.

If somebody was to ask me who is the best rookie, I would tell them I was.

I'm not afraid of anything.

I still think it's mind-blowing when famous people know who I am.

Once you get to the tournament, it's like, win or go home.

Every time I shoot, I think it's going in. I get upset when it doesn't.

My relationships with the Duke coaches were the best, and they made me a priority.