You know, I say in my lyrics, "Every word I write will be analyzed by somebody white." It's just that I know that this sh*t is just not gonna fall on deaf ears.
I don't make records so I can sit down afterward and listen to them. I make them so other people can sit down and listen to them.
The truth is, I mostly thought about 'Accidental Racist' in terms of my fans. This song was meant to generate discussion among the people who listen to my albums. What I was most worried about is that my fan base would think that I was preaching to them.
It probably does make it more difficult to enjoy a good laugh at someone who's onstage, seemingly yelling at you. But I'm not yelling at the audience, I'm yelling at the world. It genuinely sucks if people are taking it that way. But I'm not talking to individuals.
It's entertaining to watch somebody break my music down or explain what he thinks I was thinking during the process of making these records. Because... he has no idea.
It isn't up to the painter to define the symbols. Otherwise it would be better if he wrote them out in so many words! The public who look at the picture must interpret the symbols as they understand them.
I wrote about drugs, and I didn't think I was being unsafe or careless by writing about them. I didn't want fans to think heroin was cool. But then I've had fans come up to me and give me the thumbs up, telling me they're high. That's exactly what I didn't want to happen.
How could we possibly appreciate the Mona Lisa if Leonardo had written at the bottom of the canvas: 'The lady is smiling because she is hiding a secret from her lover.' This would shackle the viewer to reality, and I don't want this to happen to 2001.
People make music to get a reaction. Music is communication.
In my mind, an album shouldn't be self-titled unless it feels that way.
I'd originally intended 'Stand By Me' for the Drifters.
I've definitely read interviews with people where they've explained exactly what they wrote something about and I've been like: "Oh no, I was thinking that was a really beautiful love song or a really sad thing."
So many songs are just a wink to the audience, but people take them seriously. 'My Humps?' C'mon!
I really try to be aware of the purpose of each song. There are songs on my record that I want people to have sex to, and songs people can listen to when they're pissed off.
I'll talk all this craziness in my music, but when I have your attention, and you're listening to me, I'll talk about what I want to talk about and what I think we need to address.
'You Should Be Here' set the tone that, 'Alright everybody, I want you to listen to this album.
Of course, I want to sell this record - there's no point making it otherwise.
I wanted to show people that I don't just make love songs that are about purely being in love.
I think it's exciting that fans can immediately pick up on what my music is about and what I'm leaning towards: that they get to actually feel it.
A picture is nothing but a bridge between the soul of the artist and that of the spectator.
I want people to really care when I release an album.
I've never really had the urge to make an English album.
I really love to act. I really love to touch the people with my work. It's about giving people what they want to see. I love to see someone who's gonna be real, be truthful to his work and that's what I try to bring every time I step on a set. That's what I did for Tupac movie.
And I'm not trying to write heavy songs.
I would consider my music like, pop-R&B. So it can reach a lot of people. Pop is popular music. That's what it stands for. So I'm just making music that I know that I like, I know other people will like, and my fans will like.
