I Don't Necessarily Think Of Myself As

I Think, As An Artist, You Have To Have Experienced Some Deep Turmoil, Some Kind Of Pain, Because That's What Connects You With The World. That's What Makes It Juicy!

My Earliest Influence Was Quincy Jones. I Thought 'the Wiz' Soundtrack Was The Most Amazing Thing I'd Ever Heard. It Was My First Record And You Had Michael Jackson, Ted Ross, Nipsey Russell And Diana Ross On It. I Even Took It To Show And Tell In Third Grade!

I Think The First Time I Really Heard Poetry Was In The Schoolyard. Just The Little Limericks That Kids Say When They're Jumping Rope And Playing Games. I Think That's The First Time I Heard Rhyming Words - I Don't Know If I'd Call That The Definitive Poetry, But That's When I Heard Rhyming Words Said And Not Necessarily Sung.

Singing And Acting Suit Me. I Made A Vow To Myself, To Do Everything That I Can Do With This Life That I Have, And I Have To Find The Time To Do This. Sometimes I Need To Be An Actress. Sometimes I Don't Need To Be Jill.

Mos Def Is One Of The Most Creative, Intelligent Human Beings I've Had The Opportunity To Work With. He Is Fun. The Entire Time, He Would Go In And Out Of Different Characters, Just For The Fun Of It. Awesome Energy.