A lot of the problems I had with fame I was bringing on myself. A lot of self-loathing, a lot of woe-is-me. Now I'm learning to see the positive side of things, instead of, like, 'I can't go to Kmart. I can't take my kids to the haunted house.'

Before I was famous, when I was just working in Gilbert's Lodge, everything was moving in slow motion.

I think my first album opened a lot of doors for me to push the freedom of speech to the limit.

I say what I want to say and do what I want to do. There's no in between. People will either love you for it or hate you for it.

I was going to McDonald's and Taco Bell every day. The kids behind the counter knew me - it wouldn't even faze them. Or I'd sit up at Denny's or Big Boy and just eat by myself. It was sad. I got so heavy that people started to not recognize me.

Trust is hard to come by. That's why my circle is small and tight. I'm kind of funny about making new friends.

The details surrounding both my marriage and subsequent filing for divorce are private, and I had hoped to keep them that way for the sake of my family.

I'd go to, like, six different schools in one year. We were on welfare, and my mom never ever worked.

Sometimes I feel like rap music is almost the key to stopping racism.

If people take anything from my music, it should be motivation to know that anything is possible as long as you keep working at it and don't back down.

I need drama in my life to keep making music.

I felt like I had a really bad case of writer's block... Music is so therapeutic for me that if I can't get it out, I start feeling bad about myself - a lot of self-loathing.

I don't think I've ever read poetry, ever.

Ultimately, who you choose to be in a relationship with and what you do in your bedroom is your business.

A lot of truth is said in jest.

The emotions in a song - the anger, aggression - have got to be legitimate.

You know, fame is a funny thing, man, especially, you know, actors, musicians, rappers, rock singers, it's kind of a lifestyle and it's easy to get caught up in it - you go to bars, you go to clubs, everyone's doing a certain thing... It's tough.

I don't even know how to speak up for myself, because I don't really have a father who would give me the confidence or advice. And if you're always the new kid, you never get a chance to adapt, so your confidence is just zilch.

I didn't have nothin' going for me... school, home... until I found something I loved, which was music, and that changed everything.

The truth is you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed.

My father? I never knew him. Never even seen a picture of him.