Aloe Blacc

When I started out, I wrote the songs, recorded the songs, mastered, mixed, did the artwork, made the packaging and did the distribution, all myself. Now I understand what everyone's jobs are, who is doing them right, and who isn't.

Hip-hop educated me about other forms of music, because it sampled from all different styles.

Industry executives sacrificed art for what sells and mega-stars now saturate the market with the same tired lyrics.

In school, I studied psychology, linguistics, neuroscience. I understand that there is a real lack of respect for the brain.

Salsa, classic rock, soul music, jazz... all of that was a part of my education in making hip-hop music.

In hip-hop, I wasn't very focused on delivering a message. It was just a string of lines that didn't connect. What I wanted to do is write stories... and affect someone's emotions with that song. I think as a soul singer, I'm able to accomplish that.

Music, especially as an adolescent, helps to build identity because that's when people start developing a sense of self. You can kind of tell based on what music a person listens to what kind of person they'll be pretty much for the rest of their life.

I think a lot of self-identity and inner-personal development is hampered by consumerism and capitalism because we see ourselves as a reflection of the TV, rather than as a reflection of the people who are around us, truly.

America's biggest export is media and I think that's a positive thing.

People need to spread love towards strangers. We all bleed the same blood and we are all part of a global community now.

I felt I had an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of great soul musicians of the past, who made a lot of social and political commentary through their music.

People in the Middle East may consider the U.S. an evil hegemony that has tainted their culture, but when I look at the growth of racial and ethnic tolerance and understanding in my generation in the U.S., and see those sentiments make it around the world, it makes me feel proud.