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. ”