When a lot of people are calling it a night at 2 A.M., New Orleans is coming alive.

To me, Def Jam put my career on hold. I was used to making 13-14 songs a year, and they trickled that down to nothing.

There's been enough building of fences with labels trying to categorize artists, limiting artists' ability to be themselves.

I've always had good connections with cars and always knew how to fix them, so I didn't have trouble with breakdowns.

I'm very choosy when it comes to work. It's not like whatever comes my way, I will agree to do it. But if I'm getting good money and exposure and if the content is satisfying, what's the harm in doing it, even if it's yet another reality show?

You have to want to be married to someone. You have to feel that reciprocated. Marriage for marriage's sake doesn't make any sense to me, and I found someone with whom I could put my money where my mouth is, I guess.

Acting for me, is a passion, but it's also a job, and I've always approached it as such. I have a certain manual-laborist view of acting. There's no shame in taking a film because you need some money.

Doing good business - being ethical, being transparent, being caring, implementing values in your business - makes a difference, and you make money at the same time.