Settling is not necessarily a bad thing. People tend to take it as 'losing something in order to gain something else.' That does not have to be the case. Instead of using the word 'settling,' we should actually be using the word 'compromising.'
— Raheem DeVaughn
Coming from a single parent household, I witnessed firsthand the strength and courage of the single mother. I always had my father in my life but my household was run by my mother and my grandmother. As a result, I have always had the utmost respect for women and have chosen to strongly convey that in my music.
Every so often, you have a producer or a songwriter or both or a team that comes along and really reshapes and redefines sonically what music is and the interpretation of it to the masses.
Frederico Pena is an amazing talented guitarist and producer.
I love women - all types, all colors, petite, plus size. But in particular, I was raised by black women, and I feel like there is just something beautiful about black women.
There's only so many ways to tell a story before the story gets boring.
It's never my goal to throw any of my peers under the bus.
We should have better schools.
We live in a world where there is so much wealth. There shouldn't be a homeless person. That's crazy.
Being an indie artist, you have to fight for position against a major.
I feel like music can be therapeutic for all of us - not just music lovers but the artists that create it.
It's my responsibility as an artist and public figure to put the right frequency out there.
I love people.
I'm constantly reinventing myself. It's a constant thing that I do.
I'm constantly trying to create timeless music that many people can gravitate to.
I'm very big on content. I kind of feel like content is king and will continue to be that, so I'm just going to give the fans what they want.
The best thing I can do is stay on the road and build a grass-roots following. I'm constantly about building my brand.
The strength it takes to love, mold, and nurture a child should be honored every single day.
There is no single individual greater than a mother. They are the great keepers of our society and heads of our households.
I've always been known for making socially conscious music in the midst of the love songs and the bedroom songs.
A lot of beautiful women that I have come across are the most insecure.
I make grown-folks music, and I'm cool with that. I accept that. I try to be witty while also delivering a message.
Social networks didn't exist when I started. Twitter and Facebook didn't exist. It was all about MySpace when I first got in the game.
Since I am an artist, I know the media can pick you apart.
I think you have some artists who try to be as conscious as they can be.
I am very thankful to Washington, D.C. for their loyalty and support.
Anything that exposes the arts more, that gives us an outlet to make money and also do what we enjoy doing as artists and to connect with the fans, I'm all for it.
I have faith in my art.
I feel like we'll forever live in a country that's divided... Divided by race... Divided by love and hate.
'Footprints On The Moon' plans to inspire and incite positive and catalytic change.
I've blown myself up as a revolutionary and conscious artist. As a philanthropist and a performer.
I don't just make music for one audience.
When you make timeless music - and I like to think that's what I'm doing - the fun part is picking the songs. You can clip and flop and mix and match, and when the record is timeless and it feels good, you know it's going to have the same appeal whether you put it out now or 10 years from now. That's what I'm about.
I enjoy being slept on. It's like being on the verge of a cult movement. But making the underground-to-aboveground transition is cool.
To be a mother is a beautiful thing, but to be able to assume the role for a child in need is nothing less than amazing. I believe that any woman who takes on the role of a mother, whether it be naturally or through foster care or adoption, should be held in the highest regard.
Dr. Dre I've always been a huge fan of. The Roots as well. The Roots gave me an appreciation for live music.
When you talk about the exchange of energy between performer and audience and audience and performer, I hope that I'm one of the best.
'Pretty Lady' is the conversation piece where you just need to compliment your lady. If you are in a club setting, and you just been eyeing a beautiful woman, this song came from me trying to compliment women and them turning their face up at me.
Everything I do has to be poetically done.
I put my own money up when I have a vision and believe in something. If you want a company to put money into something, then most of the time, they want to water your project down. When it's your money, it's your vision from the beginning to the end result.
In the past, being young, I might have been standoffish to working with other songwriters.
Kids should be able eat and have health care.
I am humbled and truly honored to be the recipient of The Key to the City and my own day by the District of Columbia.
'Black Ice Cream' is a salute to the ladies with Black Girl Magic who exude a powerful sexual confidence.
I have a good cry once in a while; it's such a great release. Or it could be a cry of joy - watching your child being born or your child walking across a graduation stage.
Racism is very prevalent and alive... in this country and in this world.
No diss to any of my homies, but I pay very close attention to what people say about me.
I've always been hands on with my music and my movement.
It's a world now where you don't necessarily have to be on the radio or be on the TV to be a star. Your audience can find you and find the music.
I feel like every artist has a place in their mind, this place where they exist artistically. And I just want to take people to mine, and my place is called Loveland. In Loveland, there's no war, and there's peace.
