Today when you pick up an album, it’s usually a who's, who of guest appearance spots. But on all the albums you released, there were never really any collaborations, was there any particular reason for that?

I just wanted the opportunity to listen to myself. If I create a great song, I didn't wanna have to do half the song when the other artist isn't there. I wanted to give people an opportunity to know that some artist don't need all that, they don't need to water down their music, and they don't need 80 appearances on their album. I'm a lyricist, a true pioneer of the game, I wanna show you that I can make a record, not only that, I can make an album. I do have features, my features are the producers a great opportunity would be for a great producer to work with the legendary C.L. Smooth, and I even went over to Italy to get some music. So that would be a great opportunity and a great chance for someone to put that on their resume.

Right now the theme in Hip-Hop is about getting money, selling drugs, etc. How do you keep your creative process from going along with that typical formula?

You don't exclude it, you put it in its place to where it’s conducive to what you’re saying everybody has a bum on their block, everybody has a hustler on their block, everybody has a nosey person on their block etc. It’s all about how do you get through that everyday and you wanna give people an opportunity to hear that.

Do you think a little bit of compromise is necessary to move units in today's industry?

I only compromise my business moves, not the art. It is just what it is art. It has nothing to do what the world thinks, other then when I'm finished. If I'm painting a picture wait till I'm finished to make your judgment. It’s all about what's true to you and being true to yourself and that you’re able to give the people something they appreciate. People appreciate realness, and honesty.