"I was born in the heart of Brooklyn, New York, to a father who was a minister and a mother who was a teacher. They instilled in me the values of education and a love of knowledge that has served me well throughout my life and career. My family moved from Brooklyn to the Bronx, where I lived until I was six years old. We then relocated to the Bronx River Houses, one of the largest public housing projects in the country. This was my first introduction to the struggle of the people. Living there taught me a lot about surviving on the streets, as well as the importance of music and art in expressing oneself."