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Chicago taught me when to talk, taught me when to shut up, taught me when to stay, taught me when to go. And really it all forms to make BJ the Chicago Kid.
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I just sing the song and I sing it with conviction, meaning and I get into the mood of every song I do no matter how much time I have in between.
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I just believe in giving people their roses while they're living. That's my new thing - period.
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The most important and common thing is to be able to connect with your fans. If you can't live life, then you can't connect with the fans.
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The people I'm inspired by and I listen to are all ballsy, and I feel like I'm closer to an artist when they're open and honest.
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I left the city to accomplish something. And by leaving the city and trying to accomplish something, I've been a terrible cousin, brother, son some days.
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I can't be Stevie Wonder; I can't be Marvin Gaye, but I can be the foundation that I think withholds that mold.
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My whole childhood was church. But as an adult, I've grown to understand my relationship with God versus how I sing. People in church are like, 'You sing the devil's music,' but I believe in balance. I can't just party with you. I got to help you, too.
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On my block, we grew up like family. Summer times, man, psshh, we in the back in the alley or in the front on the block. Somebody has some music playing, and nine times out of ten, it's soul music. We got whatever we drinking that day, we got some food, we probably even grilling. It's just a good time.
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It's crazy all the dreams you have about what you want to do, how you want to do it, and when you're going to do it. As a child, you never know the date or that one person who's going to take you to the next person, who is going to put you in position and give you that one opportunity.
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The world hasn't noticed, but R&B has shifted. It's changing course.
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I love loyalty, and I love paying back my end of loyalty, you know what I'm saying? I love making it full circle.
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I started singing backgrounds for Mary Mary and Usher during 'Confessions.' Then I jumped to working with Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott; jumped again to Kanye West, The Killers. I kept saying, 'OK, this is the last time; then I get to do my music.'
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I realize how much my life lines up with artists like Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke. My sound comes from church, but the stories come from actual personal experience, being out there in the streets living life.
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Success for me is being comfortable, and not in terms of a certain level of financial status, but that comfort comes from within.
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A connection should be natural. Just be yourself, and you will find someone who likes you for exactly what you are.
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I feel like Black Milk has found his way of putting his life into his music. I feel like, lyrically, he is a beast; a lot of people sleep on Black Milk. Black Milk is a monster. He from church. He from the street. He get down how I get down. He's a soulful cat, and I love how he get down.
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Whatever your purpose is that leads you to the point of no return, that's where you go.
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I ain't rocking with Trump, but politics I kinda keep to myself.
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I think love is important, but it's not popular.
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I definitely have a relationship with God for myself, and yes I grew up that way, and I choose to keep the relationship that way. It's real; that's my balance. Sundays, I was in church, and Monday through Friday, I was with the knuckleheads having a little fun.
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You can't be afraid to be honest and to be yourself. We all have imperfections and fall short at some point. Showing your human side creates a sensitivity, openness and trust. That's the beginning of the demise in a relationship - not being honest and not being you.
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Have you seen the oddest couple in the world, to your eyes, walking down the street? That means there's someone for everyone.
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Just to be a part of something that can travel beyond and reach the lives of people and help them through a daily problem or struggle or even just giving encouraging words, period. I feel like it's very powerful. I thank God for my gift.