I had a very modest upbringing.

My tendency is to be the guy in the back, even though I often end up being the guy in the front.

I think some people are on a mission to die, and I never was.

I've been producing records, and as early as my late teens, early 20s, I put out a hip-hop record and then the Ringside stuff. You know, I just feel like I want to spend these years realizing all of my ambitions. I feel like we live in an age in which you can chase your dreams with focus and a vision.

Nobody believes it, but I slept on a futon till I was 13.

I wanted to be a professional baseball player.

I wasn't ever good enough to be on the baseball team and that sort of stuff.

I like to challenge myself and give myself a timeline. It pushes me to be more creative and actually do these things, not just dream about them.

The big things I've had are things I bought myself.

Life started getting good when I started making money.

My theory is, independent movies only work if you're willing to push the material and do something different.

It's been such a group effort. When you're a new band and you have limited resources, you end up getting people that are there because they love what you do, and that's great.

But I've consistently worked for 10 years.

Even the great bad guys in cinema history, they're likable.

I have a habit of recording records very quickly - and not in a haphazardly way, not in a way where I'm not focused on details, because I'm a freak when it comes to that.

Even in my darkest times I knew I had a good future ahead of me.