Absorb youth and you will be absorbed by youth. Take on new influences without fear and you need not fear what is new. Change the people around you by changing the people around you.

I pick up on styles, way before they get popular, pretty much before young kids do. I see 'em coming.

The words I use too often are X-rated, something an old man like me shouldn't be talking about anyway.

Think! It ain't illegal 'yet.'

You can rebel against everything adults say. When I want to find out what the new music is, I find out what parents hate.

Free your mind and your ass will follow

Hip-hop is getting to the point now where they are going to start sounding like Al Jarreau or Bobby McFerrin or some of the other poets. Some of the better rappers can rap real fast without even melodies. It'll get to that same point.

Why must I feel like that? Why must I chase the cat?

Disco is funky when you take one record at a time. It's just that they narrowed it down to one beat to try to corner the market on a particular music. And when you do that with rhythm - talk about something that will get on your nerves. Try to make love with one stroke. Somebody will tell you to fax it in.

When I hear music that parents hate, or older musicians hate, I know that's the new music. When I hear older people saying, 'I hate Rap or Techno' I rush to it.

Style is whatever you want to do, if you can do it with confidence.

The desired effect is what you get when you improve your interplanetary funksmanship.

Just gimme some stage. I'll make my own way once I get there.

I'm always surprised that I'm still around funk and that people are still into it.