Quotes from John Legend

In the 1970s, for all the Stevie Wonders, I'm sure there were five artists that were making forgettable music.

In terms of the technology I use the most, it's probably a tie between my Blackberry and my MacBook Pro laptop. That's how I communicate with the rest of the world and how I handle all the business I have to handle.

I always saw myself as a singer-songwriter, a solo-artist, that's why working with other artists was never satisfying for me.

I like things that feel like they're timeless and really well made and tailored... things that make me feel confident when I leave the house.

Well, what's interesting, I try not to think about the radio when I'm writing a song. I want people to love the song, and that means it might not be exactly thinking about the radio, but it's thinking about your audience and saying, 'I want people to like this song after it's done.'

I always felt that rap didn't cause crime; it just reflected it.

I'm honestly not a great gift giver. I could give better - my girlfriends have always complained about that.

I was playing the piano when I was three, writing songs when I was ten. I had a lot of experience before I got to college. I knew I wanted to be a singer, so anyone who met me, I didn't let too much time pass before I showed my talent.

People tell me all the time that my songs help them express things to loved ones that they may not be able to say themselves.

There's a lot of hurry up and wait. But it gives you time to write a song.

When you're releasing an album, you never know how it's going to go. You never know how a critic is going to receive it or how much it's going to sell.

There are autobiographical elements to the albums, and when I write, I always reference my own life as well as other things, so I'm just like any novelist or any fiction writer who tells stories.

I think writers are prone to hyperbole sometimes.

I feel like fashion is making steps toward diversity, but I think they could do more.

I'm probably tougher on myself than I used to be. I'll revise my lyrics more. Part of that is working with the right people and producers who will say, 'How can you make that better?' Allowing yourself to collaborate with people will push you toward transcendence.

My first big break came with Lauryn Hill on a track called Everything is Everything, I played piano on that track way back in 1998.

Sometimes there's that perfect moment when the crowd, the music, the energy of the room come together in a way that brings me to tears.

I don't love the idea of three superstars coming together to form a dream team, I'd rather teams are built more organically, just as a fan it's more interesting to see.

I feel like my job is to make impact, spread love, tell great stories, inspire people, that's what I am going to do.

I was a busy kid in high school - a little bit of an overachiever, I guess. Prom king was kind of silly, but the rest of the stuff was important to me.

My fried chicken is very simple. I pan-fry it in a skillet.

As a nation - and as a world - we need more truth.

I'm craving more soul, I'm craving more truth, I'm craving more socially - just people that are aware of what's going on in the world.

I know how it feels to be a singer who wants to get discovered.