Lena Horne

Always be smarter than the people who hire you.

You have to be taught to be second class; you're not born that way.

My identity is very clear to me now, I am a black woman.

I didn't really grow up on hip-hop. Ella Fitzgerald and the old school jazz divas are more my comfort zone.

I was just obsessed with soul singers who had these big powerful voices. I used to listen to Aretha, Whitney, Mariah and try and imitate them, note for note and riff for riff.

I have always had confidence in my own ability.