Alicia Keys

Exploring the mysteries of myself and the world. Sensual, powerful, wise… on my path…

They say that every child learns from their mother – it’s ingrained from babyhood.

I constantly ask myself if what I’m doing is for me or somebody else. It’s tripping me out!

Musicians have a really big part to play in spreading messages because they’re able to reach a large portion of people on an emotional level. Artists reach people at their heart; it’s the only time we meet in one place and put our differences aside. When you’re in a forum listening to music, all you feel in that moment is love and the understanding.

Kindness, love, strength and determination personified!! Madiba reminds me that everything is possible!

You’ve got to have a good spirit on the inside. That’s what’s really going to make you look like you’re ready to rock the world.

[On struggling to be taken seriously in the industry] Even now, people want to marginalize me. They want to attribute all my success to teenagers seeing my movies. I really resent it when people say, “It’s just a genre film; it’s a teen comedy.” It takes a lot of work to make these things have heart and resonance so they’re not just empty, disposable confections. But I don’t give a damn about other people’s perceptions, because I’ll show them. For women in this business, ascendancy is always a battle. It’s scrape and claw. I just try to stick to my guns and respect myself. I want to take the ingenues aside and say, “Value yourself! It’s O.K. if you have opinions!

The trouble is now, with rock’n’roll and stuff, it gets so big that it loses what once upon a time was a magnificent thing, where it was special and quite elusive and occasionally a little sinister and it had its own world nobody could get in.

It’s crazy because, you know, my parents always want me to watch old films to make me realize how amazing some of the older actors are. And I was obsessed as soon as I watched ‘Stand by Me.

The only thing that I’m scared of is not livin’ up to the expectations of Dr. Dre and Eminem.

Ghost stories really scare me. I have such a big imagination that after I watch a horror movie like The Grudge, I look in the corners of my room for the next two days.

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend and dogs are a man’s best friend. Now you know which sex has more sense.

I’m pleased with how ridiculous I am. I like me. Though I’m not a huge fan. I know when to switch me off.

If you really want something, you’ve gotta just do it and not wait for other people to hand it to you.

I am a big Jeff Richmond fan.

I find Hollywood really toxic.

Roc Nation is such an incredible, unique team, especially in the music industry. Everyone genuinely loves and cares about each other.

Left to my own devices, I dress like I’m here to service your aquarium.

I don’t feel crazy any more! It was always like – it’s going to be one of two things, either i’m crazy or everybody else is.

This is what I tell young women who ask me for career advice. People are going to try to trick you. To make you feel that you are in competition with one another. “You’re up for a promotion. If they go for a woman, it’ll be between you and Barbara.” Don’t be fooled. You’re not in competition with other women. You’re in competition with everyone.

There are some people in here who are not journalists. There’s a masseuse in here who’s not a journalist – I think that’s ever so exciting.