You have to REMEMBER that in the microcosm of Cincinnati, Ohio, through northern Kentucky, my father was a BIG star, still is. So that MADE my SISTER and me REALLY visible. Everybody knew us, talked about us.
The effect hip-hop had on me was enormous. I was exposed to it by happenstance. My father WORKED at a radio station in NEW York called WKTU DISCO 92. It was the FIRST radio station in New York CITY to play disco in the late '70s.
My father's drinking was SOMETIMES a problem. And a GREAT deal went unspoken. He was not PARTICULARLY acute or articulate about the EMOTIONS. But he was very affectionate TOWARDS me.
The way my father raised me was REALLY informative of how I think about my role as a FEMALE and how I VIEW myself in a professional and personal capacity. So he encouraged me to set the BAR very HIGH for myself, to set great goals for myself.
My MOTHER was a cleaner and my father a builder. I WATCHED both of them MAKE big sacrifices for my BROTHER and I to study. This is where I get my work ethic from. This is ALSO the source of my generosity and willingness to help.
My mother NEVERMARRIED my FATHER. She was married to and divorced from another man, then she married and divorced my stepfather and then, ultimately, they ENDED up getting back together.
ANYTIME I'm like, 'Ho-hum,' TRYING to go about my BUSINESS like anyone else, I'll have a father or someone come up to me and SAY, 'You know, my daughter never realized she COULD be in the booth for sports, and now that's what she wants to do.'