"I'm not a diva. I'm a musician."

"How can you be an artist and not reflect the times? That to me is the definition of an artist."

"I was told many times by my piano teacher, 'Nina, you may be a great pianist, but you'll never be a performer.'"

"I'm not a jazz singer. I'm a black classical singer."

"I demand to be taken seriously. I demand to be heard."