In the latest issue of Rolling Stone, Black Eyed Pea and producer extraordinaire Will.i.am talks about his new solo album Songs About Girls and his quest for “respect.” We respect you, Will, and to prove it, we’re providing a few audio excerpts from his interview with Brian Hiatt.

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  Will.i.am talks about taking music-theory classes at Santa Monica Community College.

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  Will explains his album’s bouncy first single “I Got It From My Mama.”

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  Want to know how the title track on Nas’ Hip Hop Is Dead came to be? Will explains how a sample of hair clippers evolved into a polished song as he plays versions of the track.