DK: When you were going to do the whole change for "Street Symphony," with your hair and your whole new makeup and image, what was going through your mind?
M: I was very comfortable. I was the only one who wasn't afraid [that I would be] going blond and wearing different things [like] leather, which are things that I like and I enjoy personally, but people have seen me for the last three videos in something totally different. So I was more excited. I wasn't nervous in the least bit.
DK: And you do have a few tattoos. Why did you choose to allow us to show the neck tattoo?
M: For the simple fact that this video will keep things true to the music I love and true to what I know, and it's a song that basically talks about several elements of my life.
I am an adult now... even though tattoos can be very influential upon children, I think at this point you have to establish some rules and guidelines the same way my mother did. Once you're of age you can make those types of decisions, and that's just one I made.
DK: Your high heels and tight skirts and all of that... is that comfortable? We first started with "The Boy Is Mine" when you never wore skirts, and we tried to change that whole feel...
M: Right. I wanna change. So that's one thing that's different for me than other artists. Most artists find something that works and they stick with it. But I had no problem trying different things.
I enjoyed doing the skirt [in "The Boy Is Mine"], 'cause that was, like, for shock value [Laughs]. You know, that shocked a lot of people to see the skirt with the slits in it, and my hair was long, I had gone from short, short hair and baggy clothes to fitted outfits and long hair.
It was something that was a natural progression for me. As I got older, those were things that I liked. So it was real comfortable.
DK: And now the public is going to see you dance a lot in this video.
M: [Laughs] Yeah.
DK: Which is great!
M: It's an Atlanta dance that we do a lot. It's funny. It's hilarious. You have got to see the video. And Darren Grant was a very good director --
DK: Darren was wonderful.
