You’ve played all kinds of venues here: lounges, arenas, clubs. What do you prefer? I just got off a summer tour with Sade, and it’s fun playing to a huge crowd of people. Preference? I love playing music, so as long as it’s a packed crowd.

You play Vegas pretty frequently. Any must-dos for you here? Good food, [and] my girlfriend’s family lives here, so we’re gonna spend some time with them.

When you were working as a management consultant, what was it like living the double, suit-by-day, musician-by-night life? I didn’t get much sleep. It was a weird juxtaposition of working in an office during the day and then going out onstage with Alicia [Keys] and Kanye [West] at night. But those were the dues I was paying at the time.

The Smithsonian Institute named you to its “Black List” of the 50 most influential African Americans. Do you feel pressure to be a role model after something like that?

I don’t think it makes me behave any differently. I’m just being myself. Getting an award is not going to change my behavior; I hold myself to a higher standard.

Are you making any resolutions for 2012? I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions, but I want to make sure my new record is my best yet. It should be out in the first months of the year, and I want it to be something I can be proud of.