---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think what sets a New York rapper apart…"
description: "\"I think what sets a New York rapper apart from other rappers from other places is just being from New York.\" — Dave East"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/dave-east-10133_being_i-think-what-sets-a-new-york-rapper-apar_2570330.jpg"
---

#  I think what sets a New York rapper apart from other…

![“I think what sets a New York rapper apart from other rappers from other places is just being from New York.” quote by Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/dave-east-10133_being_i-think-what-sets-a-new-york-rapper-apar_2570330.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/dave-east-10133_being_i-think-what-sets-a-new-york-rapper-apar_2570330.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/dave-east-10133_being_i-think-what-sets-a-new-york-rapper-apar_2570330.jpg)

> “I think what sets a New York rapper apart from other rappers from other places is just being from New York.”

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

New York identity shapes a rapper's style and authenticity more than any other factor.

**In simple terms:** NY background defines a rapper's voice.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your roots.

Themes

identity culture music

Mood

proud reflective

Type

cultural personal

When to use this quote

- branding
- songwriting
- live performance
- media interviews

Key Concepts

regional influence authenticity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does location affect artistic voice?
- Can style be independent of geography?

A Different Perspective

Other cities also produce unique styles.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Apart Rappers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apart-rappers-1685121/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Rapper Apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper-apart-1685120/) [Rappers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rappers/) [Rappers Places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rappers-places-1685122/) [York Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-rapper-1685123/)

## Related quotes

> [I would not consider myself to be a quote unquote real New York rapper. I don't even like New York rappers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asap-rocky/i-would-not-consider-myself-to-be-a-quote-unquote-real-new-york/)

[ASAP Rocky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asap-rocky/)

> [There's no New York rapper who's out that is competing with me because first of all, I'm the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabolous/there-s-no-new-york-rapper-who-s-out-that-is-competing-with-me/)

[Fabolous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabolous/)

> [I'm from New York and I love New York and I'm always repping New York, but what I represent is something deeper than just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asap-rocky/i-m-from-new-york-and-i-love-new-york-and-i-m-always-repping-new-york/)

[ASAP Rocky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asap-rocky/)

> [Biggie was the King Of New York as a rapper. There's a lot more dangerous guys than Biggie Smalls out there, you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/biggie-was-the-king-of-new-york-as-a-rapper-there-s-a-lot-more/)

[Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/)

> [You always hear rappers say they don't write, but they're not really talking about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/you-always-hear-rappers-say-they-don-t-write-but-they-re-not-really/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [It's hard to find rap that I love, you know. I'm one of those rapping a\*\* rappers, but I just fall into a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eskeerdo/it-s-hard-to-find-rap-that-i-love-you-know-i-m-one-of-those-rapping-a/)

[Eskeerdo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eskeerdo/)

> [Rappers shouldn't have to file taxes because they itemize everything they own in songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-fahey/rappers-shouldn-t-have-to-file-taxes-because-they-itemize-everything/)

[Damien Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-fahey/)

> [Pete Rock, CL Smooth, all this East Coast stuff - that's kind of, like, the rappers I first admired. I wanna rap just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle/pete-rock-cl-smooth-all-this-east-coast-stuff-that-s-kind-of-like-the/)

[Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle/)

> [I don't dislike rappers or hip-hop or people who like it. I went to the Def Jam tour in Manchester in the '80s when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-don-t-dislike-rappers-or-hip-hop-or-people-who-like-it-i-went-to/)

[Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/)

> [I mean, it's not just the rappers, you know what i'm saying? People want to attack anybody that's a large figure, you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/i-mean-it-s-not-just-the-rappers-you-know-what-i-m-saying-people-want/)

[The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/)

> [If I was a white rapper, the bar for me would be Eminem. Of course his white skin helped him excel to heights that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/if-i-was-a-white-rapper-the-bar-for-me-would-be-eminem-of-course-his/)

[Charlamagne tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/)

> [I like all different kinds of music. I never heavily molded myself after rappers. Sometimes they say when you think something and you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-like-all-different-kinds-of-music-i-never-heavily-molded-myself/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [Ghostface, when it comes to hip-hop, was one of my favorite rappers and definitely one of my favorites in the Wu-Tang. He's also a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/ghostface-when-it-comes-to-hip-hop-was-one-of-my-favorite-rappers-and/)

[No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/)

> [I like Biggie. Like 'Pac, he was one of the best rappers in the business. Why would I try to do something to him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suge-knight/i-like-biggie-like-pac-he-was-one-of-the-best-rappers-in-the-business/)

[Suge Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suge-knight/)

> [I prefer rappers who have something intelligent to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/i-prefer-rappers-who-have-something-intelligent-to-say/)

[Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/)

## More by Dave East

> [Honestly, I want to make more music for the women. I rather have a show full of girls, but I still gotta talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/honestly-i-want-to-make-more-music-for-the-women-i-rather-have-a-show/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [A big part of what kept me focused on the music was already failing with basketball. I played basketball all of my life. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/a-big-part-of-what-kept-me-focused-on-the-music-was-already-failing/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [I've been able to provide for my family, move out of Harlem and travel the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/i-ve-been-able-to-provide-for-my-family-move-out-of-harlem-and-travel/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [You're born a certain way, but you don't gotta die like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/you-re-born-a-certain-way-but-you-don-t-gotta-die-like-that/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [I'm never gonna sell my soul or violate myself for no amount of dollars or fame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/i-m-never-gonna-sell-my-soul-or-violate-myself-for-no-amount-of/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [I always had a gift with writing. I can really write. I always felt like I can write movies or somehow get into that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/i-always-had-a-gift-with-writing-i-can-really-write-i-always-felt/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [Wu-Tang was going through it. They didn't come from great homes or families. They really came from hard beginnings so it just made me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/wu-tang-was-going-through-it-they-didn-t-come-from-great-homes-or/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [Nobody uses skits at all anymore, so it seems like I use a lot. That's how I grew up on tapes. Biggie tapes, Biggie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/nobody-uses-skits-at-all-anymore-so-it-seems-like-i-use-a-lot-that-s/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [If you're a fan of anything I do, I'm always telling a story. I'm into that - I like it when you don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/if-you-re-a-fan-of-anything-i-do-i-m-always-telling-a-story-i-m-into/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [I wouldn't tell nobody to sign no slave deal or sign your life away or nothing like that, but if the deal is right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/i-wouldn-t-tell-nobody-to-sign-no-slave-deal-or-sign-your-life-away/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [I never felt like 'I'm an underground dude' or 'I can only be hot in New York.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/i-never-felt-like-i-m-an-underground-dude-or-i-can-only-be-hot-in-new/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [Islam really brought a discipline to my life that I didn't really have before. My old mindset was if they ain't helping me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/islam-really-brought-a-discipline-to-my-life-that-i-didn-t-really/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [Deep down in my heart and what I've seen and what I've been around, there is nothing better than Islam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/deep-down-in-my-heart-and-what-i-ve-seen-and-what-i-ve-been-around/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [Since the '80s, Harlem has the place to go. Before the '80s, just as far as hip-hop go, Harlem has always been a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/since-the-80s-harlem-has-the-place-to-go-before-the-80s-just-as-far/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

> [I always tell people, I never get writer's block because it's coming straight from my brain, like, real-life experiences. I'm like the news. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/i-always-tell-people-i-never-get-writer-s-block-because-it-s-coming/)

[Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

[Explore all 67 Dave East quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/)

## More Being quotes

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/)

[Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/)

[Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/)

> [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/)

[James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/)

[Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/)

[Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/)

[Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/)

> [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/)

[Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/)

[Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think what sets a New York rapper apart from other rappers from other places is just being from New York.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dave East"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/i-think-what-sets-a-new-york-rapper-apart-from-other-rappers-from/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Being"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/i-think-what-sets-a-new-york-rapper-apart-from-other-rappers-from/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/dave-east-10133_being_i-think-what-sets-a-new-york-rapper-apar_2570330.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/dave-east-10133_being_i-think-what-sets-a-new-york-rapper-apar_2570330.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48e/dave-east-10133_being_i-think-what-sets-a-new-york-rapper-apar_2570330.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think what sets a New York rapper apart from other rappers from other places is just being from New York.” — Dave East",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dave East",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think what sets a New...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/i-think-what-sets-a-new-york-rapper-apart-from-other-rappers-from/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/i-think-what-sets-a-new-york-rapper-apart-from-other-rappers-from/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
