---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yeah, I was a brother on the streets of…"
description: "\"Yeah, I was a brother on the streets of Compton doing a lot of things most people look down on but it did pay off. Then we started rapping about real s..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/eazy-e-10407_big-time_yeah-i-was-a-brother-on-the-streets-of-c_211454.jpg"
---

#  Yeah, I was a brother on the streets of Compton doing a…

![“Yeah, I was a brother on the streets of Compton doing a lot of things most people look down on but it did pay off. Then we started rapping about real stuff that shook up the LAPD and the FBI. But we got our message across big time, and everyone in America started paying attention to the boys in…” quote by Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/eazy-e-10407_big-time_yeah-i-was-a-brother-on-the-streets-of-c_211454.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/eazy-e-10407_big-time_yeah-i-was-a-brother-on-the-streets-of-c_211454.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/eazy-e-10407_big-time_yeah-i-was-a-brother-on-the-streets-of-c_211454.jpg)

> “Yeah, I was a brother on the streets of Compton doing a lot of things most people look down on but it did pay off. Then we started rapping about real stuff that shook up the LAPD and the FBI. But we got our message across big time, and everyone in America started paying attention to the boys in the hood.”

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

## About This Quote

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

He describes rising from a troubled street life, using music to expose harsh realities and gain national attention.

**In simple terms:** Street life turned into powerful music that forced society to listen.

Key Takeaway

Use art to amplify unheard voices.

Themes

street life music social impact media identity

Mood

defiant proud urgent

Type

cultural social commentary

When to use this quote

- community activism
- youth empowerment
- media campaigns
- law enforcement relations

Key Concepts

hip‑hop culture authentic storytelling public awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- How can artists responsibly portray harsh realities?
- What responsibilities come with influencing public perception?

A Different Perspective

Message may be sensationalized, risking misinterpretation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Paying Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-attention/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Rapping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapping/)

## Related quotes

> [I doubt if many of my contemporaries, especially the older ones, did many exercises. I have often tried to picture (Godfrey) Evans and (Denis)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-may/i-doubt-if-many-of-my-contemporaries-especially-the-older-ones-did/)

[Peter May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-may/)

> [Niggas who be rapping how real they are, usuallly turn out to be the fakest one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/niggas-who-be-rapping-how-real-they-are-usuallly-turn-out-to-be-the/)

[J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/)

> [I was real serious when it came to rapping. I still do, but even more so when I was real young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prodigy/i-was-real-serious-when-it-came-to-rapping-i-still-do-but-even-more/)

[Prodigy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prodigy/)

> [I put Compton on the map.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/i-put-compton-on-the-map/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [Compton is my city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/compton-is-my-city/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [When I first started rapping, when I switched my style to more like a punch line style - this is when I'm like 13…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-i-first-started-rapping-when-i-switched-my-style-to-more-like-a/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [When I first started rapping, I was like, 'I'm gonna be, like, the female Eminem.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanel-west-coast/when-i-first-started-rapping-i-was-like-i-m-gonna-be-like-the-female/)

[Chanel West Coast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanel-west-coast/)

> [I started rapping on the station promos. We did them over all of the top hits, so people got to hear me rap over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/i-started-rapping-on-the-station-promos-we-did-them-over-all-of-the/)

[Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/)

> [I started rapping when I was young, like 12, 11. But I wasn't really talking about nothing and it didn't really get me nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tee-grizzley/i-started-rapping-when-i-was-young-like-12-11-but-i-wasn-t-really/)

[Tee Grizzley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tee-grizzley/)

> [I'm definitely inspired by Michael Jackson. I watch all his videos all the time. And Busta Rhymes, early Busta Rhymes - I really was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/i-m-definitely-inspired-by-michael-jackson-i-watch-all-his-videos-all/)

[Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/)

> [One day I just got frustrated and my brother, who doesn't really even makes beats very often, he just made this loop and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snow-tha-product/one-day-i-just-got-frustrated-and-my-brother-who-doesn-t-really-even/)

[Snow Tha Product](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snow-tha-product/)

> [Around when I turned 17 and I bought my own studio equipment and started recording myself, I kinda found my own voice. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle/around-when-i-turned-17-and-i-bought-my-own-studio-equipment-and/)

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

> [I always wrote poems when I was a little girl, and I loved hip hop music, and I kind of just started writing poems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanel-west-coast/i-always-wrote-poems-when-i-was-a-little-girl-and-i-loved-hip-hop/)

[Chanel West Coast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanel-west-coast/)

> [I went in reverse with this whole thing. People I've toured with were kids who consumed as much hip-hop as they could. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-went-in-reverse-with-this-whole-thing-people-i-ve-toured-with-were/)

[K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/)

> [Once I started rapping, I had to start dancing more. I had to really use my craft, and take everything I did for fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-freedia/once-i-started-rapping-i-had-to-start-dancing-more-i-had-to-really/)

[Big Freedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-freedia/)

## More by Eazy-E

> [I'm not saying this because I'm looking for a soft cushion wherever I'm heading, I just feel that I've got thousands and thousands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/i-m-not-saying-this-because-i-m-looking-for-a-soft-cushion-wherever-i/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [I don't want to be in somebody else's movie, and then they make all the money. I've gotten offers to do the movies, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/i-don-t-want-to-be-in-somebody-else-s-movie-and-then-they-make-all/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [Im not looking to blame anyone except myself. I have learned in the last week that this thing is real, and it doesnt discriminate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/im-not-looking-to-blame-anyone-except-myself-i-have-learned-in-the/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [People where we come from hear so many lies that the truth stands out like a sore thumb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/people-where-we-come-from-hear-so-many-lies-that-the-truth-stands-out/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [Bitch shut the fuck up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/bitch-shut-the-fuck-up/)

[Eazy-e](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [Now Im in the biggest fight of my life, and it aint easy. But I want to say much love to those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/now-im-in-the-biggest-fight-of-my-life-and-it-aint-easy-but-i-want-to/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [Not all cops are bad, but this kind of harassment has been going on for years in the ghetto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/not-all-cops-are-bad-but-this-kind-of-harassment-has-been-going-on/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [Records dont make anybody do nothing. You make yourself do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/records-dont-make-anybody-do-nothing-you-make-yourself-do-that/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [IMA REAL MOTHAPHUKKIN COMPTON CITY G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/ima-real-mothaphukkin-compton-city-g/)

[Eazy-e](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [I'm not a registered Republican or Democrat. I don't even vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/i-m-not-a-registered-republican-or-democrat-i-don-t-even-vote/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [I hold my strap so long that my palms all wet, I put finger on the fit and then the side a check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/i-hold-my-strap-so-long-that-my-palms-all-wet-i-put-finger-on-the-fit/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [Im not saying this because Im looking for a soft cushion wherever Im heading, I just feel that Ive got thousands and thousands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/im-not-saying-this-because-im-looking-for-a-soft-cushion-wherever-im/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [I go to correctional facilities and talk to kids there. They have little kids in there who are, like, 12 years old, stealing cars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/i-go-to-correctional-facilities-and-talk-to-kids-there-they-have/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [A solution to stop gang banging: SNOW!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/a-solution-to-stop-gang-banging-snow/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

> [Who gave it that title, gangsta rap? It's reality rap. It's about what's really going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/who-gave-it-that-title-gangsta-rap-it-s-reality-rap-it-s-about-what-s/)

[Eazy-E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

[Explore all 66 Eazy-E quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/)

## More Big time quotes

> [I've read about all the sales today. If you're an auto dealer, you're feeling it. If you're a furniture retailer like we are, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-ve-read-about-all-the-sales-today-if-you-re-an-auto-dealer-you-re/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [The way social media is now, and people are with cameras - we all live different lives whether you're in the spotlight or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-andrews/the-way-social-media-is-now-and-people-are-with-cameras-we-all-live/)

[Erin Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-andrews/)

> [The biggest fool to hit the big time and all I've got to do is act naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-owens/the-biggest-fool-to-hit-the-big-time-and-all-i-ve-got-to-do-is-act/)

[Buck Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-owens/)

> [Never give up or you are big time jabroni.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-iron-sheik/never-give-up-or-you-are-big-time-jabroni/)

[The Iron Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-iron-sheik/)

> [“There is no playing safe with me any longer. I only take huge risks. I know this means I can lose big time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sahndra-fon-dufe/there-is-no-playing-safe-with-me-any-longer-i-only-take-huge-risks-i/)

[Sahndra Fon Dufe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sahndra-fon-dufe/)

> [I always love stories that do a big time leap where the past informs the present, where you find out what became of some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-jones/i-always-love-stories-that-do-a-big-time-leap-where-the-past-informs/)

[Ruth Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-jones/)

> [This is why I signed with the Patriots - to play in these big-time games and the obvious reason, which is the Super Bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrelle-revis/this-is-why-i-signed-with-the-patriots-to-play-in-these-big-time/)

[Darrelle Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrelle-revis/)

> [I had some interesting costumes... the one that I remember right offhand is Zorro when I was a lot younger. I was a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/i-had-some-interesting-costumes-the-one-that-i-remember-right-offhand/)

[Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/)

> [I knw most of u wonder why I use 'LOL' when I dont laugh a lot... awky mayb I do laugh big time, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marwin-machiaveli/i-knw-most-of-u-wonder-why-i-use-lol-when-i-dont-laugh-a-lot-awky/)

Aruho Marwin Machiaveli

> [And being gay isn't so easy, either I've always said that if anyone ever thought I was straight they must need glasses - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/and-being-gay-isn-t-so-easy-either-i-ve-always-said-that-if-anyone/)

[Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/)

> [The mistake the apartheid government made was they gave the black people nothing, so they had nothing to lose. But now a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilbur-smith/the-mistake-the-apartheid-government-made-was-they-gave-the-black/)

[Wilbur Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilbur-smith/)

> [Joining another big time rock band was the last thing I was looking for, but as the tour went on, I really dug playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cameron/joining-another-big-time-rock-band-was-the-last-thing-i-was-looking/)

[Matt Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cameron/)

> [Nowadays, television has taken over big time and I'm really enjoying my stints there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyamani/nowadays-television-has-taken-over-big-time-and-i-m-really-enjoying/)

[Priyamani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyamani/)

> [Chinese movies are not just about making Chinese local movies. It's about the Chinese money, the Chinese creativeness participating in a global movie. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-zheng-wu/chinese-movies-are-not-just-about-making-chinese-local-movies-it-s/)

[Bruno Zheng Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-zheng-wu/)

> [Well, Rush, look what happened? 9/11 happened, and we didn't know it in advance. That's right, we got hit, we got hit big time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/well-rush-look-what-happened-9-11-happened-and-we-didn-t-know-it-in/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

Browse all 281 Big time quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Yeah, I was a brother on the streets of Compton doing a lot of things most people look down on but it did pay off. Then we started rapping about real stuff that shook up the LAPD and the FBI. But we got our message across big time, and everyone in America started paying attention to the boys in the hood.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eazy-E"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/yeah-i-was-a-brother-on-the-streets-of-compton-doing-a-lot-of-things/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Big time"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/yeah-i-was-a-brother-on-the-streets-of-compton-doing-a-lot-of-things/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/eazy-e-10407_big-time_yeah-i-was-a-brother-on-the-streets-of-c_211454.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/eazy-e-10407_big-time_yeah-i-was-a-brother-on-the-streets-of-c_211454.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/eazy-e-10407_big-time_yeah-i-was-a-brother-on-the-streets-of-c_211454.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Yeah, I was a brother on the streets of Compton doing a lot of things most people look down on but it did…” — Eazy-E",
                "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": "Eazy-E",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eazy-e/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Yeah, I was a brother on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/yeah-i-was-a-brother-on-the-streets-of-compton-doing-a-lot-of-things/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eazy-e/yeah-i-was-a-brother-on-the-streets-of-compton-doing-a-lot-of-things/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
