--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I really only put stuff out when I have…" description: "\"I really only put stuff out when I have something to say and I feel like I've got a direction and I've got an idea - and that can even take two, two-an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/el-p-2359_direction_i-really-only-put-stuff-out-when-i-have_659315.png" --- # I really only put stuff out when I have something to say… ![“I really only put stuff out when I have something to say and I feel like I've got a direction and I've got an idea - and that can even take two, two-and-a-half years to flesh out.” quote by El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/el-p-2359_direction_i-really-only-put-stuff-out-when-i-have_659315.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/el-p-2359_direction_i-really-only-put-stuff-out-when-i-have_659315.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/el-p-2359_direction_i-really-only-put-stuff-out-when-i-have_659315.png) > “I really only put stuff out when I have something to say and I feel like I've got a direction and I've got an idea - and that can even take two, two-and-a-half years to flesh out.” [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He shares only when he has a clear message and a fully formed concept, even if it takes years to develop. **In simple terms:** He speaks only with purpose after long preparation. Key Takeaway Speak with purpose after thorough preparation. Themes authenticity creativity patience Mood reflective determined Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - album production - songwriting - concept projects - creative collaborations Key Concepts artistic integrity long‑term vision Questions to Reflect On - Do you wait for perfection before sharing? - How does long development affect audience engagement? A Different Perspective May delay output, risking relevance in fast‑moving markets. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Got Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-direction-5257333/) [Half Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-years/) [Idea Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea-half-3996676/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Say Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-feel/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [My friends love this idea of me as half man, half camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-duley/my-friends-love-this-idea-of-me-as-half-man-half-camera/) [Giles Duley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-duley/) > [“...And if reading could banish the idea for even half an hour, it was something gained.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/and-if-reading-could-banish-the-idea-for-even-half-an-hour-it-was/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [I worked in the Square Mile for three and half years at an international City law firm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuka-umunna/i-worked-in-the-square-mile-for-three-and-half-years-at-an/) [Chuka Umunna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuka-umunna/) > [I had the idea for the show like a year and a half, two years ago. And it was all about the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genevieve-gorder/i-had-the-idea-for-the-show-like-a-year-and-a-half-two-years-ago-and/) [Genevieve Gorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genevieve-gorder/) > [It took me three and a half years to go from being sentenced in federal court to going to the Oscars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-bloom/it-took-me-three-and-a-half-years-to-go-from-being-sentenced-in/) [Molly Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-bloom/) > [My father died when I was 28, and within two-and-a-half years of that, I lost my first son.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/my-father-died-when-i-was-28-and-within-two-and-a-half-years-of-that/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [“How did a child of ten find out about a three and a half hundred years old children's show?!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meinos-kaen/how-did-a-child-of-ten-find-out-about-a-three-and-a-half-hundred/) [Meinos Kaen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meinos-kaen/) > [The interesting part about the writing process is that you can never see all the way to the end, not if something is happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/the-interesting-part-about-the-writing-process-is-that-you-can-never/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [For the record, I have sex on a weekly basis. And I did throughout my two-and-a-half years with Crystal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/for-the-record-i-have-sex-on-a-weekly-basis-and-i-did-throughout-my/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [ It was a wonderful opportunity. And so for two and a half years we lived with \[Bernard\] Leach. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-mackenzie/it-was-a-wonderful-opportunity-and-so-for-two-and-a-half-years-we/) [Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-mackenzie/) > [I still think of myself as the new kid, even though I've been on the air for two and a half years. But my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/i-still-think-of-myself-as-the-new-kid-even-though-i-ve-been-on-the/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [The first four and a half years was me in the studio every day, writing songs for other people. I had jobs, too -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/the-first-four-and-a-half-years-was-me-in-the-studio-every-day/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [I taught sixth grade for three and a half years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-bradley/i-taught-sixth-grade-for-three-and-a-half-years/) [Ed Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-bradley/) > [I spent 24 and a half years in prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-ben-bella/i-spent-24-and-a-half-years-in-prison/) [Ahmed Ben Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-ben-bella/) > [“Yeah, I went to school three hundred and a half years ago y’know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nandanie-phalgoo/yeah-i-went-to-school-three-hundred-and-a-half-years-ago-y-know/) [Nandanie Phalgoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nandanie-phalgoo/) ## More by El-P > [I'm not mad at digital media at all; I just see the importance and beauty of physical media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-m-not-mad-at-digital-media-at-all-i-just-see-the-importance-and/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [Standing up for what you believe is right, as well as standing up for what you believe is funny, standing up for what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/standing-up-for-what-you-believe-is-right-as-well-as-standing-up-for/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [For me, growing up in hip-hop culture, it's all about having the next style, the new fashion, the new way to express yourself, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/for-me-growing-up-in-hip-hop-culture-it-s-all-about-having-the-next/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I definitely grew up on Garfield. I just loved his pessimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-definitely-grew-up-on-garfield-i-just-loved-his-pessimism/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [Most people aren't happy about being consistent and staying at the same place for years. People want forward progress and motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/most-people-aren-t-happy-about-being-consistent-and-staying-at-the/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [Any issue and any problem, no matter what height you look at it from, no matter how much you extend past the first fractal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/any-issue-and-any-problem-no-matter-what-height-you-look-at-it-from/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I really don't believe in going too far out of your way to hunt down somebody to do a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-really-don-t-believe-in-going-too-far-out-of-your-way-to-hunt-down/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [The last Company Flow reunion show in New York City was pretty insane. Everybody knew all the words to every song; everybody had smiles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/the-last-company-flow-reunion-show-in-new-york-city-was-pretty-insane/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [At a young age, I really wanted to make music and make my own sort of thing. I'm sure if it wasn't music, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/at-a-young-age-i-really-wanted-to-make-music-and-make-my-own-sort-of/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [One of the reasons why I thought it was a good decision to put Def Jux on hold is that it's a hell of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/one-of-the-reasons-why-i-thought-it-was-a-good-decision-to-put-def/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I am trying to change hip-hop music because I do feel there are places people can go with production and the structure of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-am-trying-to-change-hip-hop-music-because-i-do-feel-there-are/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I'm not really one of these people who's been known for particularly hopeful sentiments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-m-not-really-one-of-these-people-who-s-been-known-for-particularly/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I think it's impossible for hip-hop to be a dying art form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-think-it-s-impossible-for-hip-hop-to-be-a-dying-art-form/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I like Das Racist, and so should you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-like-das-racist-and-so-should-you/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I had a boom box with a dual cassette deck and a mic, so I used to make pause tapes. I think a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-had-a-boom-box-with-a-dual-cassette-deck-and-a-mic-so-i-used-to/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) [Explore all 170 El-P quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) ## More Direction quotes > [I'm not gonna squeal out that this is my 23rd retirement, my real, real retirement. But you know there comes a time where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-funk/i-m-not-gonna-squeal-out-that-this-is-my-23rd-retirement-my-real-real/) [Terry Funk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-funk/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [Every time you think a negative thought, it's one step in the wrong direction, for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-paul/every-time-you-think-a-negative-thought-it-s-one-step-in-the-wrong/) [Sean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-paul/) > [“No matter how many times you get turned around,you will still find yourself going in the right direction \*B\*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-easley/no-matter-how-many-times-you-get-turned-around-you-will-still-find/) [B. Easley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-easley/) > [Life's lessons don't come with books, notes nor instructions...just mistakes and EVERYONE makes them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-s-lessons-don-t-come-with-books-notes-nor-instructions-just/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I don't think comedy really does change people's minds; I think you can only get someone who is almost ready to change their mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jefferies/i-don-t-think-comedy-really-does-change-people-s-minds-i-think-you/) [Jim Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jefferies/) > [The prime communities of the Southwest are survival communities. Their sustenance is governed by rainfall and wind direction. You can study little enclaves of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-predock/the-prime-communities-of-the-southwest-are-survival-communities-their/) [Antoine Predock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-predock/) > [Napster has pointed the way for a new direction for music distribution, and we believe it will form the basis of important and exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-diller/napster-has-pointed-the-way-for-a-new-direction-for-music/) [Barry Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-diller/) > [But I would say if the Security Council is only relevant if it agrees with the United States, then we have come a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/but-i-would-say-if-the-security-council-is-only-relevant-if-it-agrees/) [Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/) > [Vote SNP for a party that always stands up for Scotland, that is stronger for Scotland, and a government that will keep the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/vote-snp-for-a-party-that-always-stands-up-for-scotland-that-is/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [I have a horrible sense of direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/i-have-a-horrible-sense-of-direction/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [When I see Mario Gotze, his development does not go in the right direction. He has outstanding qualities, but he has not reached his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ballack/when-i-see-mario-gotze-his-development-does-not-go-in-the-right/) [Michael Ballack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ballack/) > [Even in 'Hollyoaks,' we were known as 'the black family' as opposed to just 'the new family.' But that's where we are in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-whittle/even-in-hollyoaks-we-were-known-as-the-black-family-as-opposed-to/) [Ricky Whittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-whittle/) > [I love being a private company. I don't ever want to be forced to not do the things I need to do to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-scott/i-love-being-a-private-company-i-don-t-ever-want-to-be-forced-to-not/) [Kendra Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-scott/) > [Nobody had anticipated that chemicals was the direction in which Reliance was headed. I did chemical engineering because it was supposed to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mukesh-ambani/nobody-had-anticipated-that-chemicals-was-the-direction-in-which/) [Mukesh Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mukesh-ambani/) [Browse all 2,024 Direction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I really only put stuff out when I have something to say and I feel like I've got a direction and I've got an idea - and that can even take two, two-and-a-half years to flesh out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "El-P" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-really-only-put-stuff-out-when-i-have-something-to-say-and-i-feel/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Direction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-really-only-put-stuff-out-when-i-have-something-to-say-and-i-feel/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/el-p-2359_direction_i-really-only-put-stuff-out-when-i-have_659315.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/el-p-2359_direction_i-really-only-put-stuff-out-when-i-have_659315.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/510/el-p-2359_direction_i-really-only-put-stuff-out-when-i-have_659315.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I really only put stuff out when I have something to say and I feel like I've got a direction and I've got…” — El-P", "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": "El-P", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I really only put stuff out...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-really-only-put-stuff-out-when-i-have-something-to-say-and-i-feel/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-really-only-put-stuff-out-when-i-have-something-to-say-and-i-feel/#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 } } ] } ```