--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a performance artist first; I'm a…" description: "\"I'm a performance artist first; I'm a recording artist second.\" — Erykah Badu" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/erykah-badu-1649_art_i-m-a-performance-artist-first-i-m-a-rec_1349060.jpg" --- # I'm a performance artist first; I'm a recording artist… ![“I'm a performance artist first; I'm a recording artist second.” quote by Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/erykah-badu-1649_art_i-m-a-performance-artist-first-i-m-a-rec_1349060.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/erykah-badu-1649_art_i-m-a-performance-artist-first-i-m-a-rec_1349060.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/erykah-badu-1649_art_i-m-a-performance-artist-first-i-m-a-rec_1349060.jpg) > “I'm a performance artist first; I'm a recording artist second.” [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She prioritizes artistic expression over commercial identity, emphasizing performance as primary. **In simple terms:** Performance art first, music second. Key Takeaway Embrace your core creative identity. Themes art identity career selfexpression Mood confident assertive Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - stage shows - studio recordings - branding decisions Key Concepts Authenticity multidisciplinary art Questions to Reflect On - How do you define your primary artistic self? - What challenges arise from dual artistic identities? A Different Perspective Balancing multiple artistic roles can dilute focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Recording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-recording-4581985/) [Artist Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-second-711955/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Performance Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance-artist-409419/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Recording Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recording-artist-322900/) [Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second/) ## Related quotes > [I actually quite like promo, which is quite odd for an artist, but recording's not the easiest thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/i-actually-quite-like-promo-which-is-quite-odd-for-an-artist-but/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [The best thing about the term 'performance artist' is that it includes just about everything you might want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/the-best-thing-about-the-term-performance-artist-is-that-it-includes/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) > [I see and write things first as an artist, second as a woman, and third as a New Yorker. All three have built-in perspectives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/i-see-and-write-things-first-as-an-artist-second-as-a-woman-and-third/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) > [I want to be a good person first and a good artist second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsea-ballerini/i-want-to-be-a-good-person-first-and-a-good-artist-second/) [Kelsea Ballerini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsea-ballerini/) > [I think, for every artist, the second album is the most terrifying one to put out because it can either boost your career, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-rhett/i-think-for-every-artist-the-second-album-is-the-most-terrifying-one/) [Thomas Rhett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-rhett/) > [I'm extremely critical. I don't consider myself a performance artist. I balk at the term performance art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalan-sherrard/i-m-extremely-critical-i-don-t-consider-myself-a-performance-artist-i/) [Kalan Sherrard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalan-sherrard/) > [ What really made me a performance artist was that I was able to step back and assess. I've always had \[that ability\], but it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalup-linzy/what-really-made-me-a-performance-artist-was-that-i-was-able-to-step/) [Kalup Linzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalup-linzy/) > [Drawing is giving a performance; an artist is an actor who is not limited by the body, only by his ability and, perhaps, experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-davis/drawing-is-giving-a-performance-an-artist-is-an-actor-who-is-not/) [Marc Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-davis/) > [“That wasn't political," she said. "He's a performance artist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/that-wasn-t-political-she-said-he-s-a-performance-artist/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [Imagine spending seven years at MIT and research laboratories, only to find out that you're a performance artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/golan-levin/imagine-spending-seven-years-at-mit-and-research-laboratories-only-to/) [Golan Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/golan-levin/) > [Theater is something that as a performance artist you have to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/theater-is-something-that-as-a-performance-artist-you-have-to-hate/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [I never considered myself a performance artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-denes/i-never-considered-myself-a-performance-artist/) [Agnes Denes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-denes/) > [I think of myself as a performance artist. I hate being called a pop star. I hate that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-think-of-myself-as-a-performance-artist-i-hate-being-called-a-pop/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Comedy is more an art of body language and gestures - it is more a performance of an artist than the lines given to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/comedy-is-more-an-art-of-body-language-and-gestures-it-is-more-a/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [You see, what is my purpose of performance artist is to stage certain difficulties and stage the fear the primordial fear of pain, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/you-see-what-is-my-purpose-of-performance-artist-is-to-stage-certain/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) ## More by Erykah Badu > [When I get ready to do an album, that means I have something to say for the sake of words, and I listen back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/when-i-get-ready-to-do-an-album-that-means-i-have-something-to-say/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I just love expressing my joy and my mind through what I wear, or how I cook, or how I dance, or how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-just-love-expressing-my-joy-and-my-mind-through-what-i-wear-or-how/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [...When it come to da: " What it do?! I don't fall for da: "Woop- TeE- WoOoo!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/when-it-come-to-da-what-it-do-i-don-t-fall-for-da-woop-tee-woooo/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I relate to that - he inspires me across the board. His music inspires me and reminds me to maintain honesty in the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-relate-to-that-he-inspires-me-across-the-board-his-music-inspires/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I'm just being who I am and expressing myself as everyone else does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-m-just-being-who-i-am-and-expressing-myself-as-everyone-else-does/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I don't know if I'll ever accomplish most of my dreams - I have so many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-ever-accomplish-most-of-my-dreams-i-have-so-many/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [There are millions and billions of atoms of memory of all kinds of musical themes in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/there-are-millions-and-billions-of-atoms-of-memory-of-all-kinds-of/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [My second mother is my maternal grandmother. Her name is Thelma. She also gave me a very powerful medicine; she made sure that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/my-second-mother-is-my-maternal-grandmother-her-name-is-thelma-she/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [My mom was the Diana Ross of our clan. She was always up-to-date, and always knew what to do and what not to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/my-mom-was-the-diana-ross-of-our-clan-she-was-always-up-to-date-and/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I actually started writing it because I was inspired by my own personal growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-actually-started-writing-it-because-i-was-inspired-by-my-own/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [People who say that music is dead or hip-hop is dead are refusing to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/people-who-say-that-music-is-dead-or-hip-hop-is-dead-are-refusing-to/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [My first, my birth mother - her name is Queenie - she gave me a powerful medicine when I was a child. She told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/my-first-my-birth-mother-her-name-is-queenie-she-gave-me-a-powerful/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [I'm a recovering undercover over-lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-m-a-recovering-undercover-over-lover/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [They usually have a piano in every nursing home, and I always wanted to perform for whoever would listen when I learned something. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/they-usually-have-a-piano-in-every-nursing-home-and-i-always-wanted/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [ Through \[my children\] patience, they're showing me how much they support what's going on, because I'm having to do a lot of work right… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/through-my-children-patience-they-re-showing-me-how-much-they-support/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) [Explore all 219 Erykah Badu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a performance artist first; I'm a recording artist second.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erykah Badu" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-m-a-performance-artist-first-i-m-a-recording-artist-second/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-m-a-performance-artist-first-i-m-a-recording-artist-second/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/erykah-badu-1649_art_i-m-a-performance-artist-first-i-m-a-rec_1349060.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/erykah-badu-1649_art_i-m-a-performance-artist-first-i-m-a-rec_1349060.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d1/erykah-badu-1649_art_i-m-a-performance-artist-first-i-m-a-rec_1349060.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm a performance artist first; I'm a recording artist second.” — Erykah Badu", "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": "Erykah Badu", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm a performance artist first; I'm...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-m-a-performance-artist-first-i-m-a-recording-artist-second/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-m-a-performance-artist-first-i-m-a-recording-artist-second/#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 } } ] } ```