---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back in the day, when the D.J. would be…"
description: "\"Back in the day, when the D.J. would be playing a record, Id be on the mic trying to hype up the crowd. So once Public Enemy became a rap group, I deci..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/flavor-flav-13130_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-pl_2237261.jpg"
---

#  Back in the day, when the D.J. would be playing a record…

![“Back in the day, when the D.J. would be playing a record, Id be on the mic trying to hype up the crowd. So once Public Enemy became a rap group, I decided that thats the role that I wanted to take on. I wanted to be the one that was hyping, because Ive always been good at it. I can hype up any…” quote by Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/flavor-flav-13130_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-pl_2237261.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/flavor-flav-13130_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-pl_2237261.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/flavor-flav-13130_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-pl_2237261.jpg)

> “Back in the day, when the D.J. would be playing a record, Id be on the mic trying to hype up the crowd. So once Public Enemy became a rap group, I decided that thats the role that I wanted to take on. I wanted to be the one that was hyping, because Ive always been good at it. I can hype up any crowd.”

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

## 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 his transition from DJ to hype man, emphasizing his natural talent for energizing audiences and his desire to fill that role in rap performances.

**In simple terms:** He wanted to be the crowd‑energizer because he’s good at it.

Key Takeaway

Embrace your natural strengths and pursue roles that match them.

Themes

self‑expression performance confidence

Mood

energetic proud

Type

motivational personal‑growth

When to use this quote

- concerts
- party events
- radio shows
- sports arenas

Key Concepts

identity role‑modeling energy

Questions to Reflect On

- What unique skill do you bring to a group?
- How can hype be balanced with genuine content?

A Different Perspective

May rely on hype without substance; authenticity can be questioned.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Hype](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hype/) [Public enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-enemies/) [Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/)

## Related quotes

> [Back in the day, when the D.J. would be playing a record, I'd be on the mic trying to hype up the crowd. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-playing-a-record-i-d-be-on-the/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [If anyone wants to know what the definition of 'dope' means, it's: 'Definition of Public Enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/if-anyone-wants-to-know-what-the-definition-of-dope-means-it-s/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [We never broke up. As long as I'm living and as long as Chuck D is living, Public Enemy is always going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/we-never-broke-up-as-long-as-i-m-living-and-as-long-as-chuck-d-is/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [I played more of an advisory role with Public Enemy. I really trusted them to make the music that they wanted to make, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rubin/i-played-more-of-an-advisory-role-with-public-enemy-i-really-trusted/)

[Rick Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rubin/)

> [I like Public Enemy a great deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-newman/i-like-public-enemy-a-great-deal/)

[Randy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-newman/)

> [I loved hip-hop. The first stuff I heard was Public Enemy, and I couldn't believe it. It was amazing, and I've always loved hip-hop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-loved-hip-hop-the-first-stuff-i-heard-was-public-enemy-and-i-couldn/)

[Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/)

> [I always took quite seriously the things that Chuck D. of Public Enemy had to say. He's always been someone I've learned quite a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-always-took-quite-seriously-the-things-that-chuck-d-of-public-enemy/)

[Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/)

> [Public Enemy is the security of the hip-hop party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/public-enemy-is-the-security-of-the-hip-hop-party/)

[Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/)

> [I think the Internet was the saving grace for Public Enemy. Before that, travelling the world saved Public Enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/i-think-the-internet-was-the-saving-grace-for-public-enemy-before/)

[Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/)

> [In Hollywood gratitude is Public Enemy Number One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hedda-hopper/in-hollywood-gratitude-is-public-enemy-number-one/)

[Hedda Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hedda-hopper/)

> [Because I have an opinion, I have become public enemy number one to the Fox News Channel and the right wing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/because-i-have-an-opinion-i-have-become-public-enemy-number-one-to/)

[Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/)

> [I went from being an ailing child to a public enemy,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-morita/i-went-from-being-an-ailing-child-to-a-public-enemy/)

[Pat Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-morita/)

> [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/)

> [Public Enemy started out as a benchmark in rap music in the mid-1980s. We felt there was a need to actually progress the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-d/public-enemy-started-out-as-a-benchmark-in-rap-music-in-the-mid-1980s/)

[Chuck D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-d/)

> [Dealing with the old school rappers, you see a lot of humility. When you're new, nothing is wrong. Everything is tight. Because you're trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/dealing-with-the-old-school-rappers-you-see-a-lot-of-humility-when/)

[Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/)

## More by Flavor Flav

> [Doing scripted acting is a challenge to me. I can't remember things too good, so remembering lines is a challenge to your boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/doing-scripted-acting-is-a-challenge-to-me-i-can-t-remember-things/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [Definitely, I think I'm a life coach for real. The lessons I give are lessons you can take to the bank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/definitely-i-think-i-m-a-life-coach-for-real-the-lessons-i-give-are/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [My parents owned a soul food diner. It inspired me to go to culinary school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/my-parents-owned-a-soul-food-diner-it-inspired-me-to-go-to-culinary/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [I got my degree in culinary arts in 1978.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/i-got-my-degree-in-culinary-arts-in-1978/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [The hype man's job is to get everybody out of their seats and on the dance floor to have a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/the-hype-man-s-job-is-to-get-everybody-out-of-their-seats-and-on-the/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [I just want to show the world it's never too late to get your diploma, and show kids they should stay in school and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/i-just-want-to-show-the-world-it-s-never-too-late-to-get-your-diploma/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [I'm not doing no more 'Flavor of Loves.' I'm trying to grow. I don't want to stay on the same page. You can't stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/i-m-not-doing-no-more-flavor-of-loves-i-m-trying-to-grow-i-don-t-want/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [Remember the diner in 'Happy Days?' I do want to do a show like that. But an updated version.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/remember-the-diner-in-happy-days-i-do-want-to-do-a-show-like-that-but/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [They claim we're products from the bottom of Hell, But the black is back, and it's bound to sell. Picture us coolin' out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/they-claim-we-re-products-from-the-bottom-of-hell-but-the-black-is/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [I remember rap music. We used to party and dance off of it. Today it's all about a whole different angle... Rappers are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/i-remember-rap-music-we-used-to-party-and-dance-off-of-it-today-it-s/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [One thing you can't do with babies, you can't give them steak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/one-thing-you-can-t-do-with-babies-you-can-t-give-them-steak/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [I lost my virginity when I was 6 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/i-lost-my-virginity-when-i-was-6-years-old/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [I grew up playing about 15 instruments and the way that I was able to accomplish that was by cutting my classes, hanging out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/i-grew-up-playing-about-15-instruments-and-the-way-that-i-was-able-to/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [I want a girl who looks good when she wakes up in the morning. We could take her face and dip it in dough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/i-want-a-girl-who-looks-good-when-she-wakes-up-in-the-morning-we/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

> [I have over a hundred clocks. I've got fancy clocks and clocks from all over the world that people made for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/i-have-over-a-hundred-clocks-i-ve-got-fancy-clocks-and-clocks-from/)

[Flavor Flav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

[Explore all 49 Flavor Flav quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/)

## More Back in the day quotes

> [Pilot season tends to be grueling, because you can be thrown all of these auditions at once - last-minute, always - and you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dickens/pilot-season-tends-to-be-grueling-because-you-can-be-thrown-all-of/)

[Kim Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dickens/)

> [There's always gonna be people saying they were so much better back in the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-broadrick/there-s-always-gonna-be-people-saying-they-were-so-much-better-back/)

[Justin Broadrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-broadrick/)

> [There was a place in New York called Tannen's Magic. It still exists. But back in the day, it was really fantastic. You'd go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/there-was-a-place-in-new-york-called-tannen-s-magic-it-still-exists/)

[David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/)

> [Back in the day in my teens I was listening to Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery a lot; before that I was listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-carlton/back-in-the-day-in-my-teens-i-was-listening-to-joe-pass-and-wes/)

[Larry Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-carlton/)

> [I've know Jeezy before he was Jeezy. I've been down with Cash Money from back in the day. So these are real relationships. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/i-ve-know-jeezy-before-he-was-jeezy-i-ve-been-down-with-cash-money/)

[DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/)

> [Back in the day, Barry Crump not only had these stories that talked about that kind of rustic personality, but also, he spoke volumes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-darby/back-in-the-day-barry-crump-not-only-had-these-stories-that-talked/)

[Rhys Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-darby/)

> [I do enjoy them. I get to meet the next generation of comics and help them out. Big comics doing small shows was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-do-enjoy-them-i-get-to-meet-the-next-generation-of-comics-and-help/)

[Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/)

> [I think we've got to look at corporate law. Back in the day when I studied it, there were different constituencies that were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-we-ve-got-to-look-at-corporate-law-back-in-the-day-when-i/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [There are people creating Photoshopped pictures of me getting beat as if I were a slave back in the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/normani-hamilton/there-are-people-creating-photoshopped-pictures-of-me-getting-beat-as/)

Normani Hamilton

> [Not to say that music today doesn't have heart, but it's really few and far between because technology has advanced itself so much that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/not-to-say-that-music-today-doesn-t-have-heart-but-it-s-really-few/)

[Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/)

> [Freedom is always just one generation away from extinction. We don't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. We have to fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/freedom-is-always-just-one-generation-away-from-extinction-we-don-t/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [Because I know that the early Greeks and Romans and the early Europeans at that age did not see racism as we see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/because-i-know-that-the-early-greeks-and-romans-and-the-early/)

[Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/)

> [My first ones were The Young Rascals. I made out with Dino Danelli, the drummer, in the alley behind the City Auditorium. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/my-first-ones-were-the-young-rascals-i-made-out-with-dino-danelli-the/)

[Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/)

> [I'm a SoundCloud, online kind of artist. It's not like back in the day when everyone was like linking up physically to do music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cakes-da-killa/i-m-a-soundcloud-online-kind-of-artist-it-s-not-like-back-in-the-day/)

[Cakes da killa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cakes-da-killa/)

> [I turned down a lot of reality shows in the past, but MTV, back in the day, was just the coolest with Cribs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/i-turned-down-a-lot-of-reality-shows-in-the-past-but-mtv-back-in-the/)

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

Browse all 77 Back in the day quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Back in the day, when the D.J. would be playing a record, Id be on the mic trying to hype up the crowd. So once Public Enemy became a rap group, I decided that thats the role that I wanted to take on. I wanted to be the one that was hyping, because Ive always been good at it. I can hype up any crowd.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Flavor Flav"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-playing-a-record-id-be-on-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Back in the day"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-playing-a-record-id-be-on-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/flavor-flav-13130_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-pl_2237261.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/flavor-flav-13130_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-pl_2237261.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d1/flavor-flav-13130_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-pl_2237261.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Back in the day, when the D.J. would be playing a record, Id be on the mic trying to hype up the crowd. So…” — Flavor Flav",
                "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": "Flavor Flav",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flavor-flav/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Back in the day, when the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-playing-a-record-id-be-on-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flavor-flav/back-in-the-day-when-the-d-j-would-be-playing-a-record-id-be-on-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
