--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first started making music, I was…" description: "\"When I first started making music, I was pretty drawn to hip-hop beats wrapped together with super-good lyrics. The most important thing in that is wor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/gus-dapperton-23070_hip-hop_when-i-first-started-making-music-i-was_2184034.jpg" --- # When I first started making music, I was pretty drawn to… ![“When I first started making music, I was pretty drawn to hip-hop beats wrapped together with super-good lyrics. The most important thing in that is wordplay, so that stayed with me when I started writing songs.” quote by Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/gus-dapperton-23070_hip-hop_when-i-first-started-making-music-i-was_2184034.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/gus-dapperton-23070_hip-hop_when-i-first-started-making-music-i-was_2184034.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/793/gus-dapperton-23070_hip-hop_when-i-first-started-making-music-i-was_2184034.jpg) > “When I first started making music, I was pretty drawn to hip-hop beats wrapped together with super-good lyrics. The most important thing in that is wordplay, so that stayed with me when I started writing songs.” [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. His early love for hip‑hop beats and lyrical wordplay shaped his songwriting approach across genres. **In simple terms:** Hip‑hop roots influence his music. Key Takeaway Blend rhythm with clever lyrics. Themes creativity musical influence genre blending Mood creative reflective Type artistic inspirational When to use this quote - writing songs - producing tracks - collaborations - live performances Key Concepts songwriting hip‑hop culture artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - What new styles can you incorporate? - How does wordplay enhance listener engagement? A Different Perspective Risk of over‑relying on past influences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Lyrics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lyrics/) [Making Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-music/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Wordplay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wordplay/) [Writing songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-songs/) ## Related quotes > [I probably spent more time listening to albums than writing songs. But I think that gave me all the tricks in terms of wordplay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/i-probably-spent-more-time-listening-to-albums-than-writing-songs-but/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [When you write really good lyrics - and sometimes I did! - they are just a joy to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-orzabal/when-you-write-really-good-lyrics-and-sometimes-i-did-they-are-just-a/) [Roland Orzabal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-orzabal/) > [Good lyrics don't solve your problems~ they embrace your shit and make it easier to continue~ knowing someone took the time to write about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/from-my-left-ball/good-lyrics-don-t-solve-your-problems-they-embrace-your-shit-and-make/) From My Left Ball > [Well the artists that inspire me were, first of all I would say Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, John Holt, Alton Ellis, Errol Dunkley, Delroy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-isaacs/well-the-artists-that-inspire-me-were-first-of-all-i-would-say-sam/) [Gregory Isaacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-isaacs/) > [That's what we grew up with - the good songs, the good lyrics, the good big-band stuff. I miss that era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-campbell/that-s-what-we-grew-up-with-the-good-songs-the-good-lyrics-the-good/) [Glen Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-campbell/) > [I love good beats and good lyrics. I'm pretty open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tika-sumpter/i-love-good-beats-and-good-lyrics-i-m-pretty-open/) [Tika Sumpter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tika-sumpter/) > [I think it need realness, you should speak on thing that you know about, that you being from, that you experienced or that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obie-trice/i-think-it-need-realness-you-should-speak-on-thing-that-you-know/) [Obie Trice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obie-trice/) > [When you're looking for good lyrics, you turn to Kendrick Lamar, you turn to J Cole, you turn to Wale, you turn to Chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/when-you-re-looking-for-good-lyrics-you-turn-to-kendrick-lamar-you/) [Charlamagne tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/) > [A good song is a nice set of chords and some good lyrics; a great song is a song that reinvents itself over time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dessner/a-good-song-is-a-nice-set-of-chords-and-some-good-lyrics-a-great-song/) [Bryce Dessner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dessner/) > [I think the overall mood of the music informs the artwork, but I've found that good lyrics can be inspirational, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-farber/i-think-the-overall-mood-of-the-music-informs-the-artwork-but-i-ve/) [Neil Farber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-farber/) > [It's been a long night here, and a long night there And these long long legs are damn near everywhere (hold up now) You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-grammer/it-s-been-a-long-night-here-and-a-long-night-there-and-these-long/) [Andy Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-grammer/) > [A right balance between music and lyrics is important. Music complements lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/a-right-balance-between-music-and-lyrics-is-important-music/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) > [When you're listening to music while you're sad all what you are focusing on is the lyrics , but the lyrics is not important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spido/when-you-re-listening-to-music-while-you-re-sad-all-what-you-are/) Spido > [From like 15 to 19, all I listened to was Elliott Smith. I started to appreciate the more human aspect of music and was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/from-like-15-to-19-all-i-listened-to-was-elliott-smith-i-started-to/) [Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/) > [I try to focus on the melodies and try to make everything else minimal. The melody and the lyrics are most important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/i-try-to-focus-on-the-melodies-and-try-to-make-everything-else/) [Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/) ## More by Gus Dapperton > [I would say that my music is surreal, it's inspired by dreams, and it's inspired by heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-would-say-that-my-music-is-surreal-it-s-inspired-by-dreams-and-it-s/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I spend a lot of money on shoes and barely any on clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-spend-a-lot-of-money-on-shoes-and-barely-any-on-clothes/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [At first, I was a pretty horrific singer, and then I got a little better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/at-first-i-was-a-pretty-horrific-singer-and-then-i-got-a-little-better/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I tend not to get too excited and surprised about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-tend-not-to-get-too-excited-and-surprised-about-things/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [A lot of artists have a super-specific musical hero they definitely try to hone in on. I'm basically inspired by everyone. I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/a-lot-of-artists-have-a-super-specific-musical-hero-they-definitely/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I went through this kind of existential crisis. I was going through a breakup; I tore my ACL and my meniscus and had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-went-through-this-kind-of-existential-crisis-i-was-going-through-a/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I went to school for audio engineering, and I was around a lot of sound engineers over the summers in New York, so I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-went-to-school-for-audio-engineering-and-i-was-around-a-lot-of/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I generally use a lot of analog instruments, a few synths from the '80s like the Roland Juno-106, and an old Fender bullet guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-generally-use-a-lot-of-analog-instruments-a-few-synths-from-the-80s/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I work out of my home studio that I built in this warehouse in Philadelphia. I've kind of curated it for my needs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-work-out-of-my-home-studio-that-i-built-in-this-warehouse-in/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I'm not really sure what I look for when I'm picking out clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-m-not-really-sure-what-i-look-for-when-i-m-picking-out-clothes/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I wear high water pants, always, so you can see my socks - I always wear white socks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-wear-high-water-pants-always-so-you-can-see-my-socks-i-always-wear/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I grew up producing hip-hop music, actually. I was producing for my friends, who were all rappers in upstate New York, where I'm from.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-grew-up-producing-hip-hop-music-actually-i-was-producing-for-my/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I came up with a lot of characters when I was growing up that were just creative outlets, and then, at one point, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-came-up-with-a-lot-of-characters-when-i-was-growing-up-that-were/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [At some point, I kind of went through this weird existential crisis in high school where I was just really depressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/at-some-point-i-kind-of-went-through-this-weird-existential-crisis-in/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) > [I love the bowl cut. I had it when I was younger, and I decided to go back to it. It seems to fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-dapperton/i-love-the-bowl-cut-i-had-it-when-i-was-younger-and-i-decided-to-go/) [Gus Dapperton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) [Explore all 26 Gus Dapperton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-dapperton/) ## More Hip hop quotes > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [By the time you get into other kinds of music - R&B, country, or whatever - it becomes something that's romantic. It becomes something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/by-the-time-you-get-into-other-kinds-of-music-r-b-country-or-whatever/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [God is never late, we're just impatient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/god-is-never-late-we-re-just-impatient/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) Roxanne Shante > [Couples Therapy' is pretty big for me because it's opening the door to a new audience - a hip-hop following, which I feel is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/couples-therapy-is-pretty-big-for-me-because-it-s-opening-the-door-to/) [Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/) > [If you scared to take chances, you'll never have the answers...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/if-you-scared-to-take-chances-you-ll-never-have-the-answers/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Wherever I go, I bring the culture with me, so that they can understand that it's attainable. I didn't do it any other way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/wherever-i-go-i-bring-the-culture-with-me-so-that-they-can-understand/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [If you don't know hip-hop, at least a little bit of it, you can't even call yourself an American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/if-you-don-t-know-hip-hop-at-least-a-little-bit-of-it-you-can-t-even/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [I come from a young, hip-hop, urban world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-t-jackson/i-come-from-a-young-hip-hop-urban-world/) [Brandon T. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-t-jackson/) > [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/) > [It's not about a salary, it's all about reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/it-s-not-about-a-salary-it-s-all-about-reality/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [My first album, 'Get Lifted,' was a hip-hop soul album that had some of its roots in the church, as far as the sonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/my-first-album-get-lifted-was-a-hip-hop-soul-album-that-had-some-of/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [If you watch wrestling, you now know the hip-hop culture is being represented with wrestling. For the longest time, the cultures have almost been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/if-you-watch-wrestling-you-now-know-the-hip-hop-culture-is-being/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [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/) [Browse all 3,272 Hip hop quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I first started making music, I was pretty drawn to hip-hop beats wrapped together with super-good lyrics. 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