--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you really think back to the culture…" description: "\"If you really think back to the culture or just black America before rap music took off, New York could have been Paris.\" — Ice Cube" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bec/ice-cube-912_america_if-you-really-think-back-to-the-culture_376409.jpg" --- # If you really think back to the culture or just black… ![“If you really think back to the culture or just black America before rap music took off, New York could have been Paris.” quote by Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bec/ice-cube-912_america_if-you-really-think-back-to-the-culture_376409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bec/ice-cube-912_america_if-you-really-think-back-to-the-culture_376409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bec/ice-cube-912_america_if-you-really-think-back-to-the-culture_376409.jpg) > “If you really think back to the culture or just black America before rap music took off, New York could have been Paris.” [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ice Cube reflects that before rap, New York's cultural vibrancy rivaled Paris, highlighting a lost artistic era. **In simple terms:** NYC once felt like Paris before rap. Key Takeaway Recognize and preserve cultural richness. Themes culture music urban life history identity Mood nostalgic reflective Type historical observational When to use this quote - music history - city planning - cultural preservation - education - media analysis Key Concepts cultural evolution artistic influence urban renaissance Questions to Reflect On - How does music shape a city's identity? - What other art forms could have filled that role? A Different Perspective Hip hop itself reshaped culture, so the comparison may oversimplify complex histories. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-rap-2539392/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-america/) [Could have been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could-have-been/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paris/) [Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap/) [Rap music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap-music/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Think Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-culture-338239/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [America has a rap sheet. You can't police the world and tell the world how to act when you're just as bad yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/america-has-a-rap-sheet-you-can-t-police-the-world-and-tell-the-world/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [I think a lot of American fans or people that read about us - they think that we're trying to be a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yung-lean/i-think-a-lot-of-american-fans-or-people-that-read-about-us-they/) [Yung Lean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yung-lean/) > [I think rap music is the sole reason for a lot of black acceptance in pop culture; because the music is very popular, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-think-rap-music-is-the-sole-reason-for-a-lot-of-black-acceptance-in/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [But with rap music - not just N.W.A. - but rap music in general, seeing these artists wearing these team logos all the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/but-with-rap-music-not-just-n-w-a-but-rap-music-in-general-seeing/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I think my fans respect me for bein' as truthful and honest as you can be and still be Rap music and not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-think-my-fans-respect-me-for-bein-as-truthful-and-honest-as-you-can/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I think rap music is brought up, gangster rap in particular, as well as video games, every other thing they try to hang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-think-rap-music-is-brought-up-gangster-rap-in-particular-as-well-as/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Now the title bitch don't apply to all women BUT! all women have a little bitch in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/now-the-title-bitch-don-t-apply-to-all-women-but-all-women-have-a/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I think the culture can absorb so many people writing poetry and trying to earn their living in poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-think-the-culture-can-absorb-so-many-people-writing-poetry-and/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [I think there's a culture in Rajasthan Royals that has been there before I got here, so I've come into it. I've enjoyed being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahul-dravid/i-think-there-s-a-culture-in-rajasthan-royals-that-has-been-there/) [Rahul Dravid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahul-dravid/) > [You grow the fastest by getting... adopting ideas and technologies from other cultures. And that has been proven in history, time and time again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ottmar-liebert/you-grow-the-fastest-by-getting-adopting-ideas-and-technologies-from/) [Ottmar Liebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ottmar-liebert/) > [“It is best to think of culture as a repertoire, like that of an actor,a musician, or a dancer. This image suggests that culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karyn-lacy/it-is-best-to-think-of-culture-as-a-repertoire-like-that-of-an-actor/) [Karyn Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karyn-lacy/) > [I think culture is a big word for corporate character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jensen-huang/i-think-culture-is-a-big-word-for-corporate-character/) [Jensen Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jensen-huang/) > [I think there is no culture in which music is not very important and central. That's why I think of us as a sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sacks/i-think-there-is-no-culture-in-which-music-is-not-very-important-and/) [Oliver Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sacks/) > [There's been a lot of discussion about NASA culture and changing that. I think our culture has always been one of trying to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kelly/there-s-been-a-lot-of-discussion-about-nasa-culture-and-changing-that/) [Mark Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kelly/) > [I think that we as a culture, not just in entertainment journalism, but in general the boundaries have become extreme. You know, all bets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leeza-gibbons/i-think-that-we-as-a-culture-not-just-in-entertainment-journalism-but/) [Leeza Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leeza-gibbons/) ## More by Ice Cube > [Today I didn't even have to even use my A.K ! I got to say it was a good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/today-i-didn-t-even-have-to-even-use-my-a-k-i-got-to-say-it-was-a/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Just waking up in the morning gotta thank God, I don't know but today seems kinda odd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/just-waking-up-in-the-morning-gotta-thank-god-i-don-t-know-but-today/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Sometimes, when you want to laugh, reality steps in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/sometimes-when-you-want-to-laugh-reality-steps-in/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I wake up at 5:30, 6 in the morning, but don't head into the office right away. I like to hang out with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-wake-up-at-5-30-6-in-the-morning-but-don-t-head-into-the-office/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Cool people still have a hard time showing what they got in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/cool-people-still-have-a-hard-time-showing-what-they-got-in-hollywood/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I have great people, smart people that are around me and we love the challenge. I guess it's like climbing a mountain or building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-have-great-people-smart-people-that-are-around-me-and-we-love-the/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I think when somebody goes to the movies and they spend their money and they take the girl out, the family, they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-think-when-somebody-goes-to-the-movies-and-they-spend-their-money/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I think, to me, reality is better than being fake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-think-to-me-reality-is-better-than-being-fake/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I'm always the "less is more" guy when it comes to a scene. So I'ma be the one who will keep it grounded. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-m-always-the-less-is-more-guy-when-it-comes-to-a-scene-so-i-ma-be/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I still want to put together bigger and better programs to work with the community. I still think I could do better on that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-still-want-to-put-together-bigger-and-better-programs-to-work-with/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Everybody in the world has to compromise. I don't know one person that gets everything they want, so the politicians are going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/everybody-in-the-world-has-to-compromise-i-don-t-know-one-person-that/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [ You have to resist falling in love with the money they \[producers\] want to give you. You have to really resist that, and you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/you-have-to-resist-falling-in-love-with-the-money-they-producers-want/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Our household is built on love and respect. And we don't really let negative vibes stay too long. It's worked out. I got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/our-household-is-built-on-love-and-respect-and-we-don-t-really-let/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [Go down to the corner store and beat the Jap up, clean all the crap up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/go-down-to-the-corner-store-and-beat-the-jap-up-clean-all-the-crap-up/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [ I think \[director\] Malcolm Lee is a real master at being able to make you laugh while bringing serious subject-matter, so the movie doesn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-think-director-malcolm-lee-is-a-real-master-at-being-able-to-make/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) [Explore all 331 Ice Cube quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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