--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not like I'm the first man ever to…" description: "\"It's not like I'm the first man ever to do this, y'know? You gotta go back to Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and Sammy Davis Jr. Those are people who've do..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/ice-cube-912_about_it-s-not-like-i-m-the-first-man-ever-to_1840381.jpg" --- # It's not like I'm the first man ever to do this, y'know?… ![“It's not like I'm the first man ever to do this, y'know? You gotta go back to Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and Sammy Davis Jr. Those are people who've done music well and movies well, and y'know, Frank Sinatra and Elvis and all these dudes have made the transition. I don't know about Elvis, 'bout…” quote by Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/ice-cube-912_about_it-s-not-like-i-m-the-first-man-ever-to_1840381.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/ice-cube-912_about_it-s-not-like-i-m-the-first-man-ever-to_1840381.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/239/ice-cube-912_about_it-s-not-like-i-m-the-first-man-ever-to_1840381.jpg) > “It's not like I'm the first man ever to do this, y'know? You gotta go back to Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and Sammy Davis Jr. Those are people who've done music well and movies well, and y'know, Frank Sinatra and Elvis and all these dudes have made the transition. I don't know about Elvis, 'bout doin' 'em good, y'know? It's nothin' new.” [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. Artists often emulate predecessors, showing that success in music and film follows a tradition of cross‑disciplinary talent. **In simple terms:** Following past stars is common. Key Takeaway Learn from those who succeeded before you. Themes influence career artistry Mood reflective determined Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - acting - career planning - branding Key Concepts cultural legacy genre blending Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor influences while staying unique? - What risks arise from mimicking past icons? A Different Perspective Originality still matters; copying can limit personal voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Bing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bing/) [Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/davis/) [Doin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doin-49163/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Dudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dudes/) [Elvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elvis/) [Elvis Dudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elvis-dudes-2344520/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frank/) [Frank sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frank-sinatra/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Gotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gotta/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Know Elvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-elvis-2344521/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Nat King Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nat-king-cole/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [Nothin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothin/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sammy davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sammy-davis/) [Sammy davis jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sammy-davis-jr/) [Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinatra/) [Sinatra Elvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinatra-elvis-2001335/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Transition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transition/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [I have written for, very fortunately, some great singers from Frank Sinatra to Elvis Presley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sedaka/i-have-written-for-very-fortunately-some-great-singers-from-frank/) [Neil Sedaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sedaka/) > [I was out on the golf course, a guy came riding out in a golf cart and said, Did you know that Elvis died?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-davis/i-was-out-on-the-golf-course-a-guy-came-riding-out-in-a-golf-cart-and/) [Mac Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-davis/) > [Absolutely. I - you know, he was so that much a part of my life that, you know, Elvis, you know, once - once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priscilla-presley/absolutely-i-you-know-he-was-so-that-much-a-part-of-my-life-that-you/) [Priscilla Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priscilla-presley/) > [“I hope there's a God, I know there's an Elvis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-matson/i-hope-there-s-a-god-i-know-there-s-an-elvis/) [Morgan Matson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-matson/) > [ I felt like I kind of got to know \[Elvis Presley\], and got a little peek inside what was going on there. That was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/i-felt-like-i-kind-of-got-to-know-elvis-presley-and-got-a-little-peek/) [Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/) > [We have to focus on his early work, and just one or two of his movies, and elements of his TV shows, to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/we-have-to-focus-on-his-early-work-and-just-one-or-two-of-his-movies/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [When a guy like Elvis sings your song, well, you know Elvis didn't cut any junk. People thought, 'This must be a good writer.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/when-a-guy-like-elvis-sings-your-song-well-you-know-elvis-didn-t-cut/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [Then I started listenin' a lot to classical composers. Piano works. Just to see what they were doin'. That sort of put me in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/then-i-started-listenin-a-lot-to-classical-composers-piano-works-just/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [Something is better than nothing. Doin' anything for a man, there's investments involved, there's time and production. It's better to give him ten bucks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brownie-mcghee/something-is-better-than-nothing-doin-anything-for-a-man-there-s/) [Brownie McGhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brownie-mcghee/) > [I have a very difficult time describing my music. Because I run into people in the hardware store and they go, 'Oh, you're a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-claypool/i-have-a-very-difficult-time-describing-my-music-because-i-run-into/) [Les Claypool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-claypool/) > [Listen, little boy. In this business, there's only one law you gotta follow to keep outta trouble. Do it first, do it yourself, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-hecht/listen-little-boy-in-this-business-there-s-only-one-law-you-gotta/) [Ben Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-hecht/) > [I'm just here and I'm doin' the best I can. If you don't understand that, then what can I do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-prudhomme/i-m-just-here-and-i-m-doin-the-best-i-can-if-you-don-t-understand/) [Paul Prudhomme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-prudhomme/) > [We're feminists. We're doing something that only guys are expected to do and doin' it right! At our concerts we'll do one hard-core rap…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-james/we-re-feminists-we-re-doing-something-that-only-guys-are-expected-to/) [Cheryl James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-james/) > [I'm doin' something different. I mean, I talk a little bit about race and interracial dating, but it's not the heart of my act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-m-doin-something-different-i-mean-i-talk-a-little-bit-about-race/) [Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/) > [All sorts of factors contribute to what Facebook or Twitter present in a feed, or what Google or Bing show us in search results.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-zittrain/all-sorts-of-factors-contribute-to-what-facebook-or-twitter-present/) [Jonathan Zittrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-zittrain/) ## 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 About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. 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I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not like I'm the first man ever to do this, y'know? You gotta go back to Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby and Sammy Davis Jr. Those are people who've done music well and movies well, and y'know, Frank Sinatra and Elvis and all these dudes have made the transition. I don't know about Elvis, 'bout doin' 'em good, y'know? 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