--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If skills sold, truth be told, I'd…" description: "\"If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be Lyrically, Talib Kweli Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Common Sense But I did 5 mill' - I ain't been rhym..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/jay-z-713_common_if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probabl_3167559.png" --- # If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be Lyrically… ![“If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be Lyrically, Talib Kweli Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Common Sense But I did 5 mill' - I ain't been rhyming like Common since.” quote by Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/jay-z-713_common_if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probabl_3167559.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/jay-z-713_common_if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probabl_3167559.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/jay-z-713_common_if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probabl_3167559.png) > “If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be Lyrically, Talib Kweli Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Common Sense But I did 5 mill' - I ain't been rhyming like Common since.” [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He juxtaposes commercial success with artistic integrity, emphasizing desire for lyrical authenticity over profit. **In simple terms:** He wants real lyrics, not profit. Key Takeaway Prioritize artistic truth over money. Themes artistry authenticity commercialism hip‑hop Mood determined hopeful Type musical motivational When to use this quote - studio recording - live performance - songwriting sessions - artist interviews Key Concepts creative integrity industry pressure Questions to Reflect On - Can art stay pure in a profit‑driven world? - What sacrifices are worth making for authenticity? A Different Perspective Financial success may compromise creative freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Rhyming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhyming/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [If skills sold truth be told I'd probably be lyrically Talib Kweli Truthfully I want to rhyme like Common Sense (But I did five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probably-be-lyrically-talib-kweli/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [If skilled sold then truth be told I'd prolly be lyrically Talib Kweli truthfully I wanna rhyme like Common Sense, but I did 5…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z-2/if-skilled-sold-then-truth-be-told-i-d-prolly-be-lyrically-talib/) [Jay Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z-2/) > [Truthfully I wanna rhyme like common senseNext best thing I do a record with common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/truthfully-i-wanna-rhyme-like-common-sensenext-best-thing-i-do-a/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I wanna rhyme about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-wanna-rhyme-about-god/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [See, you're out your mind tryin' to face tha God. Your rhyme is like an empty prison...a waste of bars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-finesse/see-you-re-out-your-mind-tryin-to-face-tha-god-your-rhyme-is-like-an/) [Lord Finesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-finesse/) > [“When your voice is soft like snow, all the words you pick to show, that even your nothing can be a good rhyme. Like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-advise/when-your-voice-is-soft-like-snow-all-the-words-you-pick-to-show-that/) Will Advise > [I write, but I don't write poetry. I don't rhyme or anything like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/i-write-but-i-don-t-write-poetry-i-don-t-rhyme-or-anything-like-that/) [Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/) > [People say, 'Grimm, you've been shot like 50. So why don't you just rhyme like 50? Then, you could get the money like 50,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mf-grimm/people-say-grimm-you-ve-been-shot-like-50-so-why-don-t-you-just-rhyme/) [MF Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mf-grimm/) > [People hate when I rhyme. Like I read the reviews, 'We don't really care much for his rapping but we like the beats.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-alchemist/people-hate-when-i-rhyme-like-i-read-the-reviews-we-don-t-really-care/) The Alchemist > [Oppressors in front of the Lord, truth be told shall inherit oppression, while others receive gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-atta-ullah-faizani/oppressors-in-front-of-the-lord-truth-be-told-shall-inherit/) [Muhammad Atta-ullah Faizani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-atta-ullah-faizani/) > [Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/give-him-a-mask-and-he-will-tell-you-the-truth/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [They say that Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a homosexual. Truth be told, we don't love him because of that, but he was a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/they-say-that-pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky-was-a-homosexual-truth-be-told/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [But I can tell - let truth be told - That love will change in growing old; Though day by day is nought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bridges/but-i-can-tell-let-truth-be-told-that-love-will-change-in-growing-old/) [Robert Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bridges/) > [All men are fools, if truth be told, but the ones in motley are more amusing than ones with crowns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-men-are-fools-if-truth-be-told-but-the-ones-in-motley-are-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Jesus beckons me to follow him to that place of weakness where I risk the vulnerability of a child so that I might know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-haugen/jesus-beckons-me-to-follow-him-to-that-place-of-weakness-where-i-risk/) [Gary Haugen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-haugen/) ## More by Jay-Z > [At 42 be better than 24, I carried the 4-5, mastered 48 laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/at-42-be-better-than-24-i-carried-the-4-5-mastered-48-laws/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [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/) > [Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have to connect to it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-collaborator-at-their-foundation/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [New York - I'm connected. This is my core. I feel like if I'm not connected to New York, then I don't even know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/new-york-i-m-connected-this-is-my-core-i-feel-like-if-i-m-not/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [It was a very intense and stressful situation. There was playing in the Johnny-pump (an opened fire hydrant) and the ice-cream man coming around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/it-was-a-very-intense-and-stressful-situation-there-was-playing-in/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [“THEY NEVER TAUGHT MARCUS GARVEY IN OUR SCHOOL CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IS THEIR GOLDEN RULE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/they-never-taught-marcus-garvey-in-our-school-christopher-columbus-is/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [I'm a person that works off of music. I let the music dictate the direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-m-a-person-that-works-off-of-music-i-let-the-music-dictate-the/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Tears on the mauseoleum floor. Blood stains the coliseum doors. Lies on the lips of a priest. Thanksgiving disguised as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/tears-on-the-mauseoleum-floor-blood-stains-the-coliseum-doors-lies-on/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Around 20. I'd been trying to transition from the streets to the music business, but I would make demos and then quit for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/around-20-i-d-been-trying-to-transition-from-the-streets-to-the-music/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [There's the gift, there's the spirit, and there's the work-all three have to come together. If one of those things is off, it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/there-s-the-gift-there-s-the-spirit-and-there-s-the-work-all-three/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [All black everything, Ni\*\*a you know my fresh code. Im out here fightin for you, dont increase my stress load.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/all-black-everything-ni-a-you-know-my-fresh-code-im-out-here-fightin/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [I couldn't even think about wanting to be something else; I wouldn't let myself visualize another life. But I wrote because I couldn't stop.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-couldn-t-even-think-about-wanting-to-be-something-else-i-wouldn-t/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Lord forgive me I never would've made it without sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/lord-forgive-me-i-never-would-ve-made-it-without-sin/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [In trouble waters I had to learn how to float](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/in-trouble-waters-i-had-to-learn-how-to-float/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Their gunnin' for me, want to see me fall, you know my story, been through it all, times I felt like dyin', but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/their-gunnin-for-me-want-to-see-me-fall-you-know-my-story-been/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Explore all 397 Jay-Z quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) ## More Common quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. 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If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/when-you-have-a-cavity-in-your-tooth-and-you-let-it-get-worse/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down in the mind before you reach eighteen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/common-sense-is-nothing-more-than-a-deposit-of-prejudices-laid-down/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [A time will come when the science of destruction shall bend before the arts of peace; when the genius which multiplies our powers, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arago/a-time-will-come-when-the-science-of-destruction-shall-bend-before/) [Francois Arago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arago/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) Browse all 7,866 Common quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be Lyrically, Talib Kweli Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Common Sense But I did 5 mill' - I ain't been rhyming like Common since.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probably-be-lyrically-talib-kweli-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Common" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probably-be-lyrically-talib-kweli-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/jay-z-713_common_if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probabl_3167559.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/jay-z-713_common_if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probabl_3167559.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/jay-z-713_common_if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probabl_3167559.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be Lyrically, Talib Kweli Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Common…” — Jay-Z", "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": "Jay-Z", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If skills sold, truth be told,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probably-be-lyrically-talib-kweli-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/if-skills-sold-truth-be-told-i-d-probably-be-lyrically-talib-kweli-2/#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 } } ] } ```