--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That was the greatest trick in music that…" description: "\"That was the greatest trick in music that people ever pulled off, to convince artists that you can't be an artist and make money. I think the people th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/jay-z-713_art_that-was-the-greatest-trick-in-music-tha_1038658.png" --- # That was the greatest trick in music that people ever… ![“That was the greatest trick in music that people ever pulled off, to convince artists that you can't be an artist and make money. I think the people that were making the millions said that. It was almost shameful, especially in rock n' roll.” quote by Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/jay-z-713_art_that-was-the-greatest-trick-in-music-tha_1038658.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/jay-z-713_art_that-was-the-greatest-trick-in-music-tha_1038658.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/821/jay-z-713_art_that-was-the-greatest-trick-in-music-tha_1038658.png) > “That was the greatest trick in music that people ever pulled off, to convince artists that you can't be an artist and make money. I think the people that were making the millions said that. It was almost shameful, especially in rock n' roll.” [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. The music industry often tells artists they must sacrifice authenticity for profit, creating a false dichotomy between art and commerce. **In simple terms:** Artists are told they can’t be both creative and profitable. Key Takeaway Challenge the myth that art must be compromised for money. Themes music industry authenticity commercialism artist identity Mood thoughtful inspirational critical Type industry critique artist advice cultural commentary When to use this quote - record deals - independent releases - branding strategies Key Concepts creative freedom market pressures cultural value Questions to Reflect On - How can artists stay true while earning? - What structures support artistic integrity? A Different Perspective Some artists successfully blend art and profit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [As an artist, you make music. And if you see people who don't know how to market your music, you get involved in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/as-an-artist-you-make-music-and-if-you-see-people-who-don-t-know-how/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Regularly in music videos, I'll write the pitch and convince the artists that this is a good idea, and then I'm having to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiro-murai/regularly-in-music-videos-i-ll-write-the-pitch-and-convince-the/) [Hiro Murai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiro-murai/) > [Sometimes when I write lyrics there are images in them, usually on a quite simplistic level, like colors. But most often music comes first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/sometimes-when-i-write-lyrics-there-are-images-in-them-usually-on-a/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) > [I think in London - and I don't wanna offend anybody in America, but this is a real statement - they still have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-think-in-london-and-i-don-t-wanna-offend-anybody-in-america-but/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [We're not making millions and millions of dollars doing this, so for me it's more of a goal for me to say that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/we-re-not-making-millions-and-millions-of-dollars-doing-this-so-for/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [It's a little hard not to be an elitist when you're making millions of dollars a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/it-s-a-little-hard-not-to-be-an-elitist-when-you-re-making-millions/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I think if you contribute to a job, and it's repeated and repeated, and sold over the world, and the producers are making millions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dervla-kirwan/i-think-if-you-contribute-to-a-job-and-it-s-repeated-and-repeated-and/) [Dervla Kirwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dervla-kirwan/) > [When you become a commodity to a record label because you're making them millions of dollars, you can take all of your artistic integrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgrath/when-you-become-a-commodity-to-a-record-label-because-you-re-making/) [Mark McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgrath/) > [There are many untalented people making millions of dollars in the film business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-friedkin/there-are-many-untalented-people-making-millions-of-dollars-in-the/) [William Friedkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-friedkin/) > [I have an amazing life getting whatever I want, dad making millions, but still I'm not happy . MONEY CANT MAKE YOU FEEL HAPPY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/obeymzzkirlene/i-have-an-amazing-life-getting-whatever-i-want-dad-making-millions/) [ObeyMzzKirlene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/obeymzzkirlene/) > [Everyone thought my son had zero value. You would take one look at his school records, and you'd think he was the village idiot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-anne-tuohy/everyone-thought-my-son-had-zero-value-you-would-take-one-look-at-his/) [Leigh Anne Tuohy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-anne-tuohy/) > [With the pay gap in Hollywood, I think it's very easy to say - 'oh, what are they complaining for? They're making millions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debby-ryan/with-the-pay-gap-in-hollywood-i-think-it-s-very-easy-to-say-oh-what/) [Debby Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debby-ryan/) > [A lot of people my age who are working right now have never acted; they get a show and suddenly they're making millions. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-dunst/a-lot-of-people-my-age-who-are-working-right-now-have-never-acted/) [Kirsten Dunst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-dunst/) > [It's really easy to spend millions of dollars if you're not careful and you think it's easy to keep making millions of dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-pratt/it-s-really-easy-to-spend-millions-of-dollars-if-you-re-not-careful/) [Spencer Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-pratt/) > [If we were making millions, we wouldn't have day jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sunde/if-we-were-making-millions-we-wouldn-t-have-day-jobs/) [Peter Sunde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sunde/) ## 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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That was the greatest trick in music that people ever pulled off, to convince artists that you can't be an artist and make money. 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