--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I've grown as an artist, I've learned…" description: "\"As I've grown as an artist, I've learned that my mission statement is really self-expression. I don't want anybody to classify my music. I want them to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/kendrick-lamar-1241_appreciate_as-i-ve-grown-as-an-artist-i-ve-learned_240992.jpg" --- # As I've grown as an artist, I've learned that my mission… ![“As I've grown as an artist, I've learned that my mission statement is really self-expression. I don't want anybody to classify my music. I want them to say, "This is somebody who's recognizing his true feelings, his true emotions, ideas, thoughts, opinions, and views on the world, all on one…” quote by Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/kendrick-lamar-1241_appreciate_as-i-ve-grown-as-an-artist-i-ve-learned_240992.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/kendrick-lamar-1241_appreciate_as-i-ve-grown-as-an-artist-i-ve-learned_240992.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/kendrick-lamar-1241_appreciate_as-i-ve-grown-as-an-artist-i-ve-learned_240992.jpg) > “As I've grown as an artist, I've learned that my mission statement is really self-expression. I don't want anybody to classify my music. I want them to say, "This is somebody who's recognizing his true feelings, his true emotions, ideas, thoughts, opinions, and views on the world, all on one record." I want people to recognize that and to take it and apply it to their own lives. You know what I'm saying? The more and more I get out and talk to different people, I realize they appreciate that - me being unapologetic in whatever views and approach I have.” [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist sees music as a vehicle for authentic self‑expression, rejecting external labels and inviting listeners to reflect on their own feelings. **In simple terms:** Music should convey genuine emotions and ideas. Key Takeaway Create honest work and let others interpret it. Themes self‑expression authenticity artistic integrity empowerment Mood reflective confident Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - album releases - live performances - artist interviews Key Concepts identity emotional honesty listener resonance Questions to Reflect On - How does authenticity affect audience connection? - What risks come with rejecting genre labels? A Different Perspective Listeners may misinterpret or commercialize the message. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identity/) [Mission statement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission-statement/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-expression/) [True emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-emotions/) [True feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-feelings/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not necessarily a good actor, but once people start saying you are, you are. And I know that that's a truism, and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-siddig/i-m-not-necessarily-a-good-actor-but-once-people-start-saying-you-are/) [Alexander Siddig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-siddig/) > [“Words can express true feelings, true emotions and wisdom. It is up to you to use them wisely... Choose your words carefully and express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/words-can-express-true-feelings-true-emotions-and-wisdom-it-is-up-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I'm aware of my songs. I'm aware of them because they're about true emotions, true feelings, things that matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lydon/i-m-aware-of-my-songs-i-m-aware-of-them-because-they-re-about-true/) [John Lydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lydon/) > [The one genre I'm not really into: self-help books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michiko-kakutani/the-one-genre-i-m-not-really-into-self-help-books/) [Michiko Kakutani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michiko-kakutani/) > [I'm not really a self-promoter-type person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wilmore/i-m-not-really-a-self-promoter-type-person/) [Larry Wilmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wilmore/) > [I think women are really self-analytical in a way that men aren't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-lister-jones/i-think-women-are-really-self-analytical-in-a-way-that-men-aren-t/) [Zoe Lister-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-lister-jones/) > [I was really self conscious as a kid, I felt terrible - like a prisoner in my own body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/i-was-really-self-conscious-as-a-kid-i-felt-terrible-like-a-prisoner/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [I think sex is really about the self, and really a self-reflection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-sex-is-really-about-the-self-and-really-a-self-reflection/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If you think all this is going on, all these gigantic fields of gravity and light with you in mind, then you really do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/if-you-think-all-this-is-going-on-all-these-gigantic-fields-of/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I moved to Europe and was able to take time and really explore who I was and who I wanted to be. I needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mischa-barton/i-moved-to-europe-and-was-able-to-take-time-and-really-explore-who-i/) [Mischa Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mischa-barton/) > [There's only so many movies you can do. I start to get really self-loathing and sick of myself. And I think in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/there-s-only-so-many-movies-you-can-do-i-start-to-get-really-self/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [I'm really very self-confident when it comes to my work. When I take on a project, I believe in it 100%. I really put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-m-really-very-self-confident-when-it-comes-to-my-work-when-i-take/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I'm really a self-made businesswoman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/i-m-really-a-self-made-businesswoman/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [Of course it's super special to create your own records; it really is a part of my self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-garrix/of-course-it-s-super-special-to-create-your-own-records-it-really-is/) [Martin Garrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-garrix/) > [Sometimes I really want you back and then I think to myself, 'Could I really put my self in the position of being hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-really-want-you-back-and-then-i-think-to-myself-could-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Kendrick Lamar > [I think that's why I put my energy into making music. That's how I get my thoughts out, instead of being crazy all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/i-think-that-s-why-i-put-my-energy-into-making-music-that-s-how-i-get/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [ Got in the studio at sixteen, \[and\] that's when I felt like I wanted to make this a career. I had a passion for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/got-in-the-studio-at-sixteen-and-that-s-when-i-felt-like-i-wanted-to/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [Black and brown pride have been taught in my household for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/black-and-brown-pride-have-been-taught-in-my-household-for-a-long-time/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [Everybody has their own way of hearing songs. My fans are usually pretty on point. Sometimes they go all the way to the bottom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/everybody-has-their-own-way-of-hearing-songs-my-fans-are-usually/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [I don't really believe in the type of pressure that people are wanting to put on the type of music that I make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/i-don-t-really-believe-in-the-type-of-pressure-that-people-are/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [I've got an extra-specific story about Dr. Dre. I saw him when I was 9 years old in Compton - him and Tupac. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/i-ve-got-an-extra-specific-story-about-dr-dre-i-saw-him-when-i-was-9/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [Brother Kendrick Lamar: he's not a rapper, he's a writer, he's an author. And if you read between the lines, we'll learn how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/brother-kendrick-lamar-he-s-not-a-rapper-he-s-a-writer-he-s-an-author/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [You can have the platinum album, but when you still feel like you haven't quite found your place in the world - it kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/you-can-have-the-platinum-album-but-when-you-still-feel-like-you/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [You really can't categorize my music, it's human music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/you-really-can-t-categorize-my-music-it-s-human-music/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [My passion is bringing storylines around and constructing a full body of work rather than just a 16-bar verse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/my-passion-is-bringing-storylines-around-and-constructing-a-full-body/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [I'm only as good as my last word, my last hook, my last bridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/i-m-only-as-good-as-my-last-word-my-last-hook-my-last-bridge/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [The message I'm sending to myself - I can't change the world until I change myself first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/the-message-i-m-sending-to-myself-i-can-t-change-the-world-until-i/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [We all seem to stumble, planning our own demise, Getting the big picture, and making it wallet-sized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/we-all-seem-to-stumble-planning-our-own-demise-getting-the-big/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [I was raised inside the gang culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/i-was-raised-inside-the-gang-culture/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [We look so much on color that we forget about the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/we-look-so-much-on-color-that-we-forget-about-the-soul/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) [Explore all 266 Kendrick Lamar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) ## More Appreciate quotes > [All I hear is the people that appreciate me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-hardy/all-i-hear-is-the-people-that-appreciate-me/) [Greg Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-hardy/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Time is really gold,spent it wisely with the people around you.Spread love,appreciate the beauty around you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jglargosta/time-is-really-gold-spent-it-wisely-with-the-people-around-you-spread/) [Jglargosta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jglargosta/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Eventually the consumer will come to appreciate the editorial point of view of every different brand. User-generated content without editorial oversight will simply be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eisner/eventually-the-consumer-will-come-to-appreciate-the-editorial-point/) [Michael Eisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eisner/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [This time, there were no drugs involved. The hours were completely normal daytime hours. I think we were able to appreciate the interplay, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-buckingham/this-time-there-were-no-drugs-involved-the-hours-were-completely/) [Lindsey Buckingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-buckingham/) > [I would like beautiful gymnastics to be recognized as the best. I want the judges to appreciate things that are not necessarily winning points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kohei-uchimura/i-would-like-beautiful-gymnastics-to-be-recognized-as-the-best-i-want/) [Kohei Uchimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kohei-uchimura/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [It's great at this stage in my life to still be in the running, that people appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/it-s-great-at-this-stage-in-my-life-to-still-be-in-the-running-that/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [Love is too wonderful for us but why we often times do not ever appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamad-idrus/love-is-too-wonderful-for-us-but-why-we-often-times-do-not-ever/) [Mohamad Idrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamad-idrus/) > [I think the most important thing is to stay hopeful, to believe wonderful things are possible and do your best. Basically, to not give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irena-a-hoffman/i-think-the-most-important-thing-is-to-stay-hopeful-to-believe/) [Irena A. Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irena-a-hoffman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) Browse all 3,873 Appreciate quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As I've grown as an artist, I've learned that my mission statement is really self-expression. I don't want anybody to classify my music. I want them to say, \"This is somebody who's recognizing his true feelings, his true emotions, ideas, thoughts, opinions, and views on the world, all on one record.\" I want people to recognize that and to take it and apply it to their own lives. You know what I'm saying? 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