---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hip-hop as a culture itself goes through…"
description: "\"Hip-hop as a culture itself goes through stages. It grows - it's breathing, living. I've noticed that we usually start off conscious, then we wind up v..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/krs-one-2404_breathing_hip-hop-as-a-culture-itself-goes-through_2853314.png"
---

#  Hip-hop as a culture itself goes through stages. It grows…

![“Hip-hop as a culture itself goes through stages. It grows - it's breathing, living. I've noticed that we usually start off conscious, then we wind up very highly sexual, and then we thug it out. Then things get a little funny again, with comedy and that kind of thing.” quote by KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/krs-one-2404_breathing_hip-hop-as-a-culture-itself-goes-through_2853314.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/krs-one-2404_breathing_hip-hop-as-a-culture-itself-goes-through_2853314.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/krs-one-2404_breathing_hip-hop-as-a-culture-itself-goes-through_2853314.png)

> “Hip-hop as a culture itself goes through stages. It grows - it's breathing, living. I've noticed that we usually start off conscious, then we wind up very highly sexual, and then we thug it out. Then things get a little funny again, with comedy and that kind of thing.”

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Describes hip‑hop’s cultural evolution through phases of consciousness, sexuality, aggression, and humor.

**In simple terms:** Hip‑hop cycles through awareness, desire, aggression, comedy.

Key Takeaway

Observe and respect each cultural stage.

Themes

culture music social evolution

Mood

analytical observational

Type

cultural musical

When to use this quote

- music festivals
- community events
- media analysis

Key Concepts

hip‑hop identity stage theory

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives each cultural shift?
- How can artists navigate these phases?

A Different Perspective

May oversimplify complex history.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Hips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hips/) [Hop Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hop-culture-377393/) [Hops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hops/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Sexual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexual/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Stages Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stages-grows-3809228/) [Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thug/) [Thug Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thug-things-3809229/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/)

## Related quotes

> [House, rap, R&amp;B, disco rock, they are all part of hip-hop culture. Why you ain't playing Kraftwerk along with Jay-Z? That's hip-hop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrika-bambaataa/house-rap-r-b-disco-rock-they-are-all-part-of-hip-hop-culture-why-you/)

[Afrika Bambaataa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrika-bambaataa/)

> [Hip-Hop itself, the culture, the way that it's going you could always see the effect that it has on basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-montgomery/hip-hop-itself-the-culture-the-way-that-it-s-going-you-could-always/)

[Ryan Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-montgomery/)

> [Rap is a gimmick, but I'm for the hip-hop, the culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/method-man/rap-is-a-gimmick-but-i-m-for-the-hip-hop-the-culture/)

[Method Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/method-man/)

> [Cutting and pasting is the essence of what hip-hop culture is all about for me. It's about drawing from what's around you, and subverting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-shadow/cutting-and-pasting-is-the-essence-of-what-hip-hop-culture-is-all/)

[DJ Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-shadow/)

> [If you watch wrestling, you now know the hip-hop culture is being represented with wrestling. For the longest time, the cultures have almost been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/if-you-watch-wrestling-you-now-know-the-hip-hop-culture-is-being/)

[John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/)

> [When you talk about rap you have to understand that rap is part of the Hip-Hop culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrika-bambaataa/when-you-talk-about-rap-you-have-to-understand-that-rap-is-part-of/)

[Afrika Bambaataa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrika-bambaataa/)

> [Locally lived hip-hop culture that is giving many of America's youth the tool they need to survive and thrive in America, in the face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/locally-lived-hip-hop-culture-that-is-giving-many-of-america-s-youth/)

[Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/)

> [Hip-hop was the culture that I grew up with; I am part of this culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-shaheed-muhammad/hip-hop-was-the-culture-that-i-grew-up-with-i-am-part-of-this-culture/)

[Ali Shaheed Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-shaheed-muhammad/)

> [I know about hip-hop culture, whether it's graffiti writing or DJ-ing or being an MC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-peck/i-know-about-hip-hop-culture-whether-it-s-graffiti-writing-or-dj-ing/)

[Josh Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-peck/)

> [Hip-hop culture is probably one of the most powerful things to come out of America in a long time - everything from the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/hip-hop-culture-is-probably-one-of-the-most-powerful-things-to-come/)

[will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/)

> [Well hip hop is basically the whole culture of the movement. There's the rap which is a form of hip hop culture. It could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/afrika-bambaataa/well-hip-hop-is-basically-the-whole-culture-of-the-movement-there-s/)

[Afrika Bambaataa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/afrika-bambaataa/)

> [My shows will always be inspired by hip hop culture and my upbringing within it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-brown/my-shows-will-always-be-inspired-by-hip-hop-culture-and-my-upbringing/)

[Doc Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-brown/)

> [Hip-hop culture is deeply rooted in the wrong things. Hip-hop is about drugs right now. It's more so about drugs - about selling drugs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-staples/hip-hop-culture-is-deeply-rooted-in-the-wrong-things-hip-hop-is-about/)

[Vince Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-staples/)

> [I was kind of influenced by the hip-hop culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichiro-suzuki/i-was-kind-of-influenced-by-the-hip-hop-culture/)

[Ichiro Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichiro-suzuki/)

> [Rap is not Hip-hop.Rap is part of Hip-hop culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeno-nkanyane/rap-is-not-hip-hop-rap-is-part-of-hip-hop-culture/)

[Zeno Nkanyane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeno-nkanyane/)

## More by KRS-One

> [If you don't know hip-hop, at least a little bit of it, you can't even call yourself an American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/if-you-don-t-know-hip-hop-at-least-a-little-bit-of-it-you-can-t-even/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [It's not about a salary, it's all about reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/it-s-not-about-a-salary-it-s-all-about-reality/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [It's not that you don't make any money doing conscious rap music. You make a lot of money doing this, but if you're greedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/it-s-not-that-you-don-t-make-any-money-doing-conscious-rap-music-you/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [Hip-hop is not about crime. Hip-hop is not about being a gangster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/hip-hop-is-not-about-crime-hip-hop-is-not-about-being-a-gangster/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [I break an emcee off proper Yo don't check me, Ask your Moms and Pops, Yo they respect me, But here you stand, tryin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-break-an-emcee-off-proper-yo-don-t-check-me-ask-your-moms-and-pops/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [I mistakably paid respect and condolences to the wrong Beastie Boy member King Ad-Rock when it should have been MCA. In light of this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-mistakably-paid-respect-and-condolences-to-the-wrong-beastie-boy/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [Maybe I'm the prophet of hip hop for real. Maybe I do come with some kind of divine principle behind me, because I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/maybe-i-m-the-prophet-of-hip-hop-for-real-maybe-i-do-come-with-some/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [“The God of your understanding, has chosen you and you've agreed To be here in this space and time to do something, that only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/the-god-of-your-understanding-has-chosen-you-and-you-ve-agreed-to-be/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [There is no forgiveness, justice, or healing on any level when hate is involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/there-is-no-forgiveness-justice-or-healing-on-any-level-when-hate-is/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [I've enjoyed much success. The IRS is always at my door, constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-ve-enjoyed-much-success-the-irs-is-always-at-my-door-constantly/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [When rap music needed to have a teacher, I became it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/when-rap-music-needed-to-have-a-teacher-i-became-it/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [You know something, it's best no to have what you need because then, you start looking for what you need and make it what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/you-know-something-it-s-best-no-to-have-what-you-need-because-then/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [I used to let the olde english 8- suds bubble in the last car of the Franklin Avenue shuttle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-used-to-let-the-olde-english-8-suds-bubble-in-the-last-car-of-the/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [I honestly now know that I'm the physical embodiment of hip-hop on earth. That's my only purpose here on earth is to keep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-honestly-now-know-that-i-m-the-physical-embodiment-of-hip-hop-on/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

> [If I were to critique myself - step out of KRS objectively and look at him - I would say that KRS has introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/if-i-were-to-critique-myself-step-out-of-krs-objectively-and-look-at/)

[KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

[Explore all 168 KRS-One quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/)

## More Breathing quotes

> [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/)

[John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/)

> [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/)

[Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/)

> [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/)

[Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/)

> [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/)

[Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/)

> [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/)

[Marcel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-williams/)

> [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/)

[Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/)

> [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/)

[Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/)

> [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/)

[Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/)

> [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/)

[Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

> [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/)

[Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/)

> [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/)

[Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/)

[Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Hip-hop as a culture itself goes through stages. It grows - it's breathing, living. I've noticed that we usually start off conscious, then we wind up very highly sexual, and then we thug it out. Then things get a little funny again, with comedy and that kind of thing.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "KRS-One"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/hip-hop-as-a-culture-itself-goes-through-stages-it-grows-it-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Breathing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/hip-hop-as-a-culture-itself-goes-through-stages-it-grows-it-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/krs-one-2404_breathing_hip-hop-as-a-culture-itself-goes-through_2853314.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/krs-one-2404_breathing_hip-hop-as-a-culture-itself-goes-through_2853314.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/211/krs-one-2404_breathing_hip-hop-as-a-culture-itself-goes-through_2853314.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Hip-hop as a culture itself goes through stages. It grows - it's breathing, living. I've noticed that we…” — KRS-One",
                "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": "KRS-One",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Hip-hop as a culture itself goes...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/hip-hop-as-a-culture-itself-goes-through-stages-it-grows-it-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/hip-hop-as-a-culture-itself-goes-through-stages-it-grows-it-s/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
