--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, it's about making art that's not…" description: "\"For me, it's about making art that's not good but phenomenal. James Baldwin didn't want to just stay above the fray. Prince didn't think, 'I wonder wha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/lena-waithe-4351_art_for-me-it-s-about-making-art-that-s-not_284787.jpg" --- # For me, it's about making art that's not good but… ![“For me, it's about making art that's not good but phenomenal. James Baldwin didn't want to just stay above the fray. Prince didn't think, 'I wonder what the industry is gonna think about 'Purple Rain.'' It's just, is this honest? Is this real? Does this move me? The rest is icing.” quote by Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/lena-waithe-4351_art_for-me-it-s-about-making-art-that-s-not_284787.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/lena-waithe-4351_art_for-me-it-s-about-making-art-that-s-not_284787.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/769/lena-waithe-4351_art_for-me-it-s-about-making-art-that-s-not_284787.jpg) > “For me, it's about making art that's not good but phenomenal. James Baldwin didn't want to just stay above the fray. Prince didn't think, 'I wonder what the industry is gonna think about 'Purple Rain.'' It's just, is this honest? Is this real? Does this move me? The rest is icing.” [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creating art that prioritizes authenticity and emotional impact over conventional quality or external approval. **In simple terms:** Art should be authentic and moving, not just technically good. Key Takeaway Focus on honesty and emotional resonance. Themes authenticity creativity artistic integrity Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - songwriting - visual art - performance - personal expression Key Concepts phenomenal art emotional truth industry pressure Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance honesty with audience expectations? - What defines 'phenomenal' for you? A Different Perspective Authenticity can be subjective and may alienate some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Making Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-art/) [Purple rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purple-rain/) [Rain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rain/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [I saw 'Purple Rain' in the summer of '84, and, 'Spinal Tap' notwithstanding, it's the greatest rock & roll film of all time. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/i-saw-purple-rain-in-the-summer-of-84-and-spinal-tap-notwithstanding/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [I actually was there down in Florida when Prince did 'Purple Rain' in the rain. He was out there with the guitar goin'. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mauer/i-actually-was-there-down-in-florida-when-prince-did-purple-rain-in/) [Joe Mauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mauer/) > [I remember Prince gave me a cassette of Purple Rain. It was like 20 minutes long and he asked me to write something on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-remember-prince-gave-me-a-cassette-of-purple-rain-it-was-like-20/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [I never called him Prince because I wanted him to be a person to me, not the man behind 'Purple Rain'. Plus, technically, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayte-garcia/i-never-called-him-prince-because-i-wanted-him-to-be-a-person-to-me/) [Mayte Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayte-garcia/) > [Everyone thinks that Prince and I had a beautiful, romantic love affair, but we didn't. We just let people think that in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apollonia-kotero/everyone-thinks-that-prince-and-i-had-a-beautiful-romantic-love/) [Apollonia Kotero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apollonia-kotero/) > [I wasn't a Prince fan until I watched Purple Rain. When I watched that, it was one of my favorite movies of all time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/i-wasn-t-a-prince-fan-until-i-watched-purple-rain-when-i-watched-that/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [I will never, ever forget the electricity I felt the first time I listened to the 'Purple Rain' soundtrack - and many times since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-hodges/i-will-never-ever-forget-the-electricity-i-felt-the-first-time-i/) [Betsy Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-hodges/) > [When I first got turned on to 'Purple Rain,' I was just moved by Prince's charisma and his just being free. Everything meant something,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-james/when-i-first-got-turned-on-to-purple-rain-i-was-just-moved-by-prince/) [Luke James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-james/) > [Beyonce, to me, doesn't have a f--king Purple Rain, but she's the biggest thing on Earth. How can you be that big without at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/beyonce-to-me-doesn-t-have-a-f-king-purple-rain-but-she-s-the-biggest/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [“At the apex of Prince's career, I listened almost exclusively to metal. My sister actually purchased 'Purple Rain' on cassette, which I write about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/at-the-apex-of-prince-s-career-i-listened-almost-exclusively-to-metal/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Prince turned experimental music into pop music. 'When Doves Cry,' the whole 'Purple Rain' soundtrack - he was inspired by the Cocteau Twins and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/prince-turned-experimental-music-into-pop-music-when-doves-cry-the/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [Making art, good art, is always a struggle. It can make you happy when you pull it off. There's no better feeling. It's beauteous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/making-art-good-art-is-always-a-struggle-it-can-make-you-happy-when/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [I can say being serious in the process of making art is good, but don't lose the fun of it. When you have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-wang/i-can-say-being-serious-in-the-process-of-making-art-is-good-but-don/) [Jackson Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-wang/) > [Making art is dealing with people on your own terms. The ideal way of using people is using them like clay, but that being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-samaras/making-art-is-dealing-with-people-on-your-own-terms-the-ideal-way-of/) [Lucas Samaras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-samaras/) ## More by Lena Waithe > [I'm a huge fan of television, and the reason I'm a part of the world is because I'm a fan of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-television-and-the-reason-i-m-a-part-of-the-world/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [To be yourself is truly a revolutionary act, and I think more and more people should try it, because it's gotten me a pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/to-be-yourself-is-truly-a-revolutionary-act-and-i-think-more-and-more/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [I love basketball! When I'm flying, and I have on sweats, a hat, and sneakers, people always assume that I'm a high school kid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-love-basketball-when-i-m-flying-and-i-have-on-sweats-a-hat-and/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [The only way you really see change is by helping to create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/the-only-way-you-really-see-change-is-by-helping-to-create-it/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [The truth is, for me, when I was a young black girl who knew I was different, was watching TV, I would always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/the-truth-is-for-me-when-i-was-a-young-black-girl-who-knew-i-was/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [There's something specific about Chicagoans, and I just felt like I'd love to tell their story in a creative way. Not in a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/there-s-something-specific-about-chicagoans-and-i-just-felt-like-i-d/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [It's always been my intention to never be boxed in. I never like to do something that it feels like I've done before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/it-s-always-been-my-intention-to-never-be-boxed-in-i-never-like-to-do/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [Most writers stick to what they know. The black experience is our experience, so it's not that challenging for us. That's why sometimes you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/most-writers-stick-to-what-they-know-the-black-experience-is-our/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [Wearing one hoop earring and playing with the androgyny - that's who I am. That's what I like to do. And I feel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/wearing-one-hoop-earring-and-playing-with-the-androgyny-that-s-who-i/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [You can talk all day long, but if you don't do something, it's a waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/you-can-talk-all-day-long-but-if-you-don-t-do-something-it-s-a-waste/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [I sort of knew very early on that I wanted to be a writer. Even in high school, I was a big movie buff,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-sort-of-knew-very-early-on-that-i-wanted-to-be-a-writer-even-in/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [My family still lives in Chicago: my mother, my sister, my nephew, my family is there. So even though I am not living there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/my-family-still-lives-in-chicago-my-mother-my-sister-my-nephew-my/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [I feel like I've accomplished a lot, but for me, it's about pushing to the point where I can be Mark Walhberg, Ryan Murphy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-feel-like-i-ve-accomplished-a-lot-but-for-me-it-s-about-pushing-to/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [With 'The Chi,' it's me observing my own city and also pulling some things from themes I've dealt with in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/with-the-chi-it-s-me-observing-my-own-city-and-also-pulling-some/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [I'm a big fan of Nora Ephron, who believed everything is copy, and I agree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-m-a-big-fan-of-nora-ephron-who-believed-everything-is-copy-and-i/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) [Explore all 112 Lena Waithe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) ## 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": "For me, it's about making art that's not good but phenomenal. 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