--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I come in with this rock 'n'…" description: "\"I come in with this rock 'n' roll-oriented music, and it's not black enough . . . I've always had to deal with this black-white thing.\" — Lenny Kravitz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/lenny-kravitz-1836_black_i-come-in-with-this-rock-n-roll-oriented_1742368.png" --- # I come in with this rock 'n' roll-oriented music, and it's… ![“I come in with this rock 'n' roll-oriented music, and it's not black enough . . . I've always had to deal with this black-white thing.” quote by Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/lenny-kravitz-1836_black_i-come-in-with-this-rock-n-roll-oriented_1742368.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/lenny-kravitz-1836_black_i-come-in-with-this-rock-n-roll-oriented_1742368.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/lenny-kravitz-1836_black_i-come-in-with-this-rock-n-roll-oriented_1742368.png) > “I come in with this rock 'n' roll-oriented music, and it's not black enough . . . I've always had to deal with this black-white thing.” [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. His music blends rock with darker tones; struggles with binary expectations. **In simple terms:** Rock music isn’t just black or white. Key Takeaway Embrace nuanced artistic expression. Themes music identity creativity Mood reflective artistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - media interviews Key Concepts artistic authenticity genre blending personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How does genre affect artistic freedom? - What does “black‑white thing” represent? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex artistic identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black white](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-white/) [Deal Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deal-black-1531633/) [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-black-1316878/) [Rock n roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-n-roll/) [Rock Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-roll/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) ## Related quotes > [I didn't really listen to rock 'n' roll until I moved to LA. We would ditch school, go get high, put on Zeppelin IV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/i-didn-t-really-listen-to-rock-n-roll-until-i-moved-to-la-we-would/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [I was trying to establish an identity in music, and black and white had nothing to do with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-phillips/i-was-trying-to-establish-an-identity-in-music-and-black-and-white/) [Sam Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-phillips/) > [It's interesting that music in this country... we sort of sold something to America with The Beatles and they sold something back. And we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/it-s-interesting-that-music-in-this-country-we-sort-of-sold-something/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Songs, and songwriting keeps me inspired, moving forward. I tend to scribble down notes, lyrics or just random thoughts on pieces of paper, backs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waite/songs-and-songwriting-keeps-me-inspired-moving-forward-i-tend-to/) [John Waite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waite/) > [Rock'n'roll will never go away completely because it's so fundamentally attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-turner/rock-n-roll-will-never-go-away-completely-because-it-s-so/) [Alex Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-turner/) > [I'm not really a musician. I'm a performer and I love rock 'n' roll.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-not-really-a-musician-i-m-a-performer-and-i-love-rock-n-roll/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Rock 'n roll was born in the South, man. It's like saying rock-rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-allman/rock-n-roll-was-born-in-the-south-man-it-s-like-saying-rock-rock/) [Gregg Allman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-allman/) > [All my life I just wanted to be a beatnik. Meet all the heavies, get stoned, get laid, have a good time. That's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janis-joplin/all-my-life-i-just-wanted-to-be-a-beatnik-meet-all-the-heavies-get/) [Janis Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janis-joplin/) > [Rock 'n' roll started to make so much money and generated so much income for the record companies that suddenly it was no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/rock-n-roll-started-to-make-so-much-money-and-generated-so-much/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Rock 'n' roll is about music. Music. Music. Music. It's not about you, it's not about me, it's not about Oasis. It's about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/rock-n-roll-is-about-music-music-music-music-it-s-not-about-you-it-s/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [I wish the rock 'n' roll scene to be back in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-fraser/i-wish-the-rock-n-roll-scene-to-be-back-in/) [Brendan Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-fraser/) > [Hanoi Rocks was our baby and we were the core and we started the band. All those years that went to waste because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-monroe/hanoi-rocks-was-our-baby-and-we-were-the-core-and-we-started-the-band/) [Michael Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-monroe/) > [Rock n' roll was a bad and evil thing. l remember once I was singing a Barry Manilow song, "Mandy," In the back seat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/axl-rose/rock-n-roll-was-a-bad-and-evil-thing-l-remember-once-i-was-singing-a/) [Axl Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/axl-rose/) > [Rock n roll is about drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/rock-n-roll-is-about-drugs/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [If you think you are too old to rock 'n roll, then you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy-kilmister/if-you-think-you-are-too-old-to-rock-n-roll-then-you-are/) [Lemmy Kilmister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy-kilmister/) ## More by Lenny Kravitz > [Mothers love you to the end, and she didn't want to hold me back from my livelihood. So I left for a month and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/mothers-love-you-to-the-end-and-she-didn-t-want-to-hold-me-back-from/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [There's definitely an old school element to my music, but I also think it's modern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/there-s-definitely-an-old-school-element-to-my-music-but-i-also-think/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [I wouldn't play together with someone who likes to control everything like me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/i-wouldn-t-play-together-with-someone-who-likes-to-control-everything/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [It was amazing to me that, all of a sudden, I was hearing my music on the radio and coming out of cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/it-was-amazing-to-me-that-all-of-a-sudden-i-was-hearing-my-music-on/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [There are so many people that don't believe in themselves and don't have faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/there-are-so-many-people-that-don-t-believe-in-themselves-and-don-t/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [When it comes to acting, it's about creating a character and bringing forth a director's vision. It's a weird feeling, because with acting, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/when-it-comes-to-acting-it-s-about-creating-a-character-and-bringing/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [It's a trip to have a Greatest Hits record. It's a trip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/it-s-a-trip-to-have-a-greatest-hits-record-it-s-a-trip/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [I knew what I wanted to do from the time I was 5.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/i-knew-what-i-wanted-to-do-from-the-time-i-was-5/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [Oasis are not just influenced by the Beatles; they actually take stuff. Then they get praised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/oasis-are-not-just-influenced-by-the-beatles-they-actually-take-stuff/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [I never sit down to write. When I'm moved, I do it. I just wait for it to come. You just hear it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/i-never-sit-down-to-write-when-i-m-moved-i-do-it-i-just-wait-for-it/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [We're beginning to play God and get into cloning. We give up quickly. Divorce is an easy option. So why not just create your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/we-re-beginning-to-play-god-and-get-into-cloning-we-give-up-quickly/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [Music definitely inspires my design all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/music-definitely-inspires-my-design-all-the-time/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [Eleutheria, the fire is burning. Eleutheria, the tables are turning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/eleutheria-the-fire-is-burning-eleutheria-the-tables-are-turning/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [People always accuse me of being motivational in a way, like it was a bad thing, but that's just how I was raised. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/people-always-accuse-me-of-being-motivational-in-a-way-like-it-was-a/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [I used to do plays and some television commercials when I was younger. I guess my mom's being an actress got me interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/i-used-to-do-plays-and-some-television-commercials-when-i-was-younger/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) [Explore all 204 Lenny Kravitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) ## More Black quotes > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [How can you be more subject; black woman in a white man's world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/how-can-you-be-more-subject-black-woman-in-a-white-man-s-world/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [We have to build our own power. We have to win every single political office we can, where we have a majority of black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-lou-hamer/we-have-to-build-our-own-power-we-have-to-win-every-single-political/) [Fannie Lou Hamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-lou-hamer/) > [There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party...and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat. Republicans are a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/there-is-only-one-party-in-the-united-states-the-property-party-and/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) [Frank B. 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