--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's difficult to really be an artist…" description: "\"It's difficult to really be an artist nowadays. People are just on another page. You have a society that needs you to say something, but they don't wan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/mos-def-3481_able_it-s-difficult-to-really-be-an-artist-no_1575011.jpg" --- # It's difficult to really be an artist nowadays. People are… ![“It's difficult to really be an artist nowadays. People are just on another page. You have a society that needs you to say something, but they don't want to give you the environment to be able to be just a functioning, happy, normal person. It's like, the industry is at odds with you, the society…” quote by Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/mos-def-3481_able_it-s-difficult-to-really-be-an-artist-no_1575011.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/mos-def-3481_able_it-s-difficult-to-really-be-an-artist-no_1575011.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a07/mos-def-3481_able_it-s-difficult-to-really-be-an-artist-no_1575011.jpg) > “It's difficult to really be an artist nowadays. People are just on another page. You have a society that needs you to say something, but they don't want to give you the environment to be able to be just a functioning, happy, normal person. It's like, the industry is at odds with you, the society is at odds with you. You start to live in this very confined box where it's like, It's "me" and "them."” [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists face societal pressure to produce meaning while lacking supportive environments, creating tension between personal expression and external expectations. **In simple terms:** Artists feel torn between expectations and freedom. Key Takeaway Seek authentic expression despite pressures. Themes creativity society industry identity Mood reflective critical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - music career - personal mental health - creative projects Key Concepts artistic integrity social expectations Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain authenticity in a demanding industry? - What support structures could help artists thrive? A Different Perspective Balancing authenticity with market demands is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Nowadays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-nowadays-4521579/) [Boxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxes/) [Confined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confined/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Need you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-you/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Needs Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs-say-1149376/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Normal person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal-person/) [Nowadays People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nowadays-people-261382/) [Odds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odds/) [Pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pages/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Really Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-artist-329206/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [Today they forget you in five years. They give an artist nowadays four or five years and that's it. Some of them don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jones/today-they-forget-you-in-five-years-they-give-an-artist-nowadays-four/) [George Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jones/) > [Too many of us fail to fulfill our needs because we say no rather than yes, yes when we should say no.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-glasser/too-many-of-us-fail-to-fulfill-our-needs-because-we-say-no-rather-2/) [William Glasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-glasser/) > [No one is going to throw you down, knock you down. Who ever does that, seriously needs to be beat down to the ground.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/savannah-j/no-one-is-going-to-throw-you-down-knock-you-down-who-ever-does-that/) [Savannah J](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/savannah-j/) > [Someone with a nice tan needs to say this: All lives matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-glenn/someone-with-a-nice-tan-needs-to-say-this-all-lives-matter/) [Darryl Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-glenn/) > [“A wise man always has something to say, whereas a fool always needs to say something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-ali-ibn-abu-talib-a-s/a-wise-man-always-has-something-to-say-whereas-a-fool-always-needs-to/) [Hazrat Ali Ibn Abu-Talib A.S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-ali-ibn-abu-talib-a-s/) > [If the Internet or air traffic of the financial center of the world shuts down, of course the world needs to have a say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/if-the-internet-or-air-traffic-of-the-financial-center-of-the-world/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [“What a person needs is always more than what they say! Always!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi/what-a-person-needs-is-always-more-than-what-they-say-always/) [Avi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi/) > [The industry will say whatever it needs to say to get you to do what they want you to do. The manipulation behind closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raye/the-industry-will-say-whatever-it-needs-to-say-to-get-you-to-do-what/) [Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raye/) > [I like to do commercials that are more than just flogging a product. It needs to have something to say. It's always an opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hillcoat/i-like-to-do-commercials-that-are-more-than-just-flogging-a-product/) [John Hillcoat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hillcoat/) > [Every kid needs to say, 'I want what my mom and dad have.’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/every-kid-needs-to-say-i-want-what-my-mom-and-dad-have/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [When ever somebody needs something there always around, once you say NO they become invincible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/when-ever-somebody-needs-something-there-always-around-once-you-say/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [When I don't play well, nobody needs to say anything to me. I beat myself up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfried-zaha/when-i-don-t-play-well-nobody-needs-to-say-anything-to-me-i-beat/) [Wilfried Zaha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfried-zaha/) > [“I haven't been around here for long. Well... actually, I haven't been around anywhere for long. I don't know who I am, or what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-w-catanese/i-haven-t-been-around-here-for-long-well-actually-i-haven-t-been/) [P.W. Catanese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-w-catanese/) > [God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant and the cat. He has no real style, He just goes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/god-is-really-only-another-artist-he-invented-the-giraffe-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“You really are an artist, aren’t you? You think it’s all about you, and you never stop looking for pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-burton/you-really-are-an-artist-aren-t-you-you-think-it-s-all-about-you-and/) [Jessie Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie-burton/) ## More by Mos Def > [I have mad brims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-have-mad-brims/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [And from the moment that I saw you, I knew you was trouble, But I disregarded detour signs, And did not stop til you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/and-from-the-moment-that-i-saw-you-i-knew-you-was-trouble-but-i/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [But even creeps deserve to live someplace halfway decent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/but-even-creeps-deserve-to-live-someplace-halfway-decent/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [If you're going to do Chuck Berry, you got to, you know, go all out, and the duck walk is just kind of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/if-you-re-going-to-do-chuck-berry-you-got-to-you-know-go-all-out-and/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [The ability to have somebody read something and see it, or for somebody to paint an entire landscape of visual imagery with just sheets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/the-ability-to-have-somebody-read-something-and-see-it-or-for/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I'm growing as an individual, but your always growing. All of my albums are snapshots of where I am artistically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-m-growing-as-an-individual-but-your-always-growing-all-of-my-albums/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I don't want to waste anyone's time or money. I want to give people some truth and positive heart lift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-don-t-want-to-waste-anyone-s-time-or-money-i-want-to-give-people/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [Man, I smashed her like an Idaho Potato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/man-i-smashed-her-like-an-idaho-potato/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I'm blacked than midnight on Broadway and Myrtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-m-blacked-than-midnight-on-broadway-and-myrtle/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I'm not shy about heated debate or passionate discourse, but when people get crazy or rude, that's a buzz kill. There's got to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-m-not-shy-about-heated-debate-or-passionate-discourse-but-when/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I was taught when there's somethin' you can change around keep quiet, you got nothin' to complain about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-was-taught-when-there-s-somethin-you-can-change-around-keep-quiet/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [I don't hate nobody. I hate certain conditions that are inflicted upon the people - and they're helpless with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/i-don-t-hate-nobody-i-hate-certain-conditions-that-are-inflicted-upon/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [It’s one thing to be the greatest; it’s another thing to be necessary. The best are the most necessary: those who take less than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/it-s-one-thing-to-be-the-greatest-it-s-another-thing-to-be-necessary/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [We can be beautiful and feel beautiful about who we are everyday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/we-can-be-beautiful-and-feel-beautiful-about-who-we-are-everyday/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) > [Fame is like getting across the street. It's like, if there's nothing to be across the street for, it's a pointless destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mos-def/fame-is-like-getting-across-the-street-it-s-like-if-there-s-nothing/) [Mos Def](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) [Explore all 129 Mos Def quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mos-def/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's difficult to really be an artist nowadays. People are just on another page. You have a society that needs you to say something, but they don't want to give you the environment to be able to be just a functioning, happy, normal person. It's like, the industry is at odds with you, the society is at odds with you. 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