--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: White people couldn't do black music back…" description: "\"White people couldn't do black music back in the day because they weren't funky or bad enough. They weren't from the ghettoes, but hip-hop and R&B chan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/narada-michael-walden-30379_black_white-people-couldn-t-do-black-music-bac_1846858.jpg" --- # White people couldn't do black music back in the day… ![“White people couldn't do black music back in the day because they weren't funky or bad enough. They weren't from the ghettoes, but hip-hop and R&B changed all of that because white kids want to be down with it. They wanted to learn it so they studied the culture. It's kind of a cool thing because…” quote by Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/narada-michael-walden-30379_black_white-people-couldn-t-do-black-music-bac_1846858.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/narada-michael-walden-30379_black_white-people-couldn-t-do-black-music-bac_1846858.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfc/narada-michael-walden-30379_black_white-people-couldn-t-do-black-music-bac_1846858.jpg) > “White people couldn't do black music back in the day because they weren't funky or bad enough. They weren't from the ghettoes, but hip-hop and R&B changed all of that because white kids want to be down with it. They wanted to learn it so they studied the culture. It's kind of a cool thing because we shouldn't be so separate.” [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote observes that historically white artists were excluded from black music, but hip‑hop and R&B opened cultural exchange, encouraging learning and integration. **In simple terms:** Hip‑hop/R&B broke racial music barriers. Key Takeaway Recognize music as a bridge across cultures. Themes cultural exchange music history racial integration learning identity Mood thoughtful critical Type cultural social When to use this quote - music education - cross‑cultural collaboration - social activism Key Concepts cultural appropriation authenticity social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities come with adopting another culture’s music? - How can we honor origins while sharing? A Different Perspective Cultural exchange can risk superficial appropriation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-music/) [Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed/) [Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Culture Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture-kind-1333359/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Funky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funky/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Hips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hips/) [Hops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hops/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Studied Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/studied-culture-1713175/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Wanted Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-learn/) [Weren Funky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weren-funky-2395087/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-people/) ## Related quotes > [I've studied my culture deeply and I'm very aware of my tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-kuti/i-ve-studied-my-culture-deeply-and-i-m-very-aware-of-my-tradition/) [Fela Kuti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-kuti/) > [Among the Indians, as among other nations, some people are born artists, but most are not. I am a born artist. I have as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norval-morrisseau/among-the-indians-as-among-other-nations-some-people-are-born-artists/) [Norval Morrisseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norval-morrisseau/) > [You can't be Eazy-E and not move a certain way, basically. So, I studied the culture of it, and also, one of my uncles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mitchell/you-can-t-be-eazy-e-and-not-move-a-certain-way-basically-so-i-studied/) [Jason Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mitchell/) > [American culture is kind of a universal culture, I guess. It's things Greeks grew up with, common references you can use. It's very interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yorgos-lanthimos/american-culture-is-kind-of-a-universal-culture-i-guess-it-s-things/) [Yorgos Lanthimos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yorgos-lanthimos/) > [I was never either pro-culture or counter-culture. I was in a kind of middle state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-was-never-either-pro-culture-or-counter-culture-i-was-in-a-kind-of/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [Our culture has kind of let the concept of the Renaissance Man die out. We don't really tell the kids that it's okay to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronan-farrow/our-culture-has-kind-of-let-the-concept-of-the-renaissance-man-die/) [Ronan Farrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronan-farrow/) > [American culture is kind of an international culture, isn't it? British culture is a bit more unique. I think funny things are sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walliams/american-culture-is-kind-of-an-international-culture-isn-t-it-british/) [David Walliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walliams/) > [It's just that when you heard hip-hop, no matter where you were, it was a culture that kind of made you want to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/it-s-just-that-when-you-heard-hip-hop-no-matter-where-you-were-it-was/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [Book culture has also become something that's kind of incredible to younger people now, because of the Internet. If you go to any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-walrod/book-culture-has-also-become-something-that-s-kind-of-incredible-to/) [Jim Walrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-walrod/) > [“Even though there is clearly a strong cultural no-no machine telling you not to summon them on what is functionally penalty of death, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-holkins/even-though-there-is-clearly-a-strong-cultural-no-no-machine-telling/) [Jerry Holkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-holkins/) > [Present global culture is a kind of arrogant newcomer. It arrives on the planetary stage following four and a half billion years of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/present-global-culture-is-a-kind-of-arrogant-newcomer-it-arrives-on/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Denmark is, of course is very much like Germany: in terms of culture, the same kind of thinking, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michala-petri/denmark-is-of-course-is-very-much-like-germany-in-terms-of-culture/) [Michala Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michala-petri/) > [“Part of what psychedelics do is they decondition you from cultural values. This is what makes it such a political hot potato. Since all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/part-of-what-psychedelics-do-is-they-decondition-you-from-cultural/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [The down side of Americans being obsessed with pop culture is that they kind of like it light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-griffith/the-down-side-of-americans-being-obsessed-with-pop-culture-is-that/) [Bill Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-griffith/) > [It is interesting the way you create something and send it out into the culture, and then the culture kind of goes berserk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-frost/it-is-interesting-the-way-you-create-something-and-send-it-out-into/) [Mark Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-frost/) ## More by Narada Michael Walden > [What Whitney Houston has accomplished will never be accomplished. She's the most famous person on the planet as far as vocaling and her songs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/what-whitney-houston-has-accomplished-will-never-be-accomplished-she/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [I'm very proud of my love for Whitney Houston. She really changed my life. She made my life a better life. She was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/i-m-very-proud-of-my-love-for-whitney-houston-she-really-changed-my/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [There's nothing more exciting than playing live for the people. Just play it, just do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/there-s-nothing-more-exciting-than-playing-live-for-the-people-just/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [To be a superstar is incredible pressure. And also in our country, I'm going to speak about this, America. We have a way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/to-be-a-superstar-is-incredible-pressure-and-also-in-our-country-i-m/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [I'm known for being a good listener. Most people need a lot of love and encouragement and I'm more than willing to give a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/i-m-known-for-being-a-good-listener-most-people-need-a-lot-of-love/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [I first fell in love with music when I was a little boy. When I first heard music, I felt the beauty in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/i-first-fell-in-love-with-music-when-i-was-a-little-boy-when-i-first/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [I think it's artist's role to give and to receive and the people to give it, hear it, vibe on it, and give it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/i-think-it-s-artist-s-role-to-give-and-to-receive-and-the-people-to/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [Rock was always part of my heart and soul. But the times just changed and everybody wanted to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/rock-was-always-part-of-my-heart-and-soul-but-the-times-just-changed/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [I believe as musicians and artists we have an obligation to our souls. What that is? Only each one of us knows. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/i-believe-as-musicians-and-artists-we-have-an-obligation-to-our-souls/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [I take jobs with people I admire, people with incredible talent who aren't necessarily big sellers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/i-take-jobs-with-people-i-admire-people-with-incredible-talent-who/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [A lot of artists don't like the sound of their voice. They're put off by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/a-lot-of-artists-don-t-like-the-sound-of-their-voice-they-re-put-off/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [Ray Gomez is one of the greatest guitarists of all times!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narada-michael-walden/ray-gomez-is-one-of-the-greatest-guitarists-of-all-times/) [Narada Michael Walden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narada-michael-walden/) > [I've known the glory of the stage and the glory of the spotlight. I still crave it. 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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. 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