--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I talk about life, and I make universal…" description: "\"I talk about life, and I make universal music with an American style - and that's what I do.\" — Nas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/nas-650_american_i-talk-about-life-and-i-make-universal-m_1054446.png" --- # I talk about life, and I make universal music with an… ![“I talk about life, and I make universal music with an American style - and that's what I do.” quote by Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/nas-650_american_i-talk-about-life-and-i-make-universal-m_1054446.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/nas-650_american_i-talk-about-life-and-i-make-universal-m_1054446.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/nas-650_american_i-talk-about-life-and-i-make-universal-m_1054446.png) > “I talk about life, and I make universal music with an American style - and that's what I do.” [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nas blends personal storytelling with American musical influences to create universal themes. **In simple terms:** Music mixes personal story with American style. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse influences. Themes music identity culture Mood confident creative Type artistic cultural When to use this quote - songwriting workshops - cross‑genre collaborations - cultural festivals - music education Key Concepts artistic expression genre blending Questions to Reflect On - How does your background shape your art? - What universal messages can you share? A Different Perspective Commercial pressures can limit authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) ## Related quotes > [Music that is saturated with soul force is the real universal music, understandable by all hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/music-that-is-saturated-with-soul-force-is-the-real-universal-music/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [I have inherited two of the most important brands in hip-hop, Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella. Reid and Universal Music Group have given me the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-have-inherited-two-of-the-most-important-brands-in-hip-hop-def-jam/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [ I'm building an empire. How do you know I won't be the next \[Universal Music Group Chairman/CEO\] Doug Morris one day? I'm doing a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/i-m-building-an-empire-how-do-you-know-i-won-t-be-the-next-universal/) [DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/) > [I always think to myself that if I was able to transition from lucha libre style to American style, then I can always go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rey-mysterio/i-always-think-to-myself-that-if-i-was-able-to-transition-from-lucha/) [Rey Mysterio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rey-mysterio/) > [The more personal you make something, the more universal it becomes, because essentially we're all made up of the same emotional stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-molko/the-more-personal-you-make-something-the-more-universal-it-becomes/) [Brian Molko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-molko/) > [I think by writing about a place with great specificity, you manage to make it universal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/i-think-by-writing-about-a-place-with-great-specificity-you-manage-to/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [The more particular you make something, the more universal it becomes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-gerwig/the-more-particular-you-make-something-the-more-universal-it-becomes/) [Greta Gerwig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-gerwig/) > [Sometimes I would write something that was so private, people would say, 'Make it more universal.' I never liked that idea. I always thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wiedlin/sometimes-i-would-write-something-that-was-so-private-people-would/) [Jane Wiedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wiedlin/) > [Make the Universal personal and you become richer, wiser and stronger. Make the personal Universal and you will find freedom, compassion and love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/make-the-universal-personal-and-you-become-richer-wiser-and-stronger/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [I like the American style. I love L.A. They have a completely different way of dressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-packham/i-like-the-american-style-i-love-l-a-they-have-a-completely-different/) [Jenny Packham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-packham/) > [“I know this pansy beat your f\*cking @ss, American style.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/i-know-this-pansy-beat-your-f-cking-ss-american-style/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [American-style iced tea is the perfect drink for a hot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holt/american-style-iced-tea-is-the-perfect-drink-for-a-hot/) [Tom Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holt/) > [We are ambassadors of American style, but we're in awe of British style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lauren/we-are-ambassadors-of-american-style-but-we-re-in-awe-of-british-style/) [David Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lauren/) > [American style is about confidence, independence, diversity and free expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/american-style-is-about-confidence-independence-diversity-and-free/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [I love the optimistic American style that Gap celebrates and the simplicity of the basic white T-shirt that allows you to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-enninful/i-love-the-optimistic-american-style-that-gap-celebrates-and-the/) [Edward Enninful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-enninful/) ## More by Nas > [I need the best things in life, that's women, thats cars. Cigars in Venice, bottle on ice, thats priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-need-the-best-things-in-life-that-s-women-thats-cars-cigars-in/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [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 had a pretty public divorce. They're not easy - divorces - and it took me a long time to really get through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-had-a-pretty-public-divorce-they-re-not-easy-divorces-and-it-took/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [If you scared to take chances, you'll never have the answers...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/if-you-scared-to-take-chances-you-ll-never-have-the-answers/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Read more learn more, change the globe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/read-more-learn-more-change-the-globe/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I think hip hop allows us to talk about everything, and Africa is what I choose to talk about now. If people are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-hip-hop-allows-us-to-talk-about-everything-and-africa-is-what/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Life is short is what some n\* said, not if you measure life - by how one lives and what he did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/life-is-short-is-what-some-n-said-not-if-you-measure-life-by-how-one/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Calling Michelle 'Obama Barack's baby mama?' Tell me, is that acceptable? But the Obamas aren't the only targets. Fox's pattern of race-baiting and fear-mongering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/calling-michelle-obama-barack-s-baby-mama-tell-me-is-that-acceptable/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [With age comes common sense and wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/with-age-comes-common-sense-and-wisdom/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [It's foul what this money could do, cash corrupts the loyal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/it-s-foul-what-this-money-could-do-cash-corrupts-the-loyal/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [This morning I got a call, nearly split my wig. This social network said Nas go and get your kid. She's on Twitter, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/this-morning-i-got-a-call-nearly-split-my-wig-this-social-network/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I want to sound like an instrument. I want my voice and my words to marry the beat. I go with the rhythm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-want-to-sound-like-an-instrument-i-want-my-voice-and-my-words-to/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [There needs to be structures in place to do something about misrepresentation about hip hop. When awards are given out and the media talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/there-needs-to-be-structures-in-place-to-do-something-about/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I've learned not to be surprised by what people do no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-ve-learned-not-to-be-surprised-by-what-people-do-no-more/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Nasty Nas Enterprises, mastermind, made men. My success symbolizes loyalty, great friends. Dedication, hard work, routine builds character. In a world full of snakes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/nasty-nas-enterprises-mastermind-made-men-my-success-symbolizes/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) [Explore all 427 Nas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) ## More American quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [I certainly don't think that the heirs of the American Revolution were a particularly noble class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-brands/i-certainly-don-t-think-that-the-heirs-of-the-american-revolution/) [H. W. Brands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-brands/) > [Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in a tremendous investment to support millions of workers without a paycheck and behind on bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-auchincloss/congress-passed-the-american-rescue-plan-act-in-a-tremendous/) [Jake Auchincloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-auchincloss/) > [Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and employ almost half of the working population. Yet because of their size, they rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/small-businesses-are-the-backbone-of-the-american-economy-and-employ/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [Although I write in English, and despite the fact that I'm from America, I consider myself an Armenian writer. The words I use are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/although-i-write-in-english-and-despite-the-fact-that-i-m-from/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When we first sold the Wallace and Gromit shorts to America, people suggested we get rid of the strange British accents and put clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-park/when-we-first-sold-the-wallace-and-gromit-shorts-to-america-people/) [Nick Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-park/) > [Firefighters and rescue workers are American superheroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-kennedy/firefighters-and-rescue-workers-are-american-superheroes/) [Kerry Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-kennedy/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [New York and San Francisco are distinctly different. San Francisco is driving the American media, not New York. You have young, microwaved millionaires and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-whitlock/new-york-and-san-francisco-are-distinctly-different-san-francisco-is/) [Jason Whitlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-whitlock/) > [Well look, CIA is an agency that has to collect intelligence, do operations. We have to take risks and it's important that we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/well-look-cia-is-an-agency-that-has-to-collect-intelligence-do/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) Browse all 7,717 American quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I talk about life, and I make universal music with an American style - and that's what I do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-talk-about-life-and-i-make-universal-music-with-an-american-style/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-talk-about-life-and-i-make-universal-music-with-an-american-style/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/nas-650_american_i-talk-about-life-and-i-make-universal-m_1054446.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/nas-650_american_i-talk-about-life-and-i-make-universal-m_1054446.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/nas-650_american_i-talk-about-life-and-i-make-universal-m_1054446.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I talk about life, and I make universal music with an American style - and that's what I do.” — Nas", "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": "Nas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I talk about life, and I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-talk-about-life-and-i-make-universal-music-with-an-american-style/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-talk-about-life-and-i-make-universal-music-with-an-american-style/#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 } } ] } ```