--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think hip hop allows us to talk about…" description: "\"I think hip hop allows us to talk about everything, and Africa is what I choose to talk about now. If people are not talking about Africa, that's them,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/nas-650_hip-hop_i-think-hip-hop-allows-us-to-talk-about_19355.jpg" --- # I think hip hop allows us to talk about everything, and… ![“I think hip hop allows us to talk about everything, and Africa is what I choose to talk about now. If people are not talking about Africa, that's them, that's cool, there's nothing wrong with that. But this is who I am, this is what I have to say, this is what I have to offer.” quote by Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/nas-650_hip-hop_i-think-hip-hop-allows-us-to-talk-about_19355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/nas-650_hip-hop_i-think-hip-hop-allows-us-to-talk-about_19355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f1/nas-650_hip-hop_i-think-hip-hop-allows-us-to-talk-about_19355.jpg) > “I think hip hop allows us to talk about everything, and Africa is what I choose to talk about now. If people are not talking about Africa, that's them, that's cool, there's nothing wrong with that. But this is who I am, this is what I have to say, this is what I have to offer.” [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. The speaker uses hip hop as a platform for personal expression, focusing on African topics to assert identity and share perspective. **In simple terms:** Hip hop as a voice for African narratives Key Takeaway Articulate identity through music Themes identity cultural expression music as platform personal narrative social commentary Mood defiant proud reflective Type personal statement cultural commentary When to use this quote - artist discussing heritage - public speaking on culture - media interview about music Key Concepts hip hop African themes self‑representation Practical Applications - using lyrical content to educate listeners - leveraging genre to amplify under‑represented topics Questions to Reflect On - How does genre influence the topics an artist feels comfortable addressing? - What impact does highlighting a specific region have on broader audience perceptions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Not talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-talking/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/) ## Related quotes > [I talk about Africa and its meaning, being the birthplace of man and all that great history that's been erased and even hidden. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-talk-about-africa-and-its-meaning-being-the-birthplace-of-man-and/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-spent-a-lot-of-time-talking-about-africa-as-we-should-africa-is-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [There aren't enough doctors in Africa. Those who choose to become doctors here don't do it for the money or because they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-fuller/there-aren-t-enough-doctors-in-africa-those-who-choose-to-become/) [Alexandra Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-fuller/) > [I don't like to just talk of Africa, and south of the Sahara in general. No, I'll talk about the Third World in general.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-newton/i-don-t-like-to-just-talk-of-africa-and-south-of-the-sahara-in/) [Huey Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-newton/) > [I think hip-hop could help rebuild America, once hip-hoppers own hip-hop... We are our own politicians, our own government, we have something to say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-hip-hop-could-help-rebuild-america-once-hip-hoppers-own-hip/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“Some people talk of Africa being a continent cursed not blessed with minerals, but the real curse is the leaders and politicians of Africa”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mutanda/some-people-talk-of-africa-being-a-continent-cursed-not-blessed-with/) Peter Mutanda > [I'm not talking about Russia in my music. I've never been to Russia. I'm not talking about Africa, Switzerland, China. I'm talking about me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-m-not-talking-about-russia-in-my-music-i-ve-never-been-to-russia-i/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I think for it to be hip to be idealistic is weird, you know? I mean, even all the best rebels to me, had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-think-for-it-to-be-hip-to-be-idealistic-is-weird-you-know-i-mean/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I think hip-hop needs a little bit of diversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phife-dawg/i-think-hip-hop-needs-a-little-bit-of-diversity/) [Phife Dawg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phife-dawg/) > [Well, I think that hip-hop is not just a music. It's really a culture and it's a way of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chatterton-williams/well-i-think-that-hip-hop-is-not-just-a-music-it-s-really-a-culture/) [Thomas Chatterton Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chatterton-williams/) > [I think hip-hop is really fun right now... and that's why people are using dance beats and singing more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-think-hip-hop-is-really-fun-right-now-and-that-s-why-people-are/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [I think when hip hop first started, people were open to it, and groups like Public Enemy and there was groups like Poor Righteous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/i-think-when-hip-hop-first-started-people-were-open-to-it-and-groups/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I think of hip hop as a mass media, radio, MTV thing. It’s been extremely relevant over the last 10 years and rock music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/win-butler/i-think-of-hip-hop-as-a-mass-media-radio-mtv-thing-it-s-been/) [Win Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/win-butler/) > [I'm not a poster boy for misogyny and I don't think hip-hop should be either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/i-m-not-a-poster-boy-for-misogyny-and-i-don-t-think-hip-hop-should-be/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [You have your purists and you have people who want to go outside of what they think hip hop is. You've got to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-real/you-have-your-purists-and-you-have-people-who-want-to-go-outside-of/) [B-Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-real/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [I got the opportunity to meet people all over the world. Brilliant women, tall women, short women, slim women, thick women, you name it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-got-the-opportunity-to-meet-people-all-over-the-world-brilliant/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) [Explore all 427 Nas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) ## More Hip hop quotes > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [By the time you get into other kinds of music - R&B, country, or whatever - it becomes something that's romantic. It becomes something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/by-the-time-you-get-into-other-kinds-of-music-r-b-country-or-whatever/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [God is never late, we're just impatient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/god-is-never-late-we-re-just-impatient/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) Roxanne Shante > [Couples Therapy' is pretty big for me because it's opening the door to a new audience - a hip-hop following, which I feel is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/couples-therapy-is-pretty-big-for-me-because-it-s-opening-the-door-to/) [Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/) > [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/) > [Wherever I go, I bring the culture with me, so that they can understand that it's attainable. I didn't do it any other way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/wherever-i-go-i-bring-the-culture-with-me-so-that-they-can-understand/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [If you don't know hip-hop, at least a little bit of it, you can't even call yourself an American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/if-you-don-t-know-hip-hop-at-least-a-little-bit-of-it-you-can-t-even/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [I come from a young, hip-hop, urban world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-t-jackson/i-come-from-a-young-hip-hop-urban-world/) [Brandon T. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-t-jackson/) > [For me, growing up in hip-hop culture, it's all about having the next style, the new fashion, the new way to express yourself, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/for-me-growing-up-in-hip-hop-culture-it-s-all-about-having-the-next/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [It's not about a salary, it's all about reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/it-s-not-about-a-salary-it-s-all-about-reality/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [My first album, 'Get Lifted,' was a hip-hop soul album that had some of its roots in the church, as far as the sonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/my-first-album-get-lifted-was-a-hip-hop-soul-album-that-had-some-of/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [If you watch wrestling, you now know the hip-hop culture is being represented with wrestling. For the longest time, the cultures have almost been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/if-you-watch-wrestling-you-now-know-the-hip-hop-culture-is-being/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [Ghostface, when it comes to hip-hop, was one of my favorite rappers and definitely one of my favorites in the Wu-Tang. He's also a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/ghostface-when-it-comes-to-hip-hop-was-one-of-my-favorite-rappers-and/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) [Browse all 3,272 Hip hop quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think hip hop allows us to talk about everything, and Africa is what I choose to talk about now. If people are not talking about Africa, that's them, that's cool, there's nothing wrong with that. 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