--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The big stars in rap, they were too big…" description: "\"The big stars in rap, they were too big, so when my rap generation started, it was about bringing you inside my apartment. It wasn't about being a rap ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/nas-650_apartment_the-big-stars-in-rap-they-were-too-big-s_504012.png" --- # The big stars in rap, they were too big, so when my rap… ![“The big stars in rap, they were too big, so when my rap generation started, it was about bringing you inside my apartment. It wasn't about being a rap star; it was about anything other than.” quote by Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/nas-650_apartment_the-big-stars-in-rap-they-were-too-big-s_504012.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/nas-650_apartment_the-big-stars-in-rap-they-were-too-big-s_504012.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed4/nas-650_apartment_the-big-stars-in-rap-they-were-too-big-s_504012.png) > “The big stars in rap, they were too big, so when my rap generation started, it was about bringing you inside my apartment. It wasn't about being a rap star; it was about anything other than.” [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 reflects on the shift from fame to personal intimacy, emphasizing authenticity over celebrity. **In simple terms:** He values real connection over fame. Key Takeaway Prioritize genuine relationships. Themes authenticity intimacy celebrity music Mood reflective introspective Type lyilosophical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - personal branding - private life - creative expression Key Concepts Hip‑hop culture personal identity artistic evolution Questions to Reflect On - What does authenticity mean to you? - How do you balance public image with private self? A Different Perspective Fame can eclipse personal fulfillment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apartment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartment/) [Big Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-stars-776516/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Generation Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generation-started-360094/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap/) [Rap Generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap-generation-4286373/) [Rap Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap-star-483186/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Stars Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars-rap-4286374/) ## Related quotes > [“We believe that today's younger generation, who started a global movement by camping out on Wall Street and its equivalents around the world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-bucko/we-believe-that-today-s-younger-generation-who-started-a-global/) [Adam Bucko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-bucko/) > [I never got away from the war. Not because I was obsessed with it in those years, but because it was the event of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-sheehan/i-never-got-away-from-the-war-not-because-i-was-obsessed-with-it-in/) [Neil Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-sheehan/) > [When the generation after me started getting on the cut, a lot of them would call me over to hang out or go jam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-the-generation-after-me-started-getting-on-the-cut-a-lot-of-them/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My generation started in big tournaments. '88 Olympics, we got silver. '89 European Championship, we got gold. 1990 World Cup in Argentina, we got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlade-divac/my-generation-started-in-big-tournaments-88-olympics-we-got-silver-89/) [Vlade Divac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vlade-divac/) > [And I need a fast car, bad broads, fast forward, passport, I'm a fuckin rap star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/and-i-need-a-fast-car-bad-broads-fast-forward-passport-i-m-a-fuckin/) [J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/) > [“These days, Cal would no more go to a club than he would a rodeo. The deafening music, the blinding strobes, the drunk rowdy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-ide/these-days-cal-would-no-more-go-to-a-club-than-he-would-a-rodeo-the/) [Joe Ide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-ide/) > [Luckily for me, I became a rap star so I'm making enough money to support my family. It's funny because that may seem like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-badass/luckily-for-me-i-became-a-rap-star-so-i-m-making-enough-money-to/) [Joey Badass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-badass/) > [I'm popular, I'm a rap star but I live like a rock star running from the cop cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-dre/i-m-popular-i-m-a-rap-star-but-i-live-like-a-rock-star-running-from/) [Mac Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-dre/) > [There's no difference between a tacky Jew from Miami and a rap star. They both want the Cadillac and the Rolex with the diamonds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-ratner/there-s-no-difference-between-a-tacky-jew-from-miami-and-a-rap-star/) [Brett Ratner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-ratner/) > [Usually when I make a record, I know what the potential is going to be, but I didn't know that 'Just A Friend' was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biz-markie/usually-when-i-make-a-record-i-know-what-the-potential-is-going-to-be/) [Biz Markie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biz-markie/) > [I don't want to be a rap star. I want you to see me and just say, 'That's Mase,' not 'That's Puff Daddy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mase/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-rap-star-i-want-you-to-see-me-and-just-say-that/) [Mase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mase/) > [You can't compete with hip-hop. That doesn't mean I don't want to be as big as a rap star. I do - I'm always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-flowers/you-can-t-compete-with-hip-hop-that-doesn-t-mean-i-don-t-want-to-be/) [Brandon Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-flowers/) > [Yo yo honey singh rap star from india…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butterfly-kisses/yo-yo-honey-singh-rap-star-from-india/) [Butterfly\_Kisses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butterfly-kisses/) > [People ask me all the time what it is about Australia that produces so many big stars. Honestly, I believe it is a combination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-robbie/people-ask-me-all-the-time-what-it-is-about-australia-that-produces/) [Margot Robbie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-robbie/) > [To be ambitious, you have to have big players, big stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquinhos/to-be-ambitious-you-have-to-have-big-players-big-stars/) [Marquinhos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquinhos/) ## 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 Apartment quotes > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [When they started to drain a swamp where birds and fish had lived, for a new housing development down the road from his apartment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maile-meloy/when-they-started-to-drain-a-swamp-where-birds-and-fish-had-lived-for/) [Maile Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maile-meloy/) > [I've always been a late bloomer in some ways, and extremely precocious in other ways. When I was twenty I was living in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-daum/i-ve-always-been-a-late-bloomer-in-some-ways-and-extremely-precocious/) [Meghan Daum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-daum/) > [As most New Yorkers have done, I have given serious and generous thought to the state of my apartment should I get killed during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/as-most-new-yorkers-have-done-i-have-given-serious-and-generous/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [I feel when you walk into somebody's apartment on Fifth Avenue or house in Malibu and you see a Basquiat, a Warhol, a Richard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-pigozzi/i-feel-when-you-walk-into-somebody-s-apartment-on-fifth-avenue-or/) [Jean Pigozzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-pigozzi/) > [Every New Yorker spends a certain amount of nervous energy thinking, "How can I afford to stay here? What do I have to sell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-zukin/every-new-yorker-spends-a-certain-amount-of-nervous-energy-thinking/) [Sharon Zukin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-zukin/) > [Most of my work is, I get an idea, and, with the help of Wikipedia, I can write. I don't have to leave my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-rich/most-of-my-work-is-i-get-an-idea-and-with-the-help-of-wikipedia-i-can/) [Simon Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-rich/) > [Science and art may invent splendid modes of illuminating the apartments of the opulent; but these are all poor and worthless compared with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ellery-channing/science-and-art-may-invent-splendid-modes-of-illuminating-the/) [William Ellery Channing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ellery-channing/) > [About 25 years ago, I was in an apartment, and next door, they put on the radio, so I struck the wall with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klaus-kinski/about-25-years-ago-i-was-in-an-apartment-and-next-door-they-put-on/) [Klaus Kinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klaus-kinski/) > [I don't think taste is about money. As your career develops, you're able to decide what to spend your money on. I live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-finch/i-don-t-think-taste-is-about-money-as-your-career-develops-you-re/) [Charles Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-finch/) > [ My father would never have come to visit, he detested Eva's \[Braun\] choice in a man and the fact \[Adolf\] Hitler had set her… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretl-braun/my-father-would-never-have-come-to-visit-he-detested-eva-s-braun/) [Gretl Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretl-braun/) > [He had one uniform practice, and a very bad one it was, during the time of family worship, and just three or four seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hogg/he-had-one-uniform-practice-and-a-very-bad-one-it-was-during-the-time/) [James Hogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hogg/) > [No birth certificate is issued when friendship is born. There is nothing tangible. 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He visited it before we moved the furniture in, he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretl-braun/for-instance-adolf-hitler-would-never-have-spent-the-night-at-the/) [Gretl Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretl-braun/) [Browse all 884 Apartment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The big stars in rap, they were too big, so when my rap generation started, it was about bringing you inside my apartment. 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