--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was a rapper. The reason I stopped…" description: "\"I was a rapper. The reason I stopped rapping was because I realized that people wanted guys like Puff Daddy. That's not what I do. I quit. That was it...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/no-i-d-12775_choice_i-was-a-rapper-the-reason-i-stopped-rapp_2741368.jpg" --- # I was a rapper. The reason I stopped rapping was because I… ![“I was a rapper. The reason I stopped rapping was because I realized that people wanted guys like Puff Daddy. That's not what I do. I quit. That was it. I had to sacrifice for my choice. I said, 'Forget it. I'll be a producer.' Nobody was going to make me do anything.” quote by No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/no-i-d-12775_choice_i-was-a-rapper-the-reason-i-stopped-rapp_2741368.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/no-i-d-12775_choice_i-was-a-rapper-the-reason-i-stopped-rapp_2741368.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/no-i-d-12775_choice_i-was-a-rapper-the-reason-i-stopped-rapp_2741368.jpg) > “I was a rapper. The reason I stopped rapping was because I realized that people wanted guys like Puff Daddy. That's not what I do. I quit. That was it. I had to sacrifice for my choice. I said, 'Forget it. I'll be a producer.' Nobody was going to make me do anything.” [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He left rapping because he didn't fit the mainstream image, chose production, and asserted personal agency despite external expectations. **In simple terms:** He quit rapping to stay authentic, became a producer. Key Takeaway Stay true to self; choose paths aligning with identity. Themes music authenticity career change Mood determined reflective Type statementary motivational When to use this quote - songwriting - production - career transition Key Concepts Industry pressure personal sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - How do you define authenticity? - What sacrifices are worth it for self‑expression? A Different Perspective Industry trends may limit artistic freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Puff Daddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puff-daddy-424639/) [Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quit/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Rapper Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper-reason-3030239/) [Rapping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapping/) [Rapping Realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapping-realized-3030238/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Sacrifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacrifice/) [Stopped Rapping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stopped-rapping-1512624/) ## Related quotes > [I think its sad that the media and people influence us on our decisions so much that were almost afraid to do what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diggy-simmons/i-think-its-sad-that-the-media-and-people-influence-us-on-our/) [Diggy Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diggy-simmons/) > [I think somewhere along the way I realized, 'O.K., no one's gonna care about a chubby Jewish dude rapping.' I realized I'd be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benny-blanco/i-think-somewhere-along-the-way-i-realized-o-k-no-one-s-gonna-care/) [Benny Blanco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benny-blanco/) > [I'm not a good rapper. For whatever reason, my brain does not work that way. I just do the beginning, like, 'Yeah, yeah! Ha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-m-not-a-good-rapper-for-whatever-reason-my-brain-does-not-work-that/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [I am a rapper. The reason why I was against the whole rapper title is because I know so many people who want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cakes-da-killa/i-am-a-rapper-the-reason-why-i-was-against-the-whole-rapper-title-is/) [Cakes da killa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cakes-da-killa/) > [I learned how music works dealing with Jermaine Dupri, and I learned how image works dealing with Puff Daddy. ... Singing is an acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/i-learned-how-music-works-dealing-with-jermaine-dupri-and-i-learned-2/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > [People think when you get a record deal all your problems will go away. We know that the bigger we get, the more problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-delson/people-think-when-you-get-a-record-deal-all-your-problems-will-go/) [Brad Delson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-delson/) > [So many reasons I'm sad for younger generations. But MOST of all, bc they'll never know Puff Daddy. Only Swag...or Swag Diddy. Or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-munn/so-many-reasons-i-m-sad-for-younger-generations-but-most-of-all-bc/) [Olivia Munn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-munn/) > [When people ask me which is your favourite portrait, they expect it to be Diana, or someone famous. But the answer is my dog,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-demarchelier/when-people-ask-me-which-is-your-favourite-portrait-they-expect-it-to/) [Patrick Demarchelier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-demarchelier/) > [I learned how music works dealing with Jermaine Dupri, and I learned how image works dealing with Puff Daddy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/i-learned-how-music-works-dealing-with-jermaine-dupri-and-i-learned/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > [I will be putting out a fragrance - I'm following in the great steps of Puff Daddy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-ferry/i-will-be-putting-out-a-fragrance-i-m-following-in-the-great-steps-of/) [Bryan Ferry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-ferry/) > [This whole Puff Daddy thing has taken a toll on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-whole-puff-daddy-thing-has-taken-a-toll-on-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would do the same thing over again because whatever I did was meant for me to do, you dig what I'm saying? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mic-geronimo/i-would-do-the-same-thing-over-again-because-whatever-i-did-was-meant/) [Mic Geronimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mic-geronimo/) > [I look at Puff Daddy as somebody that gave me a chance to prove the whole world wrong. Cause when I used to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mase/i-look-at-puff-daddy-as-somebody-that-gave-me-a-chance-to-prove-the/) [Mase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mase/) > [One minute you're invited to Puff Daddy's party, the next you're at a bash with Donald Trump, Kevin Costner and all these movie stars.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/one-minute-you-re-invited-to-puff-daddy-s-party-the-next-you-re-at-a/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [Puff Daddy is a great party thrower. He goes down in the history books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/puff-daddy-is-a-great-party-thrower-he-goes-down-in-the-history-books/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) ## More by No I.D > [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/) > [Part of my growth as a producer was not just about making beats but also helping in the process of inspiring the song and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/part-of-my-growth-as-a-producer-was-not-just-about-making-beats-but/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [I'm not interested in anything besides making some good music, helping some artists, being an executive. I'm pretty happy with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/i-m-not-interested-in-anything-besides-making-some-good-music-helping/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > ['I Used To Love H.E.R.,' from a production standpoint, was a brainchild of the style I developed on 'Soul By The Pound.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/i-used-to-love-h-e-r-from-a-production-standpoint-was-a-brainchild-of/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [For me, the '80s was great because you had Boy George, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and Cyndi Lauper. No one put boxes saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/for-me-the-80s-was-great-because-you-had-boy-george-michael-jackson/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [Trophies or no trophies, we are all just striving to do some really good art and help people's lives with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/trophies-or-no-trophies-we-are-all-just-striving-to-do-some-really/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [Most of the greatest albums in the history of music are one producer. It's just a fact. Or one collective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/most-of-the-greatest-albums-in-the-history-of-music-are-one-producer/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [There's so many things that Kanye does that I agree with and disagree with at times. I just say, 'You're in a different place,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/there-s-so-many-things-that-kanye-does-that-i-agree-with-and-disagree/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [I'm not here to put my music out on the Internet with no support and then say I got creative freedom. I've got creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/i-m-not-here-to-put-my-music-out-on-the-internet-with-no-support-and/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [I tried to embrace the concept of the sampler as an instrument, looking at how to take it artistically to another place where it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/i-tried-to-embrace-the-concept-of-the-sampler-as-an-instrument/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [There's not too many one-producer rap albums. There are lot of one-producer rock albums... and country albums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/there-s-not-too-many-one-producer-rap-albums-there-are-lot-of-one/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [I am the guy that, if you catch me saying something, I don't do the, 'Don't tell anybody I said it.' If I said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/i-am-the-guy-that-if-you-catch-me-saying-something-i-don-t-do-the-don/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > ['Take It EZ' was actually the first video I ever produced for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/take-it-ez-was-actually-the-first-video-i-ever-produced-for/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [A lot of my favorite artists didn't sell much out the gate. I didn't with Common at first. Neither did first albums from Outkast,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/a-lot-of-my-favorite-artists-didn-t-sell-much-out-the-gate-i-didn-t/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) > [I don't care whether something makes one dollar or a trillion because guess what? I don't know many happy rich people. And I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/i-don-t-care-whether-something-makes-one-dollar-or-a-trillion-because/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) [Explore all 53 No I.D quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) ## More Choice quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/) [Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/) > [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/) [Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/) [Randy C. Dockens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-c-dockens/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/) [Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/) > [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/) [Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/) > [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) [Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was a rapper. 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