---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only time I ever really got into rap…"
description: "\"The only time I ever really got into rap was back in the early '90s, and bands like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Gang Starr. Musically, they were ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/paul-weller-2405_acts_the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap_1766060.png"
---

#  The only time I ever really got into rap was back in the…

![“The only time I ever really got into rap was back in the early '90s, and bands like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Gang Starr. Musically, they were really interesting. But when hip-hop acts start sampling Sting or Phil Collins, then I just don't get it at all.” quote by Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/paul-weller-2405_acts_the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap_1766060.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/paul-weller-2405_acts_the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap_1766060.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/paul-weller-2405_acts_the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap_1766060.png)

> “The only time I ever really got into rap was back in the early '90s, and bands like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Gang Starr. Musically, they were really interesting. But when hip-hop acts start sampling Sting or Phil Collins, then I just don't get it at all.”

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He prefers authentic, innovative hip‑hop from the early ’90s and dislikes mainstream pop sampling that feels commercial

**In simple terms:** Authentic hip‑hop beats are more appealing than mainstream pop samples

Key Takeaway

Seek music that stays true to its roots

Themes

music taste authenticity commercialization

Mood

reflective critical

Type

opinion analysis

When to use this quote

- Choosing playlists
- music criticism
- personal taste
- cultural appreciation

Key Concepts

Hip‑hop culture sampling ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- What defines authenticity in music?
- Can commercial sampling ever be artistic?

A Different Perspective

Mainstream sampling can still produce artistic value

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts/) [Adventure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adventure/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Bands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bands/) [Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collins/) [Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early/) [Ever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ever/) [Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gang/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [La](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/la/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-tribe-586508/) [Musically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musically/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Only time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only-time/) [Phil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phil/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phil-collins/) [Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quest/) [Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap/) [Rap Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap-early-1735503/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Sampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sampling/) [Sampling Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sampling-sting-1735502/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Start Sampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-sampling-1735504/) [Sting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sting/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribe/) [Tribe called quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tribe-called-quest/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/)

## Related quotes

> [In the very beginning, I kind of had this hip-hop, cut-and-paste approach to music. The first record, especially, was from looking at people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/in-the-very-beginning-i-kind-of-had-this-hip-hop-cut-and-paste/)

[Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/)

> [I love Bruce Springsteen's writing, but I grew up on '90s hip hop, like Tribe Called Quest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/i-love-bruce-springsteen-s-writing-but-i-grew-up-on-90s-hip-hop-like/)

[Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/)

> [When I started forming my own taste, there was a period in high school when I listened to only rap and hip-hop, like A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/when-i-started-forming-my-own-taste-there-was-a-period-in-high-school/)

[Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/)

> [I meet people every single day who have heard the music and incorporated it into their lives. I feel like I have a tribe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/i-meet-people-every-single-day-who-have-heard-the-music-and/)

[Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/)

> [You can say I had a severe case of 'Roots' envy. I wanted to be like Alex Haley, and I wanted to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-louis-gates/you-can-say-i-had-a-severe-case-of-roots-envy-i-wanted-to-be-like/)

[Henry Louis Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-louis-gates/)

> [It behaves more like a tribe than a democratic institution...responding to custom rather than reason and using its own liturgy and language for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-patten/it-behaves-more-like-a-tribe-than-a-democratic-institution-responding/)

[Chris Patten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-patten/)

> [I'm really influenced by '90s hip hop. A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul were my heroes growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-kearney/i-m-really-influenced-by-90s-hip-hop-a-tribe-called-quest-and-de-la/)

[Mat Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-kearney/)

> [I started listening to old music that represented Mum and us living in west London when I was younger, and delved deep: SWV, Soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miquita-oliver/i-started-listening-to-old-music-that-represented-mum-and-us-living/)

[Miquita Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miquita-oliver/)

> [While the House of Blues slogan has been 'In blues we trust,' its stages are usually filled with more reliable moneymakers - Neil Diamond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/while-the-house-of-blues-slogan-has-been-in-blues-we-trust-its-stages/)

[Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/)

> [When I appeared in EPMD's 'Hardcore' song and video that was just crazy. Def Jam had these little virals back then on VHS tape.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redman/when-i-appeared-in-epmd-s-hardcore-song-and-video-that-was-just-crazy/)

[Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/redman/)

> [My dad is from Queens. I remember visiting as a kid. My grandparents grew up here. All the actors I respected were coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-greenberg/my-dad-is-from-queens-i-remember-visiting-as-a-kid-my-grandparents/)

[Bryan Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-greenberg/)

> [I wanted Season 2 of Luke Cage to be Ice Cube's 'Death Certificate,' or Fugees' 'The Score,' or Public Enemy's 'It Takes a Nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheo-hodari-coker/i-wanted-season-2-of-luke-cage-to-be-ice-cube-s-death-certificate-or/)

[Cheo Hodari Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheo-hodari-coker/)

> [Like any family, like any group - the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, EPMD, Public Enemy - they've had bumps in the road. I just think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rapaport/like-any-family-like-any-group-the-beatles-led-zeppelin-epmd-public/)

[Michael Rapaport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rapaport/)

> [When I was very little, I was into Michael Jackson. At six or seven, it was Madonna, but she's not what she used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-was-very-little-i-was-into-michael-jackson-at-six-or-seven-it/)

[Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/)

> [My dad raised me on everything from his music to Stevie Wonder to A Tribe Called Quest. I learned the 'Midnight Marauders' album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/my-dad-raised-me-on-everything-from-his-music-to-stevie-wonder-to-a/)

[Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/)

## More by Paul Weller

> [When I discovered blues - I was 12-years-old - I didn't discover it in America where it was from; I discovered it from Fleetwood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/when-i-discovered-blues-i-was-12-years-old-i-didn-t-discover-it-in/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [I'd like to think that what I've written over the years and what I'm doing now means something to people. People in the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-d-like-to-think-that-what-i-ve-written-over-the-years-and-what-i-m/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [People say that if you're still angry at 52, you're not an angry young man, just a grumpy old git.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/people-say-that-if-you-re-still-angry-at-52-you-re-not-an-angry-young/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [Music's totally eclectic now. I saw a DJ the other day, he was on Virgin radio over here, and he said he played "Going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/music-s-totally-eclectic-now-i-saw-a-dj-the-other-day-he-was-on/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [There are so many artists who get to my age that get comfortable and just stick in a groove, and I really don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/there-are-so-many-artists-who-get-to-my-age-that-get-comfortable-and/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [Young people can listen to music at any moment in the day or night. Which is great, but I think it kind of devalues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/young-people-can-listen-to-music-at-any-moment-in-the-day-or-night/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [I get labelled as just being about one thing, but there's lots of layers to what I do. It's just lazy journalism, but people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-get-labelled-as-just-being-about-one-thing-but-there-s-lots-of/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [No man should have cowboys boots in his wardrobe. That's fair enough, isn't it? Unless you're a cowboy, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/no-man-should-have-cowboys-boots-in-his-wardrobe-that-s-fair-enough/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [In all honesty, I don't know what one song can change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/in-all-honesty-i-don-t-know-what-one-song-can-change/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [I wear jeans and a T-shirt sometimes. I just like clothes - since the first time I can remember, like age ten or eleven;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-wear-jeans-and-a-t-shirt-sometimes-i-just-like-clothes-since-the/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [I come from a time when every kid dressed up. Everybody. If you didn't, you wouldn't be able to hang out. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-come-from-a-time-when-every-kid-dressed-up-everybody-if-you-didn-t/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [I don't like to get pigeonholed. I don't like it when people think they have you sewn up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-don-t-like-to-get-pigeonholed-i-don-t-like-it-when-people-think/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [I don't like the royal family, I don't like the establishment, I don't like the civil service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-don-t-like-the-royal-family-i-don-t-like-the-establishment-i-don-t/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [There have been records I've been really, really pleased with that haven't connected with people. But I felt good about them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/there-have-been-records-i-ve-been-really-really-pleased-with-that/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

> [I'm still a mod, I'll always be a mod, you can bury me a mod.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/i-m-still-a-mod-i-ll-always-be-a-mod-you-can-bury-me-a-mod/)

[Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

[Explore all 168 Paul Weller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/)

## More Acts quotes

> [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/)

[Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/)

> [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/)

[Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/)

> [God only acts and is, in existing beings or men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/god-only-acts-and-is-in-existing-beings-or-men/)

[William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/)

> [Poetry is a lousy form of activism; it doesn't really change much. And maybe we can point to one or two historical times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-gottlieb/poetry-is-a-lousy-form-of-activism-it-doesn-t-really-change-much-and/)

[Daphne Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-gottlieb/)

> [We are surrounded every day by countless acts of immeasurable kindness and goodwill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bel-edwards/we-are-surrounded-every-day-by-countless-acts-of-immeasurable/)

[John Bel Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bel-edwards/)

> [Foreign journalists have to have an approved interpreter assigned them, which they have to pay for, who also acts as guide. As an Iranian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hooman-majd/foreign-journalists-have-to-have-an-approved-interpreter-assigned/)

[Hooman Majd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hooman-majd/)

> [I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts. I do not believe that the Armed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-pace/i-believe-that-homosexual-acts-between-individuals-are-immoral-and/)

[Peter Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-pace/)

> [“The book of Luke is the account of the Spirit-empowered ministry of Jesus on the earth, and Acts is the account of the Spirit-empowered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/the-book-of-luke-is-the-account-of-the-spirit-empowered-ministry-of/)

[Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/)

> [I don't meditate before I play or compose, but I see playing and composing as meditative acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-swallow/i-don-t-meditate-before-i-play-or-compose-but-i-see-playing-and/)

[Steve Swallow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-swallow/)

> [“In Acts, every believer was living in a direct relationship with Him (Christ) and each one functioned normally as a member of His body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/in-acts-every-believer-was-living-in-a-direct-relationship-with-him/)

[Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/)

> [Ladies seem very intrigued by a guy who is ultra confident and acts like he doesn't need you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorma-taccone/ladies-seem-very-intrigued-by-a-guy-who-is-ultra-confident-and-acts/)

[Jorma Taccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorma-taccone/)

> [In the name of noble purposes men have committed unspeakable acts of cruelty against one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/in-the-name-of-noble-purposes-men-have-committed-unspeakable-acts-of/)

[J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/)

> [How do you make the timelessness of inert, silent objects count for something? How to use the, in a way, dumbness of sculpture in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-gormley/how-do-you-make-the-timelessness-of-inert-silent-objects-count-for/)

[Antony Gormley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-gormley/)

> [Only free people have an incentive to be virtuous. Only people who bear the consequences of their own acts will care about those consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/only-free-people-have-an-incentive-to-be-virtuous-only-people-who/)

[Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/)

> [The legitimacy of coercive acts in a democracy arises from the process by which they are justified and by the degree to which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-legitimacy-of-coercive-acts-in-a-democracy-arises-from-the/)

[Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/)

[Browse all 251 Acts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acts/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The only time I ever really got into rap was back in the early '90s, and bands like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Gang Starr. Musically, they were really interesting. But when hip-hop acts start sampling Sting or Phil Collins, then I just don't get it at all.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Paul Weller"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap-was-back-in-the-early-90s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acts"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap-was-back-in-the-early-90s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/paul-weller-2405_acts_the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap_1766060.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/paul-weller-2405_acts_the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap_1766060.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/paul-weller-2405_acts_the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap_1766060.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The only time I ever really got into rap was back in the early '90s, and bands like A Tribe Called Quest, De…” — Paul Weller",
                "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": "Paul Weller",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The only time I ever really...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap-was-back-in-the-early-90s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/the-only-time-i-ever-really-got-into-rap-was-back-in-the-early-90s/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
