--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it came time to be a professional…" description: "\"When it came time to be a professional rapper, I wouldn't sign anything without reading it. There was no way I was going to have people make decisions ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/queen-latifah-1560_bothered_when-it-came-time-to-be-a-professional-r_3059365.jpg" --- # When it came time to be a professional rapper, I wouldn't… ![“When it came time to be a professional rapper, I wouldn't sign anything without reading it. There was no way I was going to have people make decisions for me or wake up one day and find that I was broke because I never bothered to read a contract.” quote by Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/queen-latifah-1560_bothered_when-it-came-time-to-be-a-professional-r_3059365.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/queen-latifah-1560_bothered_when-it-came-time-to-be-a-professional-r_3059365.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/803/queen-latifah-1560_bothered_when-it-came-time-to-be-a-professional-r_3059365.jpg) > “When it came time to be a professional rapper, I wouldn't sign anything without reading it. There was no way I was going to have people make decisions for me or wake up one day and find that I was broke because I never bothered to read a contract.” [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists must read and understand contracts to retain control and avoid exploitation. **In simple terms:** Read contracts before signing. Key Takeaway Protect your rights by reviewing agreements. Themes music industry legal awareness artist rights contracts empowerment Mood cautious empowering Type professional educational When to use this quote - signing deals - negotiating terms - seeking legal counsel Key Concepts contract law financial literacy artist autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What steps ensure you fully understand a contract? - How can artists access reliable legal advice? A Different Perspective Contracts can be complex and intimidating. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) ## Related quotes > [I really didn't think it was possible because there was really no one from my neighborhood that I knew or saw that made it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wall/i-really-didn-t-think-it-was-possible-because-there-was-really-no-one/) [Paul Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wall/) > [I spent two years making music in San Francisco for my first mixtape. Initially, I was not at all doing this to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-dicky/i-spent-two-years-making-music-in-san-francisco-for-my-first-mixtape/) [Lil Dicky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-dicky/) > [Drink nothing without seeing it; sign nothing without reading it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spanish-proverb/drink-nothing-without-seeing-it-sign-nothing-without-reading-it/) Spanish Proverb > [If I don't have words, it's a sign I'm not reading enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/if-i-don-t-have-words-it-s-a-sign-i-m-not-reading-enough/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“He didn’t take his eyes off me, as if he’d like to see my head mounted on his wall over a sign reading PROBLEM…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/he-didn-t-take-his-eyes-off-me-as-if-he-d-like-to-see-my-head-mounted/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“He should've read the contract a little closer before he signed, but being moments from a painful and violent death had provided a necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-laurence/he-should-ve-read-the-contract-a-little-closer-before-he-signed-but/) [Andrea Laurence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-laurence/) > [A 24 year old millionaire. Don't read the contract 'less a mill in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/a-24-year-old-millionaire-don-t-read-the-contract-less-a-mill-in-there/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [Always read your contract. Know what you're getting yourself into. Know your worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-durk/always-read-your-contract-know-what-you-re-getting-yourself-into-know/) [Lil Durk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-durk/) > [“I could never bring myself to read through contracts or arrangements destined for my scrutiny and subject to my care. In truth this was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/i-could-never-bring-myself-to-read-through-contracts-or-arrangements/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [ I went right to Chicago to do improv \[after law school\], but I wish I had gone, "Let me just bypass this law thing."… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-fulcher/i-went-right-to-chicago-to-do-improv-after-law-school-but-i-wish-i/) [Rich Fulcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-fulcher/) > [I believe marriage should be between one man and one woman. That's my view, and that'll be the view of our state because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-believe-marriage-should-be-between-one-man-and-one-woman-that-s-my/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I told them I wouldn't sign a blank cheque.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenda-jackson/i-told-them-i-wouldn-t-sign-a-blank-cheque/) [Glenda Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenda-jackson/) > [If someone said, 'you can't skateboard, it's in your wrestling contract,' I wouldn't sign it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darby-allin/if-someone-said-you-can-t-skateboard-it-s-in-your-wrestling-contract/) [Darby Allin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darby-allin/) > [I knew how to read a contract by 10 years old, but I didn't know what it meant for somebody to come in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-feldman/i-knew-how-to-read-a-contract-by-10-years-old-but-i-didn-t-know-what/) [Corey Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-feldman/) > [I would love an extension, who wouldn't? If they offer me a $35 million-a-year extension, I'll sign it right now. I won't even read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-would-love-an-extension-who-wouldn-t-if-they-offer-me-a-35-million/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) ## More by Queen Latifah > [I'm the daughter of a sister whose the mother of a brother who's the brother of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-m-the-daughter-of-a-sister-whose-the-mother-of-a-brother-who-s-the/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [Even if you don't have anything, even if you've got a quarter in your pocket, to share with someone else who has nothing really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/even-if-you-don-t-have-anything-even-if-you-ve-got-a-quarter-in-your/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [God is my homeboy. Jesus is my homeboy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/god-is-my-homeboy-jesus-is-my-homeboy/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [Bowling, I like bowling. I've been getting into this bowling thing. It's kinda fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/bowling-i-like-bowling-i-ve-been-getting-into-this-bowling-thing-it-s/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [I believe that the kids, young people should have an opportunity to have Oscar nominated actors in their movies too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-believe-that-the-kids-young-people-should-have-an-opportunity-to/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [I was baptized a Baptist, but I'm just Christian, as far as I'm concerned. I could go in any church, doesn't matter if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-was-baptized-a-baptist-but-i-m-just-christian-as-far-as-i-m/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [Every woman is a queen, and we all have different things to offer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/every-woman-is-a-queen-and-we-all-have-different-things-to-offer/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [The more you push the budgets up, the more you make records cost $20, the more you make records last 4 and 5 minutes on the radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/the-more-you-push-the-budgets-up-the-more-you-make-records-cost-20/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [As a teenager, I had big breasts for my age, and my friends cracked on me a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/as-a-teenager-i-had-big-breasts-for-my-age-and-my-friends-cracked-on/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [I think it's important to raise your kids, start 'em early. Teaching them the values and morals, so when they get out there on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-think-it-s-important-to-raise-your-kids-start-em-early-teaching/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [My house borders horse farms, and I can look out my window and see the horses and the new colts. It's really peaceful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/my-house-borders-horse-farms-and-i-can-look-out-my-window-and-see-the/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [Jumping off that cliff in Jamaica.It was years ago. It was at this place called Rick's Cafe. Actually, it was two cliffs. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/jumping-off-that-cliff-in-jamaica-it-was-years-ago-it-was-at-this/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [I know a lot of people who really aren't beautiful because their attitudes are very nasty... Whether I make the 50 most beautiful list…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-know-a-lot-of-people-who-really-aren-t-beautiful-because-their/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [You can't ask someone who is not making that kind of money to go to the record store and buy an album when someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/you-can-t-ask-someone-who-is-not-making-that-kind-of-money-to-go-to/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [I made decisions that I regret, and I took them as learning experiences... I'm human, not perfect, like anybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-made-decisions-that-i-regret-and-i-took-them-as-learning/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) [Explore all 228 Queen Latifah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) ## More Bothered quotes > [Life is such unutterable hell, solely because it is sometimes beautiful. If we could only be miserable all the time, if there could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-such-unutterable-hell-solely-because-it-is-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never bothered about keeping track.Every now and then someone records one of my songs, and I get credit for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-never-bothered-about-keeping-track-every-now-and-then-someone/) [Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/) > [Right, and you point out something important which is that people who don’t want to pay, people who are pirates, don’t get bothered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/right-and-you-point-out-something-important-which-is-that-people-who/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [He went to Paris looking for answers to questions that bothered him so. He was impressive, young and aggressive, saving the world on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/he-went-to-paris-looking-for-answers-to-questions-that-bothered-him/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [Many people think of me as a perfectionist, someone who polishes and shines each song and performance. I've always been bothered by that assumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/many-people-think-of-me-as-a-perfectionist-someone-who-polishes-and/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [People think unless you have loops and electronics and so on, you must be in your 50s. I quite like a lot of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-thompson/people-think-unless-you-have-loops-and-electronics-and-so-on-you-must/) [Teddy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-thompson/) > [When your house is on fire, you cant be bothered with the neighbors. Or, as we say in Chess, if your King is under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/when-your-house-is-on-fire-you-cant-be-bothered-with-the-neighbors-or/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Sometimes you have to distance yourself from people. If they care, they will notice and be bothered. If they dont, you will know where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-distance-yourself-from-people-if-they-care-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’m merely talking about learning to be less bothered by the actions of people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/i-m-merely-talking-about-learning-to-be-less-bothered-by-the-actions/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [To combat social awkwardness, I would just act like I couldn't be bothered - that kind of aloof persona or aloof demeanor. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/to-combat-social-awkwardness-i-would-just-act-like-i-couldn-t-be/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Quietly, President Obama has done warrantless wire tapping. And it was hardly covered. I don't know if any of the mainstream press bothered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/quietly-president-obama-has-done-warrantless-wire-tapping-and-it-was/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [“I'm sorry I bothered you, Susan. I'm just having a tough time. That's all. Have a good one," I said and walked away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-m-sorry-i-bothered-you-susan-i-m-just-having-a-tough-time-that-s/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [I'm not bothered by the idea of getting old, or I guess you could say by having arrived at old. I was 10 when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-not-bothered-by-the-idea-of-getting-old-or-i-guess-you-could-say/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Many of the factors that we think will cause motivation, such as fair pay and a good manager, won't make you love your job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/many-of-the-factors-that-we-think-will-cause-motivation-such-as-fair/) [Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/) > [“Am I bothered? Am I bothered though. I ain't doing nothing cause I ain't bothered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/am-i-bothered-am-i-bothered-though-i-ain-t-doing-nothing-cause-i-ain/) [Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/) Browse all 599 Bothered quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When it came time to be a professional rapper, I wouldn't sign anything without reading it. 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