--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I came from a long struggle. I talk…" description: "\"I came from a long struggle. I talk real-life music. I lived my shit. I roll with niggas that lived it, and that's all I can continue to give you is my..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/raekwon-3709_music_i-came-from-a-long-struggle-i-talk-real_1365903.png" --- # I came from a long struggle. I talk real-life music. I… ![“I came from a long struggle. I talk real-life music. I lived my shit. I roll with niggas that lived it, and that's all I can continue to give you is my side of where I come from. The way I feel, I'm a way better artist now, a way better emcee than I was 10 years ago. My energy might have been…” quote by Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/raekwon-3709_music_i-came-from-a-long-struggle-i-talk-real_1365903.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/raekwon-3709_music_i-came-from-a-long-struggle-i-talk-real_1365903.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c88/raekwon-3709_music_i-came-from-a-long-struggle-i-talk-real_1365903.png) > “I came from a long struggle. I talk real-life music. I lived my shit. I roll with niggas that lived it, and that's all I can continue to give you is my side of where I come from. The way I feel, I'm a way better artist now, a way better emcee than I was 10 years ago. My energy might have been stronger back then, but now I'm more of a political rapper slash gangsta rapper slash grown-man rapper. I can take it anywhere you want me to take it. When you think about The Chef, always remember I'm gonna serve y'all niggas dishes. Dishesnot just one or two, but different dishes.” [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The artist’s journey transforms raw life experience into refined, versatile expression, expanding from street roots to broader, conscious storytelling. **In simple terms:** Life struggles shape artistic growth. Key Takeaway Channel experiences into diverse creative output. Themes growth authenticity versatility Mood reflective confident Type artistic cultural When to use this quote - music production - ly writing - public performance Key Concepts hip hop culture personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does your past influence your current art? - In what ways can you broaden your message? A Different Perspective Balancing authenticity with commercial pressures can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chef Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chef-remember-2557538/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Niggas Dishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niggas-dishes-4689210/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Roll Niggas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roll-niggas-1852281/) [Serve Niggas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve-niggas-4689212/) [Slash Gangsta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slash-gangsta-4689211/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [Serve niggas, give a fuck what you ordered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-game/serve-niggas-give-a-fuck-what-you-ordered/) [The Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-game/) > [In your town I cop me a pound, show me one and I'll roll one. All my niggas straight drug addicts cause it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/in-your-town-i-cop-me-a-pound-show-me-one-and-i-ll-roll-one-all-my/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [My grandfather used to be a chef and I remember going to his restaurant to peel potatoes and clean his floor. He used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gino-d-acampo/my-grandfather-used-to-be-a-chef-and-i-remember-going-to-his/) [Gino D'Acampo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gino-d-acampo/) > [Stephanie Izard. She is extremely talented but super-humble at the same time. And she was the first female Top Chef. I remember cheering her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-chung/stephanie-izard-she-is-extremely-talented-but-super-humble-at-the/) [Shirley Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-chung/) > [You know, my parents had a restaurant. And I left home, actually, in 1949, when I was 13 years old, to go into apprenticeship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-p-pin/you-know-my-parents-had-a-restaurant-and-i-left-home-actually-in-1949/) [Jacques Pepin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-p-pin/) > [ With me, Im a big fan of brothers like Slick Rick and Rakim and \[Big Daddy\] Kane and Biz \[Markie\] and all them cats.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/with-me-im-a-big-fan-of-brothers-like-slick-rick-and-rakim-and-big/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [I love to get on tracks with brothers like Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, the GZA. The whole crew is golden, man. When you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-love-to-get-on-tracks-with-brothers-like-inspectah-deck-masta-killa/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [Call me the rap assassinator / rhymes rugged and built like Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/call-me-the-rap-assassinator-rhymes-rugged-and-built-like/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [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/) > [I prefer rappers who have something intelligent to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/i-prefer-rappers-who-have-something-intelligent-to-say/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [Ja Rule is not Tupac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/ja-rule-is-not-tupac/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [It's Slim Thugga Muthafucka, got alot to sell, But snitches already got alot to tell, So for as y'all know all I do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slim-thug/it-s-slim-thugga-muthafucka-got-alot-to-sell-but-snitches-already-got/) [Slim Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slim-thug/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [I rap when I'm rich. I rap when I'm broke. I rap when I'm bullshit in the street. I rap about only having one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-rap-when-i-m-rich-i-rap-when-i-m-broke-i-rap-when-i-m-bullshit-in/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [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/) ## More by Raekwon > [Call me the rap assassinator / rhymes rugged and built like Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/call-me-the-rap-assassinator-rhymes-rugged-and-built-like/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [I'm a storyteller - that's my chamber, that's my box. I'm always tryin' to give you the best story from our side of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-m-a-storyteller-that-s-my-chamber-that-s-my-box-i-m-always-tryin-to/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [If you gonna challenge my ways, know my history. Don't put nobody in my face that don't know about me, or they here to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/if-you-gonna-challenge-my-ways-know-my-history-don-t-put-nobody-in-my/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [I remember I heard it in an interview with Michael Jackson one day, saying the art is gone, everybody makes records just to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-remember-i-heard-it-in-an-interview-with-michael-jackson-one-day/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [Stop it, keep baking, see, the smell its a statement. One freeze of this shit, you wont feel your legs kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/stop-it-keep-baking-see-the-smell-its-a-statement-one-freeze-of-this/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [When you devote yourself to being an artist, you have to stay on your craft and always try to get better and better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/when-you-devote-yourself-to-being-an-artist-you-have-to-stay-on-your/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [Ay yo, ay yo, barbeque and blow in the back of the crib. Sittinand countin, smoking a spliff, this shits a gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/ay-yo-ay-yo-barbeque-and-blow-in-the-back-of-the-crib-sittinand/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [We was just young guys who wanted to change. We got tired of doin' this same everyday bullshit that we was doin', and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/we-was-just-young-guys-who-wanted-to-change-we-got-tired-of-doin-this/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [I always write to the moment. I've always been that kind of emcee. I don't wanna come in with all the paperwork and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-always-write-to-the-moment-i-ve-always-been-that-kind-of-emcee-i/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [I just want to be remembered as a dope MC. As somebody who really covered a lot of ground and became internationally known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-just-want-to-be-remembered-as-a-dope-mc-as-somebody-who-really/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [I love to get on tracks with brothers like Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, the GZA. The whole crew is golden, man. When you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-love-to-get-on-tracks-with-brothers-like-inspectah-deck-masta-killa/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [I like Ross' swag, I like his style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-like-ross-swag-i-like-his-style/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [ With me, Im a big fan of brothers like Slick Rick and Rakim and \[Big Daddy\] Kane and Biz \[Markie\] and all them cats.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/with-me-im-a-big-fan-of-brothers-like-slick-rick-and-rakim-and-big/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [You know the steez; you know my whole program. Brothers from the No-Lands, all we want is the G's guns and grams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/you-know-the-steez-you-know-my-whole-program-brothers-from-the-no/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [N this business you got different types of artists who are trying to get to the level of success; everybody graduates to where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/n-this-business-you-got-different-types-of-artists-who-are-trying-to/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) [Explore all 119 Raekwon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) [Hubert Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-laws/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [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/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I came from a long struggle. I talk real-life music. I lived my shit. I roll with niggas that lived it, and that's all I can continue to give you is my side of where I come from. The way I feel, I'm a way better artist now, a way better emcee than I was 10 years ago. My energy might have been stronger back then, but now I'm more of a political rapper slash gangsta rapper slash grown-man rapper. I can take it anywhere you want me to take it. When you think about The Chef, always remember I'm gonna serve y'all niggas dishes. 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