--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back in the day, music imitated life. Now…" description: "\"Back in the day, music imitated life. Now it's the opposite way around: life is imitating music. It's like whatever the rappers say, people think that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/rakim-1390_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-music-imitated-life-now_2050280.jpg" --- # Back in the day, music imitated life. Now it's the… ![“Back in the day, music imitated life. Now it's the opposite way around: life is imitating music. It's like whatever the rappers say, people think that that's how we're supposed to be; but back then, we kind of looked at the streets, and we made music for that.” quote by Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/rakim-1390_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-music-imitated-life-now_2050280.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/rakim-1390_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-music-imitated-life-now_2050280.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/726/rakim-1390_back-in-the-day_back-in-the-day-music-imitated-life-now_2050280.jpg) > “Back in the day, music imitated life. Now it's the opposite way around: life is imitating music. It's like whatever the rappers say, people think that that's how we're supposed to be; but back then, we kind of looked at the streets, and we made music for that.” [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music now mirrors society, shaping behavior as much as reflecting it. **In simple terms:** Music influences life now. Key Takeaway Observe how media shapes actions. Themes culture media influence music societal trends Mood reflective critical Type observational commentary When to use this quote - marketing campaigns - social media trends - fashion cycles - youth behavior Key Concepts feedback loop cultural reflection media theory Questions to Reflect On - How does music shape your daily choices? - Can you identify a song that changed your perspective? A Different Perspective Music can oversimplify complex issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [It's weird, like, my life has always imitated art, and my art has always imitated life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-bach/it-s-weird-like-my-life-has-always-imitated-art-and-my-art-has-always/) [Sebastian Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-bach/) > [Now life is imitating art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/now-life-is-imitating-art/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Miley is always on, she’s always funny, she’s always writing songs, she’s always making music. The parallel of the film is like Miley says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-ray-cyrus/miley-is-always-on-she-s-always-funny-she-s-always-writing-songs-she/) [Billy Ray Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-ray-cyrus/) > [“I watched a bowl of fruit on the table remain motionless. Just another example of life imitating art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-watched-a-bowl-of-fruit-on-the-table-remain-motionless-just-another/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Art imitating life and life imitating art, and it's beyond the job - it will always be a marked period in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/art-imitating-life-and-life-imitating-art-and-it-s-beyond-the-job-it/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) > [I'm just happy that in the whole framework of art imitates life, or maybe life should be imitating art, there is this kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/i-m-just-happy-that-in-the-whole-framework-of-art-imitates-life-or/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [“Don't waste your life trying to become somebody else.   Don't waste your life trying to live up to your performance expectations.   Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tai-sheridan/don-t-waste-your-life-trying-to-become-somebody-else-don-t-waste-your/) [Tai Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tai-sheridan/) > [I can do a whole project with Madlib and turn around and do a record with Gucci Mane. Gucci Mane, E-40, and Black Thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-gibbs/i-can-do-a-whole-project-with-madlib-and-turn-around-and-do-a-record/) [Freddie Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-gibbs/) > [Take emceeing, one of the foundations of hip-hop culture. A guy grabs a mic, steps up on stage and becomes a spokesman; the voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-shaheed-muhammad/take-emceeing-one-of-the-foundations-of-hip-hop-culture-a-guy-grabs-a/) [Ali Shaheed Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-shaheed-muhammad/) > [I just feel like, with rappers, there's so much complacency. It's like, 'Oh, I'm a rapper. I'm successful. I make money. That's all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-just-feel-like-with-rappers-there-s-so-much-complacency-it-s-like/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [It's like with me, I feel like I was never one of those rappers that, you know, stayed in one time warp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-40/it-s-like-with-me-i-feel-like-i-was-never-one-of-those-rappers-that/) E-40 > [I just save my money, man. I don't even try to enjoy it like these other rappers; they having fun and they lit, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-baby/i-just-save-my-money-man-i-don-t-even-try-to-enjoy-it-like-these/) [Lil Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-baby/) > [Yeah, if you go too far, like there's some rappers that use words that just be a little too out there, it makes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-daddy-kane/yeah-if-you-go-too-far-like-there-s-some-rappers-that-use-words-that/) [Big Daddy Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-daddy-kane/) > [When I was young, I wanted to be like the rappers. I remember being in junior high and wanting a fisherman hat and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cam-ron/when-i-was-young-i-wanted-to-be-like-the-rappers-i-remember-being-in/) [Cam'ron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cam-ron/) > [Pete Rock, CL Smooth, all this East Coast stuff - that's kind of, like, the rappers I first admired. I wanna rap just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle/pete-rock-cl-smooth-all-this-east-coast-stuff-that-s-kind-of-like-the/) [Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle/) ## More by Rakim > [I love Jay-Z, I love Kanye, and I praise the way he's been able to bring more business out of the jungle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-love-jay-z-i-love-kanye-and-i-praise-the-way-he-s-been-able-to/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Feed me hip-hop and I start tremblin'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/feed-me-hip-hop-and-i-start-tremblin/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [To me, sometimes things outside of rap inspire me to rap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/to-me-sometimes-things-outside-of-rap-inspire-me-to-rap/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Elements burst, gave birth the the verse, get the pen from the nurse, but hook the mic up first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/elements-burst-gave-birth-the-the-verse-get-the-pen-from-the-nurse/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [I got a lot of vinyl, a lot of music in general in the house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-got-a-lot-of-vinyl-a-lot-of-music-in-general-in-the-house/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Whenever I write a song I see the whole song anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/whenever-i-write-a-song-i-see-the-whole-song-anyway/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Sometimes I feel I'm the luckiest rapper in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/sometimes-i-feel-i-m-the-luckiest-rapper-in-the-world/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [I think rap was a better move for me but football's been my love since I learned how to walk. I was gonna be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-think-rap-was-a-better-move-for-me-but-football-s-been-my-love/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [There are certain things that I wish people knew - certain things that I feel I started and certain things that I'm responsible for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/there-are-certain-things-that-i-wish-people-knew-certain-things-that/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [So I start my mission- leave my residence Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/so-i-start-my-mission-leave-my-residence-thinkin-how-could-i-get-some/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [My approach to writing rhymes went hand in hand with the music. I'd try to make different rhythms with my rhymes on the track…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/my-approach-to-writing-rhymes-went-hand-in-hand-with-the-music-i-d/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [My whole thing is if it wasn't for people like ya'll and people like them I wouldn't be me. I love every minute of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/my-whole-thing-is-if-it-wasn-t-for-people-like-ya-ll-and-people-like/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [My son plays football so I coach a couple of his teams. My youngest son just started playing last year and I assistant coached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/my-son-plays-football-so-i-coach-a-couple-of-his-teams-my-youngest/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [I always had deep respect for my peoples 'cause of the love they gave me and the know how that they showed me through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-always-had-deep-respect-for-my-peoples-cause-of-the-love-they-gave/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [When I broke up with Eric B., I went on a little hiatus. Then all I was trying do is find producers. It's real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/when-i-broke-up-with-eric-b-i-went-on-a-little-hiatus-then-all-i-was/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) [Explore all 247 Rakim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) ## More Back in the day quotes > [Pilot season tends to be grueling, because you can be thrown all of these auditions at once - last-minute, always - and you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dickens/pilot-season-tends-to-be-grueling-because-you-can-be-thrown-all-of/) [Kim Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dickens/) > [There's always gonna be people saying they were so much better back in the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-broadrick/there-s-always-gonna-be-people-saying-they-were-so-much-better-back/) [Justin Broadrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-broadrick/) > [There was a place in New York called Tannen's Magic. It still exists. But back in the day, it was really fantastic. You'd go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/there-was-a-place-in-new-york-called-tannen-s-magic-it-still-exists/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Back in the day in my teens I was listening to Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery a lot; before that I was listening to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-carlton/back-in-the-day-in-my-teens-i-was-listening-to-joe-pass-and-wes/) [Larry Carlton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-carlton/) > [I've know Jeezy before he was Jeezy. I've been down with Cash Money from back in the day. So these are real relationships. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/i-ve-know-jeezy-before-he-was-jeezy-i-ve-been-down-with-cash-money/) [DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/) > [Back in the day, Barry Crump not only had these stories that talked about that kind of rustic personality, but also, he spoke volumes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-darby/back-in-the-day-barry-crump-not-only-had-these-stories-that-talked/) [Rhys Darby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-darby/) > [I do enjoy them. I get to meet the next generation of comics and help them out. Big comics doing small shows was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burr/i-do-enjoy-them-i-get-to-meet-the-next-generation-of-comics-and-help/) [Bill Burr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burr/) > [I think we've got to look at corporate law. Back in the day when I studied it, there were different constituencies that were to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-think-we-ve-got-to-look-at-corporate-law-back-in-the-day-when-i/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [There are people creating Photoshopped pictures of me getting beat as if I were a slave back in the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/normani-hamilton/there-are-people-creating-photoshopped-pictures-of-me-getting-beat-as/) Normani Hamilton > [Not to say that music today doesn't have heart, but it's really few and far between because technology has advanced itself so much that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-aguilera/not-to-say-that-music-today-doesn-t-have-heart-but-it-s-really-few/) [Christina Aguilera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-aguilera/) > [Freedom is always just one generation away from extinction. We don't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. We have to fight for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/freedom-is-always-just-one-generation-away-from-extinction-we-don-t/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Because I know that the early Greeks and Romans and the early Europeans at that age did not see racism as we see it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/because-i-know-that-the-early-greeks-and-romans-and-the-early/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [My first ones were The Young Rascals. I made out with Dino Danelli, the drummer, in the alley behind the City Auditorium. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-peterson/my-first-ones-were-the-young-rascals-i-made-out-with-dino-danelli-the/) [Cassandra Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-peterson/) > [I'm a SoundCloud, online kind of artist. It's not like back in the day when everyone was like linking up physically to do music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cakes-da-killa/i-m-a-soundcloud-online-kind-of-artist-it-s-not-like-back-in-the-day/) [Cakes da killa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cakes-da-killa/) > [I turned down a lot of reality shows in the past, but MTV, back in the day, was just the coolest with Cribs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/i-turned-down-a-lot-of-reality-shows-in-the-past-but-mtv-back-in-the/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) Browse all 77 Back in the day quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Back in the day, music imitated life. Now it's the opposite way around: life is imitating music. 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