--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Back in the day, rappers were 'bump bump…" description: "\"Back in the day, rappers were 'bump bump bump ba bump ba bump.' They was rhyming like that, but I was like, 'bababa bump bump babum ba babump bababa bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/rakim-1390_back_back-in-the-day-rappers-were-bump-bump-b_302833.jpg" --- # Back in the day, rappers were 'bump bump bump ba bump ba… ![“Back in the day, rappers were 'bump bump bump ba bump ba bump.' They was rhyming like that, but I was like, 'bababa bump bump babum ba babump bababa bump.'” quote by Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/rakim-1390_back_back-in-the-day-rappers-were-bump-bump-b_302833.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/rakim-1390_back_back-in-the-day-rappers-were-bump-bump-b_302833.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66c/rakim-1390_back_back-in-the-day-rappers-were-bump-bump-b_302833.jpg) > “Back in the day, rappers were 'bump bump bump ba bump ba bump.' They was rhyming like that, but I was like, 'bababa bump bump babum ba babump bababa bump.'” [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. Rappers once used repetitive beats; the speaker contrasts that with his own complex rhythm style. **In simple terms:** Old rap was simple; his style is complex. Key Takeaway Embrace creative variation in music. Themes music creativity hip hop Mood energetic nostalgic Type musical cultural When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - cultural analysis Key Concepts rhythm innovation Questions to Reflect On - How does rhythm affect lyrical impact? - What drives artistic evolution? A Different Perspective May oversimplify past rap styles, ignoring diversity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ba Bump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ba-bump-2627083/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Bump Ba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bump-ba-2627084/) [Bump Rhyming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bump-rhyming-2889678/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Rappers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rappers/) [Rappers Bump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rappers-bump-2889677/) [Rhyming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhyming/) ## Related quotes > [Ill just say whats in my heart: Ba-bump, ba-bump, ba-bump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/ill-just-say-whats-in-my-heart-ba-bump-ba-bump-ba-bump/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [Rappers spit rhymes that are mostly illegal, MC's spit rhymes to uplift their people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/rappers-spit-rhymes-that-are-mostly-illegal-mc-s-spit-rhymes-to/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [Rappers tend to use words sometimes that just rhyme and don't really mean nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trick-daddy/rappers-tend-to-use-words-sometimes-that-just-rhyme-and-don-t-really/) [Trick Daddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trick-daddy/) > [When I started rhyming, my favorite rhythms were from John Coltrane and some of the things he did on sax. And certain rhythms that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/when-i-started-rhyming-my-favorite-rhythms-were-from-john-coltrane/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Back then all I cared about was rhyming and making beats. That was my trade, my hobby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/back-then-all-i-cared-about-was-rhyming-and-making-beats-that-was-my/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Hopefully the rappers can start to open the eyes in the neighborhoods and communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/hopefully-the-rappers-can-start-to-open-the-eyes-in-the-neighborhoods/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [What I want to do right now is give hip hop back to the hood. Before it was a neighborhood thing where it belonged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/what-i-want-to-do-right-now-is-give-hip-hop-back-to-the-hood-before/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Maino is an artist that I feel walks what he talks - you can tell what he raps about and what he's been through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/maino-is-an-artist-that-i-feel-walks-what-he-talks-you-can-tell-what/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [That's another thing yo rappers are scared to bring new styles out. There's so many different ways we can be flowing but everybody chooses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/that-s-another-thing-yo-rappers-are-scared-to-bring-new-styles-out/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [If anybody can make a change it's the rappers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/if-anybody-can-make-a-change-it-s-the-rappers/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [Rappers are separated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/rappers-are-separated/) [Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/) > [A certain administration which I won't call by name took the arts out of the schools, and that left the brothers out on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-hayes/a-certain-administration-which-i-won-t-call-by-name-took-the-arts-out/) [Isaac Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-hayes/) > [When people in stadiums do the Wave, it's the group-mind collective organism spontaneously organizing itself to express an emotion, pass time, and reflect the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/when-people-in-stadiums-do-the-wave-it-s-the-group-mind-collective/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [Life does not consist mainly, or even largely, of facts and happenings. It consists mainly ofthe storm of thought that is forever flowing through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/life-does-not-consist-mainly-or-even-largely-of-facts-and-happenings/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [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 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 quotes > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I honestly would like to get that Frankie fight back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/i-honestly-would-like-to-get-that-frankie-fight-back/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [Drumming's pretty physical. We sit at the back of the stage getting beat up like a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-lee/drumming-s-pretty-physical-we-sit-at-the-back-of-the-stage-getting/) [Tommy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-lee/) > [I never want to look back on any moment and say I could have done more. 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Then I probably wouldn't have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/i-wish-that-i-had-known-back-then-that-a-mastery-of-process-would/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [It's what the people wanted at the time, but the country could not be half-segregated and half-integrated, just as it could not be half-slave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-wallace/it-s-what-the-people-wanted-at-the-time-but-the-country-could-not-be/) [George Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-wallace/) > [I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millie-bright/i-ve-always-stuck-my-arms-behind-my-back-anyway-when-trying-to-block/) [Millie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millie-bright/) > [I'm sure at some point I will get back into coaching, but right now I need to focus completely on my kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-m-sure-at-some-point-i-will-get-back-into-coaching-but-right-now-i/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [Any time someone achieves success before they've earned it, it always comes back to haunt them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-white/any-time-someone-achieves-success-before-they-ve-earned-it-it-always/) [Ron White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-white/) > [In Congress, Florida Republicans worked with the Trump administration to secure funding for coastal restoration projects following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/in-congress-florida-republicans-worked-with-the-trump-administration/) [Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/) > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [We're all painfully aware of how suddenly violence can occur, how crippling it is, and how survivors have to find a way back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dini/we-re-all-painfully-aware-of-how-suddenly-violence-can-occur-how/) [Paul Dini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dini/) > [Ronaldo is just an athlete. He works so hard and back to back; he is always there. But if you work hard, can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-davids/ronaldo-is-just-an-athlete-he-works-so-hard-and-back-to-back-he-is/) [Edgar Davids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-davids/) > [I do spend a lot of weekends on the road. I have to pace myself. 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