--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was an underground artist, but the…" description: "\"I was an underground artist, but the underground status was successful. Coming from where I came from to see where rap is now, now artists are selling ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/rakim-1390_art_i-was-an-underground-artist-but-the-unde_1948808.jpg" --- # I was an underground artist, but the underground status… ![“I was an underground artist, but the underground status was successful. Coming from where I came from to see where rap is now, now artists are selling from a million to eight million copies.” quote by Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/rakim-1390_art_i-was-an-underground-artist-but-the-unde_1948808.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/rakim-1390_art_i-was-an-underground-artist-but-the-unde_1948808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/354/rakim-1390_art_i-was-an-underground-artist-but-the-unde_1948808.jpg) > “I was an underground artist, but the underground status was successful. Coming from where I came from to see where rap is now, now artists are selling from a million to eight million copies.” [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. He reflects on how underground status can be a stepping stone to mainstream success, noting the massive sales growth in rap. **In simple terms:** Underground roots can lead to huge commercial success. Key Takeaway Leverage authenticity to achieve broader impact. Themes music industry success culture authenticity Mood proud optimistic Type motivational industry‑focused When to use this quote - artist interviews - music business conferences - career planning for musicians Key Concepts hip hop market dynamics career trajectory Questions to Reflect On - What factors turn underground credibility into mainstream sales? - Is commercial success compatible with artistic integrity? A Different Perspective The quote may ignore systemic barriers that limit many underground artists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap/) [Underground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underground/) ## Related quotes > [I've made some leaps and bounds as an underground artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xzibit/i-ve-made-some-leaps-and-bounds-as-an-underground-artist/) [Xzibit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xzibit/) > [I didn't expect my popularity to be a mainstream thing, 'cause I'd only ever been an underground artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/i-didn-t-expect-my-popularity-to-be-a-mainstream-thing-cause-i-d-only/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) > [It would be awesome to stay popular, but if I was only an underground artist, I would be okay with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassie-ventura/it-would-be-awesome-to-stay-popular-but-if-i-was-only-an-underground/) [Cassie Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassie-ventura/) > [Artists have so much more control of their futures - they don't need to rely so much on major labels or big companies to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-aoki/artists-have-so-much-more-control-of-their-futures-they-don-t-need-to/) [Steve Aoki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-aoki/) > [Every underground artist has that little chip on his shoulder, like "I'm stuck here, and I'm trying to get out of this little hole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/every-underground-artist-has-that-little-chip-on-his-shoulder-like-i/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [They consistently hobble artists' in the name of selling more units then are surprised when the fans don't buy the lukewarm music this produces.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wilson/they-consistently-hobble-artists-in-the-name-of-selling-more-units/) [Malcolm Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wilson/) > [Dave Matthews, Tim McGraw, U2, The Rolling Stones - there are a lot of artists selling out stadiums around the world that we work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rapino/dave-matthews-tim-mcgraw-u2-the-rolling-stones-there-are-a-lot-of/) [Michael Rapino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-rapino/) > [I think at the end of the day you can do both: make money and stay true to yourself. But a lot of young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahki/i-think-at-the-end-of-the-day-you-can-do-both-make-money-and-stay/) [Rahki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahki/) > [Nailbomb was never really a big record. It's big in the underground. It's huge and it developed a big cult following.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cavalera/nailbomb-was-never-really-a-big-record-it-s-big-in-the-underground-it/) [Max Cavalera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cavalera/) > [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/) > [The challenge artists face today is whether to be an underground, unheard genius, or to dilute their art for the marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-challenge-artists-face-today-is-whether-to-be-an-underground/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [What people don't understand is that the underground that existed was created in the early 80s and was thriving throughout the 80s. Until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mackaye/what-people-don-t-understand-is-that-the-underground-that-existed-was/) [Ian MacKaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mackaye/) > [Couples without kids have each other, their friends, families, and Siri to talk to. It's not like they're quarantining themselves in an underground bunker,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-kirkman/couples-without-kids-have-each-other-their-friends-families-and-siri/) [Jen Kirkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-kirkman/) > [We been bubblin' in the Los Angeles underground for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xzibit/we-been-bubblin-in-the-los-angeles-underground-for-years/) [Xzibit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xzibit/) > [I was young, but to me that was underground music. I had never heard anything like Venom or any of that stuff growing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pajo/i-was-young-but-to-me-that-was-underground-music-i-had-never-heard/) [David Pajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pajo/) ## 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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was an underground artist, but the underground status was successful. 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