--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was heavily influenced by Melle Mel…" description: "\"I was heavily influenced by Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz, but I kind of wanted to take it somewhere else.\" — Rakim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/rakim-1390_kind_i-was-heavily-influenced-by-melle-mel-ko_1507766.jpg" --- # I was heavily influenced by Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee… ![“I was heavily influenced by Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz, but I kind of wanted to take it somewhere else.” quote by Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/rakim-1390_kind_i-was-heavily-influenced-by-melle-mel-ko_1507766.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/rakim-1390_kind_i-was-heavily-influenced-by-melle-mel-ko_1507766.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/rakim-1390_kind_i-was-heavily-influenced-by-melle-mel-ko_1507766.jpg) > “I was heavily influenced by Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz, but I kind of wanted to take it somewhere else.” [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 respects early hip‑hop pioneers but seeks to innovate beyond their style. **In simple terms:** Honoring roots while forging new paths. Key Takeaway Blend influence with originality. Themes creativity legacy innovation Mood confident ambitious Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - music production - writing - branding Key Concepts artistic evolution cultural homage Questions to Reflect On - How can you respect tradition while evolving? - What risks are worth taking for artistic growth? A Different Perspective Innovation may alienate core fans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caz Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caz-kind-5543556/) [Dee Grandmaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dee-grandmaster-5543555/) [Heavily Influenced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heavily-influenced-526135/) [Influenced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influenced/) [Influenced Melle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influenced-melle-5543554/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Somewhere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somewhere/) [Somewhere else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somewhere-else/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) ## Related quotes > [As far as my parents go, I have been heavily influenced by them. Whenever they went for shootings or shows, I used to think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esha-deol/as-far-as-my-parents-go-i-have-been-heavily-influenced-by-them/) [Esha Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esha-deol/) > [What we believe is heavily influenced by what we think others believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gilovich/what-we-believe-is-heavily-influenced-by-what-we-think-others-believe/) [Thomas Gilovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gilovich/) > [I'm heavily influenced by a lot of people like Dre, Pharrell, and Kanye. They're all big-time tastemakers and trendsetters, just for culture, period. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/metro-boomin/i-m-heavily-influenced-by-a-lot-of-people-like-dre-pharrell-and-kanye/) [Metro Boomin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/metro-boomin/) > [There are a lot of country artists now that are heavily influenced by hip-hop. That's not me. I was very heavily influenced by rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-ballard/there-are-a-lot-of-country-artists-now-that-are-heavily-influenced-by/) [Frankie Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-ballard/) > [My songwriting is very personal. The music that influenced me was so impactful that had I grown up somewhere else, I know I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-bridgers/my-songwriting-is-very-personal-the-music-that-influenced-me-was-so/) [Phoebe Bridgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-bridgers/) > [When I began to cover songs for YouTube, they all tended to be in the super pop-genre.. as in, smash-hit songs. My writing process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-goot/when-i-began-to-cover-songs-for-youtube-they-all-tended-to-be-in-the/) [Alex Goot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-goot/) > [Justin Broadrick has stated that the drum machine sound was heavily influenced by hip hop artists in the late 80s, particularly the beat on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-broadrick/justin-broadrick-has-stated-that-the-drum-machine-sound-was-heavily/) [Justin Broadrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-broadrick/) > [The Bee Gees were always heavily influenced by black music. As a songwriter, it's never been difficult to pick up on the changing styles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-gibb/the-bee-gees-were-always-heavily-influenced-by-black-music-as-a/) [Robin Gibb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-gibb/) > [I used to say that I was making "country music," because it was the quickest, easiest answer. I'm obviously heavily influenced by country music.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-rose/i-used-to-say-that-i-was-making-country-music-because-it-was-the/) [Caitlin Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-rose/) > [I'd been so heavily influenced by Em, but artists that don't grow out of that don't go anywhere. Ultimately, I came to understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nf/i-d-been-so-heavily-influenced-by-em-but-artists-that-don-t-grow-out/) [NF](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nf/) > [I was heavily influenced by Andy Kaufman and Steven Wright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-was-heavily-influenced-by-andy-kaufman-and-steven-wright/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [My work is heavily influenced by critiques that many critical intellectual traditions, especially Critical Race Theory, have made of reform projects focused on legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-spade/my-work-is-heavily-influenced-by-critiques-that-many-critical/) [Dean Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-spade/) > [Of course Germany's media are heavily influenced by the country on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/of-course-germany-s-media-are-heavily-influenced-by-the-country-on/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I've always been heavily influenced by classical music, mostly by baroque music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yngwie-malmsteen/i-ve-always-been-heavily-influenced-by-classical-music-mostly-by/) [Yngwie Malmsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yngwie-malmsteen/) > [All of my definitions of family were heavily influenced by my 'Star Trek' experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/all-of-my-definitions-of-family-were-heavily-influenced-by-my-star/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) ## 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 Influenced quotes > [Little did I know how much the Runaways had influenced so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-currie/little-did-i-know-how-much-the-runaways-had-influenced-so-many-people/) [Cherie Currie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-currie/) > [Don't ask who's influenced me. A lion is made up of the lambs he's digested, and I've been reading all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-gaulle/don-t-ask-who-s-influenced-me-a-lion-is-made-up-of-the-lambs-he-s/) [Charles de Gaulle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-gaulle/) > [My life has been more influenced by books than by any other one thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-vreeland/my-life-has-been-more-influenced-by-books-than-by-any-other-one-thing/) [Diana Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-vreeland/) > [A woman is more influenced by what she divines than by what she is told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninon-de-l-enclos/a-woman-is-more-influenced-by-what-she-divines-than-by-what-she-is/) [Ninon de L'Enclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninon-de-l-enclos/) > [ I don't know if I know anyone, with the exception of the early inventors of rock music \[who wasn't influenced by something\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-don-t-know-if-i-know-anyone-with-the-exception-of-the-early/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I remember being very influenced by 'Taxi Driver', and also Tommy Lee Jones in 'Coal Miner's Daughter' a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-remember-being-very-influenced-by-taxi-driver-and-also-tommy-lee/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I am influenced by every second of my waking hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-bruce/i-am-influenced-by-every-second-of-my-waking-hour/) [Lenny Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-bruce/) > [I read the Steve Jobs book, and that kind of changed everything. I've been, like, an Apple geek my whole life and have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/i-read-the-steve-jobs-book-and-that-kind-of-changed-everything-i-ve/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [I studied ethnomusicology for a while, but I don't think that really influenced my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-fennesz/i-studied-ethnomusicology-for-a-while-but-i-don-t-think-that-really/) [Christian Fennesz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-fennesz/) > [Only during the action is the idea of matter influenced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-alechinsky/only-during-the-action-is-the-idea-of-matter-influenced/) [Pierre Alechinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-alechinsky/) > [I'm more influenced by people's attitudes and spirits than by their particular style. Whether it's Elsie de Wolfe or Pauline de Rothschild, I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-moss/i-m-more-influenced-by-people-s-attitudes-and-spirits-than-by-their/) [Charlotte Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-moss/) > [I'm into Incubus. Growing up, I was a huge Taking Back Sunday fan. I'm still a fan, but I don't listen as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendall-schmidt/i-m-into-incubus-growing-up-i-was-a-huge-taking-back-sunday-fan-i-m/) [Kendall Schmidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendall-schmidt/) > [Absolutely, we were influenced by The Simpsons. We'd be stupid not to be. They put that out there, and we took a cue from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-macfarlane/absolutely-we-were-influenced-by-the-simpsons-we-d-be-stupid-not-to/) [Seth MacFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-macfarlane/) > [I'm sure I've been influenced by every fine writer I've ever read, from Dickens and Austen to Auden and Jane Hirshfield. And also, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-bloom/i-m-sure-i-ve-been-influenced-by-every-fine-writer-i-ve-ever-read/) [Amy Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-bloom/) > [I'm of that generation of Jews still deeply influenced by the Holocaust. Certainly the notion that the state power to kill can be subject…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-turow/i-m-of-that-generation-of-jews-still-deeply-influenced-by-the/) [Scott Turow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-turow/) [Browse all 584 Influenced quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influenced/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was heavily influenced by Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz, but I kind of wanted to take it somewhere else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rakim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-was-heavily-influenced-by-melle-mel-kool-moe-dee-grandmaster-caz/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Influenced" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-was-heavily-influenced-by-melle-mel-kool-moe-dee-grandmaster-caz/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/rakim-1390_kind_i-was-heavily-influenced-by-melle-mel-ko_1507766.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/rakim-1390_kind_i-was-heavily-influenced-by-melle-mel-ko_1507766.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/rakim-1390_kind_i-was-heavily-influenced-by-melle-mel-ko_1507766.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was heavily influenced by Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz, but I kind of wanted to take it…” — Rakim", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rakim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was heavily influenced by Melle...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-was-heavily-influenced-by-melle-mel-kool-moe-dee-grandmaster-caz/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakim/i-was-heavily-influenced-by-melle-mel-kool-moe-dee-grandmaster-caz/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```