--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The golden age was when people were…" description: "\"The golden age was when people were starting to understand what hip-hop was and how to use it. I was lucky to come up then. Everybody wanted to be orig..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/rakim-1390_age_the-golden-age-was-when-people-were-star_1806404.jpg" --- # The golden age was when people were starting to understand… ![“The golden age was when people were starting to understand what hip-hop was and how to use it. I was lucky to come up then. Everybody wanted to be original and have substance; it was somewhat conscious... There was an integrity that people respected.” quote by Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/rakim-1390_age_the-golden-age-was-when-people-were-star_1806404.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/rakim-1390_age_the-golden-age-was-when-people-were-star_1806404.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/rakim-1390_age_the-golden-age-was-when-people-were-star_1806404.jpg) > “The golden age was when people were starting to understand what hip-hop was and how to use it. I was lucky to come up then. Everybody wanted to be original and have substance; it was somewhat conscious... There was an integrity that people respected.” [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. The era marked a rise in authentic, conscious hip‑hop where artists valued originality and lyrical depth. **In simple terms:** Hip‑hop became more thoughtful and genuine. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity and substance in creative work. Themes authenticity creativity consciousness integrity originality Mood reflective inspirational Type cultural motivational When to use this quote - music production - songwriting - branding - community building Key Concepts cultural movement artistic expression social commentary Questions to Reflect On - How can creators stay true to their vision? - What role does audience expectation play? A Different Perspective Commercial pressures can dilute authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Golden age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golden-age/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Original](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) ## Related quotes > [If you don't understand hip-hop, you just have to see it being recorded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/if-you-don-t-understand-hip-hop-you-just-have-to-see-it-being-recorded/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I come from the golden age of hip hop when all the greats came on the scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coolio/i-come-from-the-golden-age-of-hip-hop-when-all-the-greats-came-on-the/) [Coolio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coolio/) > [“I am what I am….both as a result of people who respected me and helped me, and of those who did not respect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sampson/i-am-what-i-am-both-as-a-result-of-people-who-respected-me-and-helped/) [Anthony Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-sampson/) > [People also respected my culinary acumen and my intelligence, and that was their whole thing. They flew me over, and it was this immersive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-richman/people-also-respected-my-culinary-acumen-and-my-intelligence-and-that/) [Adam Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-richman/) > [People respected my experience, they hire me, they pay me what I am worth to coach their team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/people-respected-my-experience-they-hire-me-they-pay-me-what-i-am/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [When the Lakota leader Sitting Bull was asked by a white reporter why his people loved and respected him, Sitting Bull replied by asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-bruchac/when-the-lakota-leader-sitting-bull-was-asked-by-a-white-reporter-why/) [Joseph Bruchac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-bruchac/) > [If you want to have a society where people are respected and respect laws, you can't have somebody at the top who demeans every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kaine/if-you-want-to-have-a-society-where-people-are-respected-and-respect/) [Tim Kaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kaine/) > [In the States, entrepreneurs inspire a lot of people and are respected for creating jobs. That makes people dream and feel happy for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delphine-arnault/in-the-states-entrepreneurs-inspire-a-lot-of-people-and-are-respected/) [Delphine Arnault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delphine-arnault/) > [Where trade unions are most firmly organized, there are the rights of the people most respected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-gompers/where-trade-unions-are-most-firmly-organized-there-are-the-rights-of/) [Samuel Gompers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-gompers/) > [People should be respected for the strength of their convictions, and I also believe in freedom of expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-should-be-respected-for-the-strength-of-their-convictions-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There was a time when young people respected learning and literature and now they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/there-was-a-time-when-young-people-respected-learning-and-literature/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [I've always had a lot of respect from the people I respected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-newman/i-ve-always-had-a-lot-of-respect-from-the-people-i-respected/) [Randy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-newman/) > [Stuntmen don't have a lavish life. They are such hard working people, but not respected enough. And I don't like that. If I become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-shroff/stuntmen-don-t-have-a-lavish-life-they-are-such-hard-working-people/) [Tiger Shroff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-shroff/) > [Fortunately, we have help from the media. I have to say this: I'm very grateful for the support and kindness that we've gotten. People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/fortunately-we-have-help-from-the-media-i-have-to-say-this-i-m-very/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I have met a few people, who are so respected in the fashion industry and all around the world, and are still very humble.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-clementine/i-have-met-a-few-people-who-are-so-respected-in-the-fashion-industry/) [Benjamin Clementine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-clementine/) ## 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 Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The golden age was when people were starting to understand what hip-hop was and how to use it. I was lucky to come up then. Everybody wanted to be original and have substance; it was somewhat conscious... 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