--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When me and Eric did songs back in the…" description: "\"When me and Eric did songs back in the day, we didn't go and sit down in front of no A&R. We made our album, and then, when we finished, we handed it i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/rakim-1390_back_when-me-and-eric-did-songs-back-in-the-d_1490413.jpg" --- # When me and Eric did songs back in the day, we didn't go… ![“When me and Eric did songs back in the day, we didn't go and sit down in front of no A&R. We made our album, and then, when we finished, we handed it in, and then we picked the best song for the first single.” quote by Rakim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/rakim-1390_back_when-me-and-eric-did-songs-back-in-the-d_1490413.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/rakim-1390_back_when-me-and-eric-did-songs-back-in-the-d_1490413.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/900/rakim-1390_back_when-me-and-eric-did-songs-back-in-the-d_1490413.jpg) > “When me and Eric did songs back in the day, we didn't go and sit down in front of no A&R. We made our album, and then, when we finished, we handed it in, and then we picked the best song for the first single.” [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. Artists can succeed by focusing on creating music first, then letting industry gatekeepers decide the hit. **In simple terms:** Make music before seeking approval. Key Takeaway Create first, then market. Themes creativity music industry independence Mood determined reflective Type advice industry insight When to use this quote - recording an album - choosing singles - self‑release strategies Key Concepts DIY production artist autonomy song selection Questions to Reflect On - How does prioritizing art over business affect long‑term career? - When is it better to involve A&R early? A Different Perspective May overlook market trends that affect commercial success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-son/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I always think that you should never, ever force a producer to do something with a song that they don't think they can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-hart/i-always-think-that-you-should-never-ever-force-a-producer-to-do/) [Beth Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-hart/) > [“The best song of life is yet to be sung; the best dreams of life are yet to be dreamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/the-best-song-of-life-is-yet-to-be-sung-the-best-dreams-of-life-are/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Dressed in your Friday best, And ready to impress whoa-oh I like the show, And can I say that you're the prettiest girl that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-ready-set-go/dressed-in-your-friday-best-and-ready-to-impress-whoa-oh-i-like-the/) The Ready Set Go > [Make every song is your best song to date.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mod-sun/make-every-song-is-your-best-song-to-date/) [Mod Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mod-sun/) > [“Working late one night in 1940, poolside at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Irving Berlin, Munn Lodge 190, New York City, told his secretary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-l-harrison/working-late-one-night-in-1940-poolside-at-the-biltmore-hotel-in/) [Steven L. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-l-harrison/) > [The best song wasn't the single, but you weren't either](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/the-best-song-wasn-t-the-single-but-you-weren-t-either/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > ["I'm Black". I think that's the best song I ever made in my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-m-black-i-think-that-s-the-best-song-i-ever-made-in-my-whole-life/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [After much inner debate, I can safely proclaim that Mungo Jerry's 'In the Summertime' may, in fact, be the best song ever recorded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/after-much-inner-debate-i-can-safely-proclaim-that-mungo-jerry-s-in/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [I maintain that the best song is the one that ends up on the album. 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"Heart Is Full" is maybe the best song we've done as a song, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wyatt/my-trigger-is-the-best-combination-of-song-and-track-heart-is-full-is/) [Andrew Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wyatt/) ## 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. 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