--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hip-hop is a voice for voiceless poor…" description: "\"Hip-hop is a voice for voiceless poor people.\" — Russell Simmons" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/russell-simmons-900_hip-hop_hip-hop-is-a-voice-for-voiceless-poor-pe_3000301.png" --- # Hip-hop is a voice for voiceless poor people. ![“Hip-hop is a voice for voiceless poor people.” quote by Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/russell-simmons-900_hip-hop_hip-hop-is-a-voice-for-voiceless-poor-pe_3000301.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/russell-simmons-900_hip-hop_hip-hop-is-a-voice-for-voiceless-poor-pe_3000301.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/russell-simmons-900_hip-hop_hip-hop-is-a-voice-for-voiceless-poor-pe_3000301.png) > “Hip-hop is a voice for voiceless poor people.” [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hip‑hop serves as a platform for marginalized poor voices to be heard. **In simple terms:** Hip‑hop gives voice to the poor. Key Takeaway Amplify marginalized voices. Themes social justice music culture empowerment Mood hopeful defiant inspirational Type cultural social When to use this quote - community organizing - artistic activism - media representation Key Concepts expression identity class struggle Questions to Reflect On - How can hip‑hop broaden its inclusivity? - What responsibilities do artists have? A Different Perspective May overlook other marginalized groups. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Poor people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-people/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [I like movies that resonate, that give voice to the voiceless,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-elise/i-like-movies-that-resonate-that-give-voice-to-the-voiceless/) [Kimberly Elise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-elise/) > [Anybody can make a difference and be a voice for the voiceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-hunter/anybody-can-make-a-difference-and-be-a-voice-for-the-voiceless/) Zach Hunter > [To be courageous is to be a voice for the voiceless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/to-be-courageous-is-to-be-a-voice-for-the-voiceless/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I am the voice of the voiceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/i-am-the-voice-of-the-voiceless/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [My self-imposed mandate is to be the voice for the voiceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dionne-warwick/my-self-imposed-mandate-is-to-be-the-voice-for-the-voiceless/) [Dionne Warwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dionne-warwick/) > [“Do not be afraid to be the voice of the voiceless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigal-muchecheti/do-not-be-afraid-to-be-the-voice-of-the-voiceless/) [Abigal Muchecheti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigal-muchecheti/) > [I love the power of celebrity because you can give voice to the voiceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/q-orianka-kilcher/i-love-the-power-of-celebrity-because-you-can-give-voice-to-the/) [Q'orianka Kilcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/q-orianka-kilcher/) > [My father was the voice for the voiceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedella-marley/my-father-was-the-voice-for-the-voiceless/) [Cedella Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedella-marley/) > [It's very often the artist who gives a voice to the voiceless by speaking up when no one else will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/it-s-very-often-the-artist-who-gives-a-voice-to-the-voiceless-by/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [The great thing about social media was how it gave a voice to voiceless people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/the-great-thing-about-social-media-was-how-it-gave-a-voice-to/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [If it was all about me, I'd do a whole lot of pop records, make a whole lot of money, just rake in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-cube/if-it-was-all-about-me-i-d-do-a-whole-lot-of-pop-records-make-a-whole/) [Ice Cube](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-cube/) > [I've always viewed the 'Ed Show' as being a voice for the voiceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-schultz/i-ve-always-viewed-the-ed-show-as-being-a-voice-for-the-voiceless/) [Ed Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-schultz/) > [Hip-hop took some lessons from rock 'n' roll, and rock 'n' roll took some lessons from hip-hop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/hip-hop-took-some-lessons-from-rock-n-roll-and-rock-n-roll-took-some/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [We have more families at risk with the death penalty. It targets the voiceless, the poor, people of color. And so it's important just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/we-have-more-families-at-risk-with-the-death-penalty-it-targets-the/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [The difference between blues, jazz, rock n' roll and rap is that rap stayed poor. Even the white rappers are poor. It's scarier to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/the-difference-between-blues-jazz-rock-n-roll-and-rap-is-that-rap/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) ## More by Russell Simmons > [I'm born into the cycle of giving that we're all born into, and I recognize it. So just because something is a good business,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-m-born-into-the-cycle-of-giving-that-we-re-all-born-into-and-i/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Compassion is the ultimate expression of your highest self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/compassion-is-the-ultimate-expression-of-your-highest-self/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [If you don't break a hole through the brick wall, don't just start digging a new hole. Keep going until you break through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/if-you-don-t-break-a-hole-through-the-brick-wall-don-t-just-start/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [There's one overriding issue, namely, that we live in a police state so long as the police get to police themselves. And that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/there-s-one-overriding-issue-namely-that-we-live-in-a-police-state-so/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I used to think anxiety and insomnia drove me to success, but it was the stillness that let me be good at anything. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-used-to-think-anxiety-and-insomnia-drove-me-to-success-but-it-was/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [ \[Performing artists\] are making greater percentages. People are going to live events more and it's a big success story for everyone - except the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/performing-artists-are-making-greater-percentages-people-are-going-to/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I think I will always have a connection to young people, to try to bring their voices to the polls, bring their voices wherever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-think-i-will-always-have-a-connection-to-young-people-to-try-to/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [The best defense for any group of people is what we do to defend other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/the-best-defense-for-any-group-of-people-is-what-we-do-to-defend/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [You have to be present, awake and happy now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/you-have-to-be-present-awake-and-happy-now/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Culture in America and everywhere else comes from the suffering, from those who don't want the old ways. They want to bring in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/culture-in-america-and-everywhere-else-comes-from-the-suffering-from/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [I try to use my voice. I know that celebrity is valuable, and people do listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-try-to-use-my-voice-i-know-that-celebrity-is-valuable-and-people-do/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [They're lacking culture in Hollywood. That gives me a big up, right? I know something about pop culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/they-re-lacking-culture-in-hollywood-that-gives-me-a-big-up-right-i/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Meditation helps everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/meditation-helps-everything/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [If you talk about the prison-industrial complex, I've fought against the prison-industrial complex when I called for a repeal of the Rockefeller drug laws.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/if-you-talk-about-the-prison-industrial-complex-i-ve-fought-against/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) [Explore all 335 Russell Simmons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) ## More Hip hop quotes > [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/) > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [By the time you get into other kinds of music - R&B, country, or whatever - it becomes something that's romantic. It becomes something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/by-the-time-you-get-into-other-kinds-of-music-r-b-country-or-whatever/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [God is never late, we're just impatient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/god-is-never-late-we-re-just-impatient/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) Roxanne Shante > [Couples Therapy' is pretty big for me because it's opening the door to a new audience - a hip-hop following, which I feel is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/couples-therapy-is-pretty-big-for-me-because-it-s-opening-the-door-to/) [Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/) > [If you scared to take chances, you'll never have the answers...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/if-you-scared-to-take-chances-you-ll-never-have-the-answers/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Wherever I go, I bring the culture with me, so that they can understand that it's attainable. I didn't do it any other way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/wherever-i-go-i-bring-the-culture-with-me-so-that-they-can-understand/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [If you don't know hip-hop, at least a little bit of it, you can't even call yourself an American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/if-you-don-t-know-hip-hop-at-least-a-little-bit-of-it-you-can-t-even/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [I come from a young, hip-hop, urban world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-t-jackson/i-come-from-a-young-hip-hop-urban-world/) [Brandon T. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-t-jackson/) > [For me, growing up in hip-hop culture, it's all about having the next style, the new fashion, the new way to express yourself, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/for-me-growing-up-in-hip-hop-culture-it-s-all-about-having-the-next/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [It's not about a salary, it's all about reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/it-s-not-about-a-salary-it-s-all-about-reality/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [My first album, 'Get Lifted,' was a hip-hop soul album that had some of its roots in the church, as far as the sonic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/my-first-album-get-lifted-was-a-hip-hop-soul-album-that-had-some-of/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [If you watch wrestling, you now know the hip-hop culture is being represented with wrestling. For the longest time, the cultures have almost been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cena/if-you-watch-wrestling-you-now-know-the-hip-hop-culture-is-being/) [John Cena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cena/) > [Ghostface, when it comes to hip-hop, was one of my favorite rappers and definitely one of my favorites in the Wu-Tang. He's also a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-i-d/ghostface-when-it-comes-to-hip-hop-was-one-of-my-favorite-rappers-and/) [No I.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-i-d/) [Browse all 3,272 Hip hop quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Hip-hop is a voice for voiceless poor people.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Simmons" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/hip-hop-is-a-voice-for-voiceless-poor-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hip hop" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/hip-hop-is-a-voice-for-voiceless-poor-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/russell-simmons-900_hip-hop_hip-hop-is-a-voice-for-voiceless-poor-pe_3000301.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/russell-simmons-900_hip-hop_hip-hop-is-a-voice-for-voiceless-poor-pe_3000301.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e5/russell-simmons-900_hip-hop_hip-hop-is-a-voice-for-voiceless-poor-pe_3000301.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Hip-hop is a voice for voiceless poor people.” — Russell Simmons", "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": "Russell Simmons", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Hip-hop is a voice for voiceless...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/hip-hop-is-a-voice-for-voiceless-poor-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/hip-hop-is-a-voice-for-voiceless-poor-people/#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 } } ] } ```