--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Hip-hop is about tearing down the system…" description: "\"Hip-hop is about tearing down the system to better it, tearing down the system to better themselves. No matter how flimsy it might seem, they always wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/russell-simmons-900_better_hip-hop-is-about-tearing-down-the-system_2764950.png" --- # Hip-hop is about tearing down the system to better it… ![“Hip-hop is about tearing down the system to better it, tearing down the system to better themselves. No matter how flimsy it might seem, they always wanted the finer things in life.” quote by Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/russell-simmons-900_better_hip-hop-is-about-tearing-down-the-system_2764950.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/russell-simmons-900_better_hip-hop-is-about-tearing-down-the-system_2764950.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/russell-simmons-900_better_hip-hop-is-about-tearing-down-the-system_2764950.png) > “Hip-hop is about tearing down the system to better it, tearing down the system to better themselves. No matter how flimsy it might seem, they always wanted the finer things in life.” [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 seeks to dismantle oppressive structures for collective and personal improvement, despite appearing fragile. **In simple terms:** Hip hop tries to improve society and self by challenging systems. Key Takeaway Use art to critique and uplift. Themes social change music identity empowerment Mood defiant hopeful Type cultural motivational When to use this quote - activism - community building - personal growth - artistic expression Key Concepts cultural critique revolutionary spirit Questions to Reflect On - How can hip hop balance critique with constructive solutions? - What responsibilities do artists have to their communities? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic complexity and risk co-optation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Finer things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finer-things/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Things in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-in-life/) ## Related quotes > [Money is a lubricant. It lets you "slide" through life instead of having to "scrape" by. Money brings freedom-freedom to buy what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/money-is-a-lubricant-it-lets-you-slide-through-life-instead-of-having/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [Some people prefer the finer things in life, I'm alright just hanging out with the ghost of Vincent Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wednesday-13/some-people-prefer-the-finer-things-in-life-i-m-alright-just-hanging/) [Wednesday 13](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wednesday-13/) > [Almost all of the finer things in life are free or nearly free. You don't have to pay for the sky at night or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/almost-all-of-the-finer-things-in-life-are-free-or-nearly-free-you/) [Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/) > [The unclouded eye was better, no matter what it saw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-unclouded-eye-was-better-no-matter-what-it-saw/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [To know is always better, no matter what the answer might be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-brooks/to-know-is-always-better-no-matter-what-the-answer-might-be/) [Max Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-brooks/) > [You always want to be better than you are. No matter what, I think that's important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-griffin/you-always-want-to-be-better-than-you-are-no-matter-what-i-think-that/) [Blake Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-griffin/) > [I feel like B sides are always better, no matter whose record it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/i-feel-like-b-sides-are-always-better-no-matter-whose-record-it-is/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [I know I'm getting better no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-g-anunoby/i-know-i-m-getting-better-no-matter-what/) [O. G. Anunoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-g-anunoby/) > [My objective has always been to get better, no matter where my ranking is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-donald/my-objective-has-always-been-to-get-better-no-matter-where-my-ranking/) [Luke Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-donald/) > [N this business you got different types of artists who are trying to get to the level of success; everybody graduates to where they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/n-this-business-you-got-different-types-of-artists-who-are-trying-to/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [I'm fulfilled in what I do. I never thought that a lot of money or fine clothes - the finer things of life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coretta-scott-king/i-m-fulfilled-in-what-i-do-i-never-thought-that-a-lot-of-money-or/) [Coretta Scott King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coretta-scott-king/) > [Man I be off Patron like its a holiday. Fucking with them finer things, pull up on your bitch and say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/man-i-be-off-patron-like-its-a-holiday-fucking-with-them-finer-things/) [Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/) > [“not the old trees, not even the old memories. Clustering traditions had fled in the white blaze of electricity; the quaint brick walks, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-anderson-gholson-glasgow/not-the-old-trees-not-even-the-old-memories-clustering-traditions-had/) Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow > [We gonna party like it's 3012 tonight I wanna show you all the finer things in life So just forget about the world, we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishak/we-gonna-party-like-it-s-3012-tonight-i-wanna-show-you-all-the-finer/) [Vishak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishak/) > [I should've been a better man instead of wasting my time spending my life searching for the finer things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/i-should-ve-been-a-better-man-instead-of-wasting-my-time-spending-my/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) ## 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 Better quotes > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [Everybody has their cliques, and I was very shy. I'm still very shy. Music opened up doors. I would get to my choir class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-fonsi/everybody-has-their-cliques-and-i-was-very-shy-i-m-still-very-shy/) [Luis Fonsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-fonsi/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The Little you Give !! The Better it Gets !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-stanyer/the-little-you-give-the-better-it-gets/) [Mario Stanyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-stanyer/) > [A strong, durable Puerto Rican economy will leave the island better prepared to handle future natural disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-campos-duffy/a-strong-durable-puerto-rican-economy-will-leave-the-island-better/) [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-campos-duffy/) > [In my first 100 days as Ontario's Minister of Transportation, I found a willing municipal partner in the City of Toronto that shares our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-mulroney/in-my-first-100-days-as-ontario-s-minister-of-transportation-i-found/) [Caroline Mulroney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-mulroney/) > [It hasn't been a conscious thing, like, 'I don't want to listen to a bunch of dudes,' but I genuinely like music by women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soccer-mommy/it-hasn-t-been-a-conscious-thing-like-i-don-t-want-to-listen-to-a/) [Soccer Mommy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soccer-mommy/) > [Life is going to hit you some line drives, and sometimes you'll have to think fast. However, it's better to think first than to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bytheway/life-is-going-to-hit-you-some-line-drives-and-sometimes-you-ll-have/) [John Bytheway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bytheway/) > [I like to collaborate with other people for studio recordings because I believe collaboration, in any form, makes music better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-barlow/i-like-to-collaborate-with-other-people-for-studio-recordings-because/) [Lou Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-barlow/) > [Absolutely, you can improve and become better at toughness. It's a talent, but it can be acquired, too. I think of it like building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harbaugh/absolutely-you-can-improve-and-become-better-at-toughness-it-s-a/) [Jim Harbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-harbaugh/) > [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/) [Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/) > [Cara Delevingne and I took an eyebrow selfie. We both have prominent eyebrows, but hers are much better than mine. Maybe we should do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-poulter/cara-delevingne-and-i-took-an-eyebrow-selfie-we-both-have-prominent/) [Will Poulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-poulter/) > [I never really look at it past one year. I look at last year and my whole goal is to be a better player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-never-really-look-at-it-past-one-year-i-look-at-last-year-and-my/) [Trent Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-williams/) Browse all 17,085 Better quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Hip-hop is about tearing down the system to better it, tearing down the system to better themselves. No matter how flimsy it might seem, they always wanted the finer things in life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Russell Simmons" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/hip-hop-is-about-tearing-down-the-system-to-better-it-tearing-down/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/hip-hop-is-about-tearing-down-the-system-to-better-it-tearing-down/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/russell-simmons-900_better_hip-hop-is-about-tearing-down-the-system_2764950.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/russell-simmons-900_better_hip-hop-is-about-tearing-down-the-system_2764950.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60f/russell-simmons-900_better_hip-hop-is-about-tearing-down-the-system_2764950.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Hip-hop is about tearing down the system to better it, tearing down the system to better themselves. No…” — 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 about tearing down the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/hip-hop-is-about-tearing-down-the-system-to-better-it-tearing-down/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/hip-hop-is-about-tearing-down-the-system-to-better-it-tearing-down/#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 } } ] } ```