--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of people don't know this about…" description: "\"A lot of people don't know this about Wu-Tang, it started from a focused mind. I was given total autonomy to do whatever I want with them... They agree..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/rza-1981_autonomy_a-lot-of-people-don-t-know-this-about-wu_427852.png" --- # A lot of people don't know this about Wu-Tang, it started… ![“A lot of people don't know this about Wu-Tang, it started from a focused mind. I was given total autonomy to do whatever I want with them... They agreed, to me, to be a dictator for five years. And in those five years, it's considered some of our best work.” quote by Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/rza-1981_autonomy_a-lot-of-people-don-t-know-this-about-wu_427852.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/rza-1981_autonomy_a-lot-of-people-don-t-know-this-about-wu_427852.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b8/rza-1981_autonomy_a-lot-of-people-don-t-know-this-about-wu_427852.png) > “A lot of people don't know this about Wu-Tang, it started from a focused mind. I was given total autonomy to do whatever I want with them... They agreed, to me, to be a dictator for five years. And in those five years, it's considered some of our best work.” [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative focus and unrestricted freedom can produce exceptional results when a leader is trusted for a set period. **In simple terms:** Focus and freedom lead to great work. Key Takeaway Grant autonomy, set a clear timeframe. Themes leadership creativity trust autonomy collaboration Mood determined optimistic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - music production - startup projects - research teams - film direction Key Concepts entrepreneurship artistic vision team dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance freedom with direction? - What safeguards prevent abuse of power? A Different Perspective Too much freedom can cause chaos without clear goals or accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Autonomy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Make me a dictator for five years and I would remove all the dirt from the Indian politics and make it clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/make-me-a-dictator-for-five-years-and-i-would-remove-all-the-dirt/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [We've been saying Putin is a dictator for years who doesn't care about the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/we-ve-been-saying-putin-is-a-dictator-for-years-who-doesn-t-care/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [I will say, for Wu-Tang, money wasn't the motivation, it was artistic domination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-will-say-for-wu-tang-money-wasn-t-the-motivation-it-was-artistic/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [To me, Wu-Tang is beyond Wu-Tang Clan... It's just like, hip-hop is beyond Grandmaster Flash, but Grandmaster Flash was one of the first guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/to-me-wu-tang-is-beyond-wu-tang-clan-it-s-just-like-hip-hop-is-beyond/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [We told you Wu-Tang was forever, and some people forgot that. It's not some fad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/we-told-you-wu-tang-was-forever-and-some-people-forgot-that-it-s-not/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [The influence of the Shaw Brothers films on my work has been profound. In addition to the richness of Asian culture, we at Wu-Tang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/the-influence-of-the-shaw-brothers-films-on-my-work-has-been-profound/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [The whole first 100 Wu-Tang songs was made on an ASR-10.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/the-whole-first-100-wu-tang-songs-was-made-on-an-asr-10/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [If you keep eating McDonald's, you gonna get sick. You need a real home-cooked meal. And I knew that that would be healthier. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/if-you-keep-eating-mcdonald-s-you-gonna-get-sick-you-need-a-real-home/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I thought that Wu-Tang was the best sword style - the best sword-style of martial arts. And the tongue is like a sword. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-thought-that-wu-tang-was-the-best-sword-style-the-best-sword-style/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [Wu-Tang Clan's first album, '36 Chambers,' there wasn't a lot of money given to make that album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/wu-tang-clan-s-first-album-36-chambers-there-wasn-t-a-lot-of-money/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I'm glad Wu-Tang was able to inspire other producers and artists, but I would never want to be erased or removed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-m-glad-wu-tang-was-able-to-inspire-other-producers-and-artists-but/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I could never be a control freak. If Wu-Tang is a dictatorship, how does every Wu-Tang member have their own contract, their own career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-could-never-be-a-control-freak-if-wu-tang-is-a-dictatorship-how/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I was a huge Wu-Tang fan, along with Crucial Conflict, along with Do or Die along with Mobb Deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/i-was-a-huge-wu-tang-fan-along-with-crucial-conflict-along-with-do-or/) [Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/) > [Method Man, for him to offer me the spot as the first Jewish member of the Wu Tang Clan, you know, was an honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-peck/method-man-for-him-to-offer-me-the-spot-as-the-first-jewish-member-of/) [Josh Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-peck/) > [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/) ## More by Rza > [I have to make beats every day. Wherever I go, I got a keyboard waiting for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-have-to-make-beats-every-day-wherever-i-go-i-got-a-keyboard-waiting/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I didn't learn black history in school. I had to go find Malcolm X books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-didn-t-learn-black-history-in-school-i-had-to-go-find-malcolm-x/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [It is sad that the world has gotten more of my time than my children, but my children benefit from it through their financial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/it-is-sad-that-the-world-has-gotten-more-of-my-time-than-my-children/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [When I first heard hip-hop, in 1976, there were maybe only 500 people that could do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/when-i-first-heard-hip-hop-in-1976-there-were-maybe-only-500-people/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [Grew up in Stapleton House village, where blood flood the waters in the streets like oil spillage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/grew-up-in-stapleton-house-village-where-blood-flood-the-waters-in/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I love the Bee Gees, and I love Barry Gibb and Andy Gibb. I listen to them almost every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-love-the-bee-gees-and-i-love-barry-gibb-and-andy-gibb-i-listen-to/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [We put out real hip-hop at a time when it was turning into pop or R&B ... We brought the focus back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/we-put-out-real-hip-hop-at-a-time-when-it-was-turning-into-pop-or-r-b/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [What happens to a lot of artists in the music industry right now is the following: The music industry is plummeting real fast. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/what-happens-to-a-lot-of-artists-in-the-music-industry-right-now-is/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [There are lawyers advising to sue, so the lawyers can keep their retainments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/there-are-lawyers-advising-to-sue-so-the-lawyers-can-keep-their/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I could never be a control freak. If Wu-Tang is a dictatorship, how does every Wu-Tang member have their own contract, their own career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-could-never-be-a-control-freak-if-wu-tang-is-a-dictatorship-how/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I think as time goes on that generation of rappers who's making it now is gonna face the same thing that my generation was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-think-as-time-goes-on-that-generation-of-rappers-who-s-making-it/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > ['Grease?' I watch that film over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/grease-i-watch-that-film-over-and-over/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I'm glad Wu-Tang was able to inspire other producers and artists, but I would never want to be erased or removed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-m-glad-wu-tang-was-able-to-inspire-other-producers-and-artists-but/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I'd hate to compare art to life but I think a movie is an entity of its own, and when it's done, you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/i-d-hate-to-compare-art-to-life-but-i-think-a-movie-is-an-entity-of/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [When we was making a song called 'Bring Da Ruckus,' we took the snare, and we put it in an elevator shaft and recorded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/when-we-was-making-a-song-called-bring-da-ruckus-we-took-the-snare/) [Rza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) [Explore all 193 Rza quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) ## More Autonomy quotes > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [“The idea of autonomy denies that we are born into a world that existed prior to us. It posits an essential aloneness; an autonomous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-b-crawford/the-idea-of-autonomy-denies-that-we-are-born-into-a-world-that/) [Matthew B. Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-b-crawford/) > [It’s hard to feel attracted to someone who has abandoned her sense of autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/it-s-hard-to-feel-attracted-to-someone-who-has-abandoned-her-sense-of/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [The first step toward maintaining autonomy in any programmed environment is to be aware that there's programming going on. It's as simple as understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-rushkoff/the-first-step-toward-maintaining-autonomy-in-any-programmed/) [Douglas Rushkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-rushkoff/) > [Autonomy is impossible as long as one is driven by anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/autonomy-is-impossible-as-long-as-one-is-driven-by-anything/) [Gabor Mate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“Father had stretched out his long legs and was tilting back in his chair. Mother sat with her knees crossed, in blue slacks, smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/father-had-stretched-out-his-long-legs-and-was-tilting-back-in-his/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Throughout the last century there were multiple attempts at giving Afghan women more autonomy, to change marriage laws, to abolish the practice of bride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/throughout-the-last-century-there-were-multiple-attempts-at-giving/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [We could encourage the best qualities of youthfulness - curiosity, adventure, resilience, the capacity for surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/we-could-encourage-the-best-qualities-of-youthfulness-curiosity/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [“She isn't anybody's,' Rook said darkly. 'Son. she's not yours, either," Sarah Fleet said.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaida-jones/she-isn-t-anybody-s-rook-said-darkly-son-she-s-not-yours-either-sarah/) [Jaida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaida-jones/) > [The Palestinian Arabs will have their autonomy, we will have our security. We shall live together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-begin/the-palestinian-arabs-will-have-their-autonomy-we-will-have-our/) [Menachem Begin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-begin/) > [Autonomy means women defining themselves and the values by which they will live, and beginning to think of institutional arrangements which will order their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/autonomy-means-women-defining-themselves-and-the-values-by-which-they/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [“Autonomous people assert themselves against the status quo. They don't accept the prevailing opinion just because it's the one given to them. Nothing creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brito/autonomous-people-assert-themselves-against-the-status-quo-they-don-t/) Maria Brito > [Black people cannot and will not become integrated into American society on any terms but those of self-determination and autonomy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerda-lerner/black-people-cannot-and-will-not-become-integrated-into-american/) [Gerda Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerda-lerner/) > [The civil magistrate cannot function without some ethical guidance, without some standard of good and evil. If that standard is not to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-civil-magistrate-cannot-function-without-some-ethical-guidance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Who hath desires must ever fearful be; Who lives in fear cannot be counted free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burton/who-hath-desires-must-ever-fearful-be-who-lives-in-fear-cannot-be/) [Robert Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burton/) [Browse all 418 Autonomy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autonomy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A lot of people don't know this about Wu-Tang, it started from a focused mind. I was given total autonomy to do whatever I want with them... They agreed, to me, to be a dictator for five years. 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