--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started emceein', you had 500…" description: "\"When I started emceein', you had 500 maybe 1000 rappers in the whole world. Now there's 1.000.000, nahmean?\" — RZA" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/rza-1981_rapper_when-i-started-emceein-you-had-500-maybe_618339.png" --- # When I started emceein', you had 500 maybe 1000 rappers in… ![“When I started emceein', you had 500 maybe 1000 rappers in the whole world. Now there's 1.000.000, nahmean?” quote by RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/rza-1981_rapper_when-i-started-emceein-you-had-500-maybe_618339.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/rza-1981_rapper_when-i-started-emceein-you-had-500-maybe_618339.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/rza-1981_rapper_when-i-started-emceein-you-had-500-maybe_618339.png) > “When I started emceein', you had 500 maybe 1000 rappers in the whole world. Now there's 1.000.000, nahmean?” [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. The rap scene exploded from a few thousand artists to millions worldwide. **In simple terms:** Rappers grew from thousands to millions. Key Takeaway Adapt to rapid industry growth. Themes music culture industry change technology globalization creativity Mood energetic observational Type music culture When to use this quote - artist development - marketing - event planning - media analysis Key Concepts hip‑hop history digital distribution viral culture Questions to Reflect On - How can artists stay authentic amid mass expansion? - What role does technology play in this surge? A Different Perspective Rapid growth can dilute quality and increase competition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1000 Rappers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1000-rappers-5008489/) [Maybe 1000](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe-1000-5008491/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Rappers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rappers/) [Rappers World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rappers-world-2377662/) [Started Emceein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-emceein-5008490/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Whole world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I came into the rap game in 1992; my life was changing, but my group wasn't successful; I also saw the biggest rappers in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ja-rule/i-came-into-the-rap-game-in-1992-my-life-was-changing-but-my-group/) [Ja Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ja-rule/) > [I love the grimiest rappers in the world. That's my favorite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/i-love-the-grimiest-rappers-in-the-world-that-s-my-favorite/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [I was a rapper who was 13 or 14 years old at one point, and it was a dream. I used to see videos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hopsin/i-was-a-rapper-who-was-13-or-14-years-old-at-one-point-and-it-was-a/) [Hopsin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hopsin/) > [I feel like Lil' Wayne is one of the best rappers in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glorilla/i-feel-like-lil-wayne-is-one-of-the-best-rappers-in-the-world/) [GloRilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glorilla/) > [It's hard to find rap that I love, you know. I'm one of those rapping a\*\* rappers, but I just fall into a different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eskeerdo/it-s-hard-to-find-rap-that-i-love-you-know-i-m-one-of-those-rapping-a/) [Eskeerdo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eskeerdo/) > [Rappers shouldn't have to file taxes because they itemize everything they own in songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-fahey/rappers-shouldn-t-have-to-file-taxes-because-they-itemize-everything/) [Damien Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-fahey/) > [Pete Rock, CL Smooth, all this East Coast stuff - that's kind of, like, the rappers I first admired. I wanna rap just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle/pete-rock-cl-smooth-all-this-east-coast-stuff-that-s-kind-of-like-the/) [Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle/) > [I don't dislike rappers or hip-hop or people who like it. I went to the Def Jam tour in Manchester in the '80s when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/i-don-t-dislike-rappers-or-hip-hop-or-people-who-like-it-i-went-to/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [I mean, it's not just the rappers, you know what i'm saying? People want to attack anybody that's a large figure, you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/i-mean-it-s-not-just-the-rappers-you-know-what-i-m-saying-people-want/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [If I was a white rapper, the bar for me would be Eminem. Of course his white skin helped him excel to heights that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlamagne-tha-god/if-i-was-a-white-rapper-the-bar-for-me-would-be-eminem-of-course-his/) [Charlamagne tha God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlamagne-tha-god/) > [I like all different kinds of music. I never heavily molded myself after rappers. Sometimes they say when you think something and you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-like-all-different-kinds-of-music-i-never-heavily-molded-myself/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [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/) > [I like Biggie. Like 'Pac, he was one of the best rappers in the business. Why would I try to do something to him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suge-knight/i-like-biggie-like-pac-he-was-one-of-the-best-rappers-in-the-business/) [Suge Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suge-knight/) > [You can't even tell, but a lot of the time your favourite rappers are wearing a bunch of fake jewellery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-mensa/you-can-t-even-tell-but-a-lot-of-the-time-your-favourite-rappers-are/) [Vic Mensa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-mensa/) > [I prefer rappers who have something intelligent to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/i-prefer-rappers-who-have-something-intelligent-to-say/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) ## 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 Rapper 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/) > [I rap when I'm rich. I rap when I'm broke. I rap when I'm bullshit in the street. I rap about only having one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-rap-when-i-m-rich-i-rap-when-i-m-broke-i-rap-when-i-m-bullshit-in/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [I know that in the rap game you've got a lot of people, that come from poverty, was born in poverty and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-connor/i-know-that-in-the-rap-game-you-ve-got-a-lot-of-people-that-come-from/) [Jon Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-connor/) > [It's Slim Thugga Muthafucka, got alot to sell, But snitches already got alot to tell, So for as y'all know all I do is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slim-thug/it-s-slim-thugga-muthafucka-got-alot-to-sell-but-snitches-already-got/) [Slim Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slim-thug/) > [Ja Rule is not Tupac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/ja-rule-is-not-tupac/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [I prefer rappers who have something intelligent to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemele-hill/i-prefer-rappers-who-have-something-intelligent-to-say/) [Jemele Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemele-hill/) > [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/) > [Learning how to rap actually improved my English, because it forced me to talk fast, and I used to suck at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-brian/learning-how-to-rap-actually-improved-my-english-because-it-forced-me/) [Rich Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-brian/) > [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/) > [2 pac not dead mon..he in africa mon...i was chilling with him last week modasucka...he a cool dude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-blackson/2-pac-not-dead-mon-he-in-africa-mon-i-was-chilling-with-him-last-week/) [Michael Blackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-blackson/) > [A rapper is about being completely true to yourself. Being an actor is about changing who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/a-rapper-is-about-being-completely-true-to-yourself-being-an-actor-is/) [Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/) > [You've got a lot of Tupac clones, but I don't think I'm one of them. I just think I give people a little piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-gibbs/you-ve-got-a-lot-of-tupac-clones-but-i-don-t-think-i-m-one-of-them-i/) [Freddie Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-gibbs/) > [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/) > [I had love for Breakout; I had love for Bambaataa. I had love for Kool Herc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grandmaster-flash/i-had-love-for-breakout-i-had-love-for-bambaataa-i-had-love-for-kool/) [Grandmaster Flash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grandmaster-flash/) [Browse all 5,368 Rapper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started emceein', you had 500 maybe 1000 rappers in the whole world. 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