--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rap to me is a modern blues. But until we…" description: "\"Rap to me is a modern blues. But until we really confront the truth, we are going to have a Tupac or Eminem or Biggie Smalls to remind us about it - an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/stevie-wonder-2107_biggie_rap-to-me-is-a-modern-blues-but-until-we_2852289.jpg" --- # Rap to me is a modern blues. But until we really confront… ![“Rap to me is a modern blues. But until we really confront the truth, we are going to have a Tupac or Eminem or Biggie Smalls to remind us about it - and thank God.” quote by Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/stevie-wonder-2107_biggie_rap-to-me-is-a-modern-blues-but-until-we_2852289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/stevie-wonder-2107_biggie_rap-to-me-is-a-modern-blues-but-until-we_2852289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/stevie-wonder-2107_biggie_rap-to-me-is-a-modern-blues-but-until-we_2852289.jpg) > “Rap to me is a modern blues. But until we really confront the truth, we are going to have a Tupac or Eminem or Biggie Smalls to remind us about it - and thank God.” [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Music reflects societal struggles; confronting truth requires confronting harsh realities expressed through rap and blues **In simple terms:** Music mirrors social issues; truth must be faced Key Takeaway Acknowledge and act on social truths Themes music social justice truth culture expression Mood reflective hopeful Type observational inspirational When to use this quote - activism - education - community dialogue - personal reflection Key Concepts blues rap modern commentary social critique Questions to Reflect On - How does music influence social awareness? - What responsibilities do artists have? A Different Perspective Art alone cannot solve systemic problems; action is needed ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Rap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rap/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [The rapping is cool, but my lines aren't all that fly. People like Biggie Smalls or Jay-Z who say stuff that you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/missy-elliot/the-rapping-is-cool-but-my-lines-aren-t-all-that-fly-people-like/) [Missy Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/missy-elliot/) > [I listened to Tupac and a lot of Biggie Smalls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-listened-to-tupac-and-a-lot-of-biggie-smalls/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [When I first met Big, we were both at a 'Bad Boy' family photo shoot. I was kind of familiar with the name Biggie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-first-met-big-we-were-both-at-a-bad-boy-family-photo-shoot-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Big L is my favorite rapper of all time. He got killed quite a few years ago now but I think he's amazing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-milonakis/big-l-is-my-favorite-rapper-of-all-time-he-got-killed-quite-a-few/) [Andy Milonakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-milonakis/) > [I'm living three dreams: Biggie Smalls', Dr. King, Rodney King's. Cause we can't get along, no resolution? 'Til we drown all these haters... Rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-m-living-three-dreams-biggie-smalls-dr-king-rodney-king-s-cause-we/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I listen to a lot of Tupac and Biggie Smalls. Old school songs. Rick Ross. I listen to a guy ASAP Rocky. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-burke/i-listen-to-a-lot-of-tupac-and-biggie-smalls-old-school-songs-rick/) [Trey Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-burke/) > [Kids these days are kind of going back to Tupac and Snoop Doggy Dogg as examples of people that stand for something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/kids-these-days-are-kind-of-going-back-to-tupac-and-snoop-doggy-dogg/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [When you look at so much of what we all love, there's either soul-based to it, or it's the blues. It's really the beginnings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/when-you-look-at-so-much-of-what-we-all-love-there-s-either-soul/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [I listen to top 40, old country, blues... I'm really into Roger Miller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-tuff/i-listen-to-top-40-old-country-blues-i-m-really-into-roger-miller/) [King Tuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-tuff/) > [Depending on what you allow, you can still get the blues, man. I'm still trying to figure out where the blues really lies, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-scott/depending-on-what-you-allow-you-can-still-get-the-blues-man-i-m-still/) [Christian Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-scott/) > [I never liked blues and I really didn’t like jazz. I liked Chuck Berry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-ramone/i-never-liked-blues-and-i-really-didn-t-like-jazz-i-liked-chuck-berry/) [Johnny Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-ramone/) > [If they played more blues, people would just get it - they try to hold it back but just about can't hold it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-hooker/if-they-played-more-blues-people-would-just-get-it-they-try-to-hold/) [John Lee Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-hooker/) > [Eric Clapton was such a great player. He sounds like he's Freddie King or someone like that. He plays the roots of blues and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/eric-clapton-was-such-a-great-player-he-sounds-like-he-s-freddie-king/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [“…Charles laughingly observed,'Gospel and the blues are really, if you break it down, almost the same thing. It's just a question of whether you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-werner/charles-laughingly-observed-gospel-and-the-blues-are-really-if-you/) Craig Werner > [To me, the blues is an infection. I don't think it's necessarily a melancholy thing; the blues can be really positive and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-fleetwood/to-me-the-blues-is-an-infection-i-don-t-think-it-s-necessarily-a/) [Mick Fleetwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-fleetwood/) ## More by Stevie Wonder > [I'm glad I'm blind and can't see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/i-m-glad-i-m-blind-and-can-t-see-it/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [Law and order comes from having respect for one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/law-and-order-comes-from-having-respect-for-one-another/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [I think honestly, some people who think they're gay, they're confused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/i-think-honestly-some-people-who-think-they-re-gay-they-re-confused/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [I'm living a life. I have nine children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/i-m-living-a-life-i-have-nine-children/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [Did you know that true love asks for nothing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/did-you-know-that-true-love-asks-for-nothing/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [Different artists are talking about the laws that exist and how they need to be fixed so that compensation does happen to a far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/different-artists-are-talking-about-the-laws-that-exist-and-how-they/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [Oh, thank you love With all my heart and soul I thank you love Each day that comes and goes I thank you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/oh-thank-you-love-with-all-my-heart-and-soul-i-thank-you-love-each/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [Use your heart to love somebody. And If your heart is big enough, use your heart to love EVERYBODY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/use-your-heart-to-love-somebody-and-if-your-heart-is-big-enough-use/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [ I love Aretha \[Franklin\] and I've loved her all my life. I think she's an incredible songstress, obviously. She consistently has had this incredible… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/i-love-aretha-franklin-and-i-ve-loved-her-all-my-life-i-think-she-s/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [My thing was always trying to do as much as I possibly could do. I wanted to do all the things the other kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/my-thing-was-always-trying-to-do-as-much-as-i-possibly-could-do-i/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/mama-was-my-greatest-teacher-a-teacher-of-compassion-love-and/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [There are people who have let the problems of today lead them to conclude that for them life is not the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/there-are-people-who-have-let-the-problems-of-today-lead-them-to/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [Why has there never been a holiday where peace is celebrated all throughout the world?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/why-has-there-never-been-a-holiday-where-peace-is-celebrated-all/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [Of course I read Braille, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/of-course-i-read-braille-yes/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) > [A frowning face can't bring out the beauty that you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/a-frowning-face-can-t-bring-out-the-beauty-that-you-are/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) [Explore all 186 Stevie Wonder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) ## More Biggie quotes > [People used to say my son looked like a Mexican Biggie. And when he was first born, memories of Biggie... you know, we didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-evans/people-used-to-say-my-son-looked-like-a-mexican-biggie-and-when-he/) [Faith Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-evans/) > [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/) > [Being compared to Biggie, that's the best feeling a rapper could have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-rob/being-compared-to-biggie-that-s-the-best-feeling-a-rapper-could-have/) Black Rob > [Jay Z wasn't great when 2pac and Biggie was alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/jay-z-wasn-t-great-when-2pac-and-biggie-was-alive/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/) > [Brandy is one of my favorite vocalists. Jay-Z is my favorite emcee outside of Biggie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rico-love/brandy-is-one-of-my-favorite-vocalists-jay-z-is-my-favorite-emcee/) [Rico Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rico-love/) > [Nas always been my favorite rapper, but 50 Cent, he changed my way of thinking about music 'cause he was so detailed in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/schoolboy-q/nas-always-been-my-favorite-rapper-but-50-cent-he-changed-my-way-of/) [Schoolboy Q](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/schoolboy-q/) > [I listened to Tupac and a lot of Biggie Smalls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-listened-to-tupac-and-a-lot-of-biggie-smalls/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [When I first met Big, we were both at a 'Bad Boy' family photo shoot. I was kind of familiar with the name Biggie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-first-met-big-we-were-both-at-a-bad-boy-family-photo-shoot-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I said it in the beginning. That I was gonna take them niggaz out the game and sure enough I will. Already people can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/i-said-it-in-the-beginning-that-i-was-gonna-take-them-niggaz-out-the/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [The government hates rap. That's why they don't arrest anybody that kills rappers! Only the good ones are dead, man! Only the good ones:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/the-government-hates-rap-that-s-why-they-don-t-arrest-anybody-that/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [My dad is from Queens. I remember visiting as a kid. My grandparents grew up here. All the actors I respected were coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-greenberg/my-dad-is-from-queens-i-remember-visiting-as-a-kid-my-grandparents/) [Bryan Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-greenberg/) > [Now, I know that he's taken some flak lately but no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/now-i-know-that-he-s-taken-some-flak-lately-but-no-one-is-prouder-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Man, me and Biggie were the biggest artists in New York. When he passed, I was so messed up. My attitude was messed up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/man-me-and-biggie-were-the-biggest-artists-in-new-york-when-he-passed/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I guess this year I'm going to find out if I'm good enough or not. If I'm not, I don't care. I'll do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stone/i-guess-this-year-i-m-going-to-find-out-if-i-m-good-enough-or-not-if/) [Joss Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stone/) > [A lot of people think that it was about Biggie on the East Coast and 2Pac on the West Coast. It wasn't like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormega/a-lot-of-people-think-that-it-was-about-biggie-on-the-east-coast-and/) [Cormega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormega/) Browse all 47 Biggie quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rap to me is a modern blues. 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