--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like collaboration because, first of…" description: "\"I like collaboration because, first of all, I'm good at writing lyrics. I don't know how to make beats. I don't play instruments. I'm not a good singer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/talib-kweli-1746_albums_i-like-collaboration-because-first-of-al_2680976.png" --- # I like collaboration because, first of all, I'm good at… ![“I like collaboration because, first of all, I'm good at writing lyrics. I don't know how to make beats. I don't play instruments. I'm not a good singer. So even when you see a solo album of mine, it's still a collaboration.” quote by Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/talib-kweli-1746_albums_i-like-collaboration-because-first-of-al_2680976.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/talib-kweli-1746_albums_i-like-collaboration-because-first-of-al_2680976.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/talib-kweli-1746_albums_i-like-collaboration-because-first-of-al_2680976.png) > “I like collaboration because, first of all, I'm good at writing lyrics. I don't know how to make beats. I don't play instruments. I'm not a good singer. So even when you see a solo album of mine, it's still a collaboration.” [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He sees collaboration as a way to compensate for his own artistic limitations, turning solo work into a collective effort. **In simple terms:** Collaboration fills gaps in his musical skills. Key Takeaway Leverage others’ strengths to create complete works. Themes collaboration creativity humility Mood creative humble Type musical collaborative When to use this quote - producing an album - songwriting - live performance - music education Key Concepts interdisciplinary teamwork artistic synergy Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain authenticity while collaborating? - What roles best suit your strengths? A Different Perspective Collaboration may dilute personal voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Albums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) [Collaboration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collaboration/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Singers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singers/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [We do things on an exchange basis in the music business - it keeps the wheels turning. That's how I can get people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-wood/we-do-things-on-an-exchange-basis-in-the-music-business-it-keeps-the/) [Ronnie Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-wood/) > [We should seek by all means in our power to avoid war, by analysing possible causes, by trying to remove them, by discussion in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/we-should-seek-by-all-means-in-our-power-to-avoid-war-by-analysing/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [I think that's probably the number one reason why collaboration is good. You disagree with each other about things and then what we always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/i-think-that-s-probably-the-number-one-reason-why-collaboration-is/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [That's what's great about animation: It's collegial, and it's all about collaboration. Any good animated film is good for animation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-conli/that-s-what-s-great-about-animation-it-s-collegial-and-it-s-all-about/) Roy Conli > [In a way, editing is not unlike the movies. The best books, just like the best movies, are a collaboration. They're only as good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viggo-mortensen/in-a-way-editing-is-not-unlike-the-movies-the-best-books-just-like/) [Viggo Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viggo-mortensen/) > [ I like collaboration, I like to incorporate other people's ideas \[and\] that's what happens when you do a big movie. Unless you're called Stanley… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-like-collaboration-i-like-to-incorporate-other-people-s-ideas-and/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [Personally I'm very happy to be behind the scenes. I like collaboration, I like working with directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mothersbaugh/personally-i-m-very-happy-to-be-behind-the-scenes-i-like/) [Mark Mothersbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mothersbaugh/) > [I come from a background where I like collaboration and improv. I think that it is important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-boyd/i-come-from-a-background-where-i-like-collaboration-and-improv-i/) [Darren Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-boyd/) > [I really like the collaboration of doing movies and television. But I like the sort of solitary work of doing music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zooey-deschanel/i-really-like-the-collaboration-of-doing-movies-and-television-but-i/) [Zooey Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zooey-deschanel/) > [When I get into 'Lucha Underground,' now it feels like I'm part of a collaboration. And I'm talking about storylines; I'm talking about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-morrison/when-i-get-into-lucha-underground-now-it-feels-like-i-m-part-of-a/) [John Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-morrison/) > [I feel like collaboration in music has allowed me to grow musically beyond my wildest dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-koz/i-feel-like-collaboration-in-music-has-allowed-me-to-grow-musically/) [Dave Koz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-koz/) > [I actually like the collaboration of working with different artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-shore/i-actually-like-the-collaboration-of-working-with-different-artists/) [Howard Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-shore/) > [I think that part of the reason I like collaboration so much is because it's something unexpected coming in, and you have to stretch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/i-think-that-part-of-the-reason-i-like-collaboration-so-much-is/) [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) > [Personally Im very happy to be behind the scenes. I like collaboration, I like working with directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mothersbaugh/personally-im-very-happy-to-be-behind-the-scenes-i-like-collaboration/) [Mark Mothersbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mothersbaugh/) > [Denzel Washington: I like the collaboration, I like seeing people do well, so I really plan to direct the rest of my days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/denzel-washington-i-like-the-collaboration-i-like-seeing-people-do/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) ## More by Talib Kweli > [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/) > [War is not civilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/war-is-not-civilized/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [There's a lot of activism that doesn't deal with empowerment, and you have to empower yourself in order to be relevant to any type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/there-s-a-lot-of-activism-that-doesn-t-deal-with-empowerment-and-you/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [The problem with our role is Americans live in a world of illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/the-problem-with-our-role-is-americans-live-in-a-world-of-illusion/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [Honestly, you have to take care of yourself. That's probably something I have learned on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/honestly-you-have-to-take-care-of-yourself-that-s-probably-something/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I remember looking back on a photo of me... wearing a suit that was, like, two sizes too big for me. I think a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-remember-looking-back-on-a-photo-of-me-wearing-a-suit-that-was-like/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [People can be inspired the way I've been inspired by music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/people-can-be-inspired-the-way-i-ve-been-inspired-by-music/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [You have to learn how to harness technology so you can use it for positive stuff without being disconnected from nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/you-have-to-learn-how-to-harness-technology-so-you-can-use-it-for/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I call these rappers baby seals, cause they club you to death. I could call them Navy SEALs, cause they government feds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-call-these-rappers-baby-seals-cause-they-club-you-to-death-i-could/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [You have to know when to be arrogant. You have to when to be humble. You have to know when to be hard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/you-have-to-know-when-to-be-arrogant-you-have-to-when-to-be-humble/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [The only way for me to be an artist is to be honest in my craft. If I veer from that, I'm not giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/the-only-way-for-me-to-be-an-artist-is-to-be-honest-in-my-craft-if-i/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I like the fact that I can rep New York, but my style does not - I'm not trapped in a New York thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-like-the-fact-that-i-can-rep-new-york-but-my-style-does-not-i-m-not/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [When you a man, action is whats expected, nothing is spoken on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/when-you-a-man-action-is-whats-expected-nothing-is-spoken-on/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [With Prisoner of Conscience, the focus was - I've worked with Madlib, High Tech, Kanye West, J Dilla. I feel like I've worked with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/with-prisoner-of-conscience-the-focus-was-i-ve-worked-with-madlib/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [A lot of these people, these program directors, just like anybody else in the world, even though they're supposed to be leaders in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/a-lot-of-these-people-these-program-directors-just-like-anybody-else/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) [Explore all 211 Talib Kweli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) ## More Albums quotes > [Check out the albums, ... Check out the live performances. That's the reality of it all. Music is such an energizing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mayall/check-out-the-albums-check-out-the-live-performances-that-s-the/) [John Mayall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mayall/) > [It's been really fun to see with each album when I change to see the fans of the show emulate my style and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avril-lavigne/it-s-been-really-fun-to-see-with-each-album-when-i-change-to-see-the/) [Avril Lavigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avril-lavigne/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [The weird thing was that Soft Cell was supposed to have come and gone before I started the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-almond/the-weird-thing-was-that-soft-cell-was-supposed-to-have-come-and-gone/) [Marc Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-almond/) > [I believe in full albums, and whatever comes out of those full albums will come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-ricch/i-believe-in-full-albums-and-whatever-comes-out-of-those-full-albums/) [Roddy Ricch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-ricch/) > [Doing my own album provided me the opportunity to say whatever I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-marx/doing-my-own-album-provided-me-the-opportunity-to-say-whatever-i/) [Richard Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-marx/) > [The album is a definite departure. I haven't written original material before, except for one song on my first album, but Elvis and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/the-album-is-a-definite-departure-i-haven-t-written-original-material/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [I never do any album to beat it. I do it to extend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-blige/i-never-do-any-album-to-beat-it-i-do-it-to-extend-it/) [Mary J. Blige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-blige/) > [I love Katy Perry! She gave me a song for my second album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/i-love-katy-perry-she-gave-me-a-song-for-my-second-album/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/) [Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/) > [I'll put out an album, and people review it, and some people love it, and some people tear it apart. By nature of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/i-ll-put-out-an-album-and-people-review-it-and-some-people-love-it/) [Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/) > [I've been connected to the most culturally important albums of the past four years, the most influential artists of the past ten years. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-ve-been-connected-to-the-most-culturally-important-albums-of-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [George Winston piano albums have been my go-to since junior high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sacca/george-winston-piano-albums-have-been-my-go-to-since-junior-high/) [Chris Sacca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sacca/) > [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) [Browse all 2,275 Albums quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I like collaboration because, first of all, I'm good at writing lyrics. 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