--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I look at the deejay thing as a tier…" description: "\"I look at the deejay thing as a tier thing. If I'm not going to compete on that level, I'm just going to do it as a hobby.\" — Talib Kweli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/talib-kweli-1746_deejays_i-look-at-the-deejay-thing-as-a-tier-thi_3063288.png" --- # I look at the deejay thing as a tier thing. If I'm not… ![“I look at the deejay thing as a tier thing. If I'm not going to compete on that level, I'm just going to do it as a hobby.” quote by Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/talib-kweli-1746_deejays_i-look-at-the-deejay-thing-as-a-tier-thi_3063288.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/talib-kweli-1746_deejays_i-look-at-the-deejay-thing-as-a-tier-thi_3063288.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de5/talib-kweli-1746_deejays_i-look-at-the-deejay-thing-as-a-tier-thi_3063288.png) > “I look at the deejay thing as a tier thing. If I'm not going to compete on that level, I'm just going to do it as a hobby.” [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. The speaker treats DJing as a hobby rather than a competitive pursuit, focusing on personal enjoyment. **In simple terms:** DJing is a hobby, not a competition. Key Takeaway Enjoy hobbies without pressure. Themes creativity leisure self‑expression Mood relaxed playful Type creative personal When to use this quote - home studios - casual gigs - skill development Key Concepts music production personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What would you gain by treating it seriously? - How do you balance hobby and ambition? A Different Perspective Treating a passion as a hobby may limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deejays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deejays/) [Hobbies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobbies/) ## Related quotes > [I look at the deejay thing as something - I'm good at it because I have my own music. I have enough rhythm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-look-at-the-deejay-thing-as-something-i-m-good-at-it-because-i-have/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I just got a new manager. He's like, "So what do you want to do with the deejay thing?" I'm like, "The deejay thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-just-got-a-new-manager-he-s-like-so-what-do-you-want-to-do-with-the/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I have such respect for the art of deejaying. I hesitate to even call myself a deejay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-have-such-respect-for-the-art-of-deejaying-i-hesitate-to-even-call/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [Everybody could write, deejay, rap. Everybody could do it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/everybody-could-write-deejay-rap-everybody-could-do-it-all/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I have enough rhythm to blend at this point. I have enough rhythm to blend one song into another. But man, I have such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-have-enough-rhythm-to-blend-at-this-point-i-have-enough-rhythm-to/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [It's important that athletes can compete on a level playing field. And youngsters coming into the sport can know that if they are working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-radcliffe/it-s-important-that-athletes-can-compete-on-a-level-playing-field-and/) [Paula Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-radcliffe/) > [I'm putting in the time to make sure that my body is ready to compete at the top level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-m-putting-in-the-time-to-make-sure-that-my-body-is-ready-to-compete/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [I can 100 percent compete at the top level in every game that I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninja/i-can-100-percent-compete-at-the-top-level-in-every-game-that-i-play/) Ninja > [Like I said, when you have to play against a great player every night, that defines who you are if you can compete on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-wilkins/like-i-said-when-you-have-to-play-against-a-great-player-every-night/) [Dominique Wilkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-wilkins/) > [Let everybody compete on a level playing field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-bauer/let-everybody-compete-on-a-level-playing-field/) [Trevor Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-bauer/) > [It took me nine years to get to the level of being Mr. Olympia, and it's pretty much a 24-hour-a-day job every day of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-yates/it-took-me-nine-years-to-get-to-the-level-of-being-mr-olympia-and-it/) [Dorian Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-yates/) > [I think we've put ourselves in a position that if we can go into the Big East and compete at the level that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kennedy/i-think-we-ve-put-ourselves-in-a-position-that-if-we-can-go-into-the/) [Andy Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kennedy/) > [When you deejay a party, a good DJ's job is to take care of the crowd. If people want to hear Britney Spears, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/when-you-deejay-a-party-a-good-dj-s-job-is-to-take-care-of-the-crowd/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [It was very important, and I felt like music ran through my blood lines, with my father being a deejay and teaching me about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rock/it-was-very-important-and-i-felt-like-music-ran-through-my-blood/) Pete Rock > [Usually bands would make a song to record for an album, but what happens with the deejays you say "Well the album is everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-spooky/usually-bands-would-make-a-song-to-record-for-an-album-but-what/) [DJ Spooky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-spooky/) ## 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 Deejays quotes > [When you deejay a party, a good DJ's job is to take care of the crowd. If people want to hear Britney Spears, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/when-you-deejay-a-party-a-good-dj-s-job-is-to-take-care-of-the-crowd/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [I have enough rhythm to blend at this point. I have enough rhythm to blend one song into another. But man, I have such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-have-enough-rhythm-to-blend-at-this-point-i-have-enough-rhythm-to/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I look at the deejay thing as something - I'm good at it because I have my own music. I have enough rhythm to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-look-at-the-deejay-thing-as-something-i-m-good-at-it-because-i-have/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [It was very important, and I felt like music ran through my blood lines, with my father being a deejay and teaching me about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rock/it-was-very-important-and-i-felt-like-music-ran-through-my-blood/) Pete Rock > [Everybody could write, deejay, rap. Everybody could do it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/everybody-could-write-deejay-rap-everybody-could-do-it-all/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I just got a new manager. He's like, "So what do you want to do with the deejay thing?" I'm like, "The deejay thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-just-got-a-new-manager-he-s-like-so-what-do-you-want-to-do-with-the/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I have such respect for the art of deejaying. I hesitate to even call myself a deejay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/i-have-such-respect-for-the-art-of-deejaying-i-hesitate-to-even-call/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [Usually bands would make a song to record for an album, but what happens with the deejays you say "Well the album is everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-spooky/usually-bands-would-make-a-song-to-record-for-an-album-but-what/) [DJ Spooky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-spooky/) > [The fabulous side of Taboo was dressing up and dancing like no one was watching you. There were no rules. You had Jeffrey Hinton…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/the-fabulous-side-of-taboo-was-dressing-up-and-dancing-like-no-one/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [So much of what deejays like myself do is, I'm very interested in - I'm constantly looking for new music, constantly digging, but then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-rupture/so-much-of-what-deejays-like-myself-do-is-i-m-very-interested-in-i-m/) [DJ /rupture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-rupture/) > [In an interview, President Obama said he recently deejayed a small dance party at the White House. Obama has a lot in common with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/in-an-interview-president-obama-said-he-recently-deejayed-a-small/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [The station was tight, aggressive ... the deejays at times sounding as if they were broadcasting at gunpoint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carson/the-station-was-tight-aggressive-the-deejays-at-times-sounding-as-if/) [David Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carson/) [Browse all 13 Deejays quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deejays/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I look at the deejay thing as a tier thing. 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