--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unfortunately hip-hop is so competitive…" description: "\"Unfortunately hip-hop is so competitive that in order for fringe groups to get in, you gotta be better than whoever's the best. So before Eminem, the i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/talib-kweli-1746_checks_unfortunately-hip-hop-is-so-competitive_2361803.jpg" --- # Unfortunately hip-hop is so competitive that in order for… ![“Unfortunately hip-hop is so competitive that in order for fringe groups to get in, you gotta be better than whoever's the best. So before Eminem, the idea that there would be a white rapper that anybody would really check for was fantastic or amazing or impossible.” quote by Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/talib-kweli-1746_checks_unfortunately-hip-hop-is-so-competitive_2361803.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/talib-kweli-1746_checks_unfortunately-hip-hop-is-so-competitive_2361803.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/talib-kweli-1746_checks_unfortunately-hip-hop-is-so-competitive_2361803.jpg) > “Unfortunately hip-hop is so competitive that in order for fringe groups to get in, you gotta be better than whoever's the best. So before Eminem, the idea that there would be a white rapper that anybody would really check for was fantastic or amazing or impossible.” [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. Hip‑hop’s competitiveness forces fringe groups to excel; a white rapper breaking through was once seen as impossible. **In simple terms:** Hip‑hop is fiercely competitive. Key Takeaway Strive for excellence. Themes music competition diversity Mood analytical reflective Type cultural commentary industry insight When to use this quote - artist development - genre evolution - industry gatekeeping - talent scouting Key Concepts cultural studies media studies Questions to Reflect On - How do barriers shape genre diversity? - What role does audience perception play? A Different Perspective May ignore systemic barriers beyond skill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fantastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantastic/) [Fringe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fringe/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) ## Related quotes > [Before Eminem, the idea that there would be a white rapper that anybody would really check for was fantastic or amazing or impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/before-eminem-the-idea-that-there-would-be-a-white-rapper-that/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [Anybody can be a rapper, but not anybody can be a classical artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/anybody-can-be-a-rapper-but-not-anybody-can-be-a-classical-artist/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [Lil Wayne, I ain't mad at him man, he did his thing, he stepped up his lyrical game, he the most improved rapper out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-premier/lil-wayne-i-ain-t-mad-at-him-man-he-did-his-thing-he-stepped-up-his/) [DJ Premier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-premier/) > [I get offended when people say, 'So, being a white rapper...and growing up white...after being born white...' It's all I ever hear!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-get-offended-when-people-say-so-being-a-white-rapper-and-growing-up/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [What we're doing now, is to try to eradicate the limited notion of how people are interacting with each other through hyper-racialized ideas. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-scott/what-we-re-doing-now-is-to-try-to-eradicate-the-limited-notion-of-how/) [Christian Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-scott/) > [I think it's such open game to make fun of myself. First of all, as a white rapper you have to have an angle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-rex/i-think-it-s-such-open-game-to-make-fun-of-myself-first-of-all-as-a/) [Simon Rex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-rex/) > [I'm not just a great white rapper. I'm a great rapper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machine-gun-kelly/i-m-not-just-a-great-white-rapper-i-m-a-great-rapper/) [Machine Gun Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machine-gun-kelly/) > [It's hard being a white rapper sometimes! When that happens you just need to battle through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yelawolf/it-s-hard-being-a-white-rapper-sometimes-when-that-happens-you-just/) [Yelawolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yelawolf/) > [John would have been the first white rapper. And also he would have cherished the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/john-would-have-been-the-first-white-rapper-and-also-he-would-have/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [It's different, it's weird to say, 'She's a white rapper or she can't do this because she's this color - this color does this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-azalea/it-s-different-it-s-weird-to-say-she-s-a-white-rapper-or-she-can-t-do/) [Iggy Azalea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-azalea/) > [I think there's a certain stigma that comes with being a white rapper and having a show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-stud/i-think-there-s-a-certain-stigma-that-comes-with-being-a-white-rapper/) [Mike Stud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-stud/) > [The mission of '8 Mile' is essentially to garner sympathy for a white rapper involved in an old-school shootout - a rap contest. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/the-mission-of-8-mile-is-essentially-to-garner-sympathy-for-a-white/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [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/) > [There just needs to be a gay rapper. He doesn't have to be flamboyant, just a rapper who identifies as gay - who's better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/there-just-needs-to-be-a-gay-rapper-he-doesn-t-have-to-be-flamboyant/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [The Fringe is by far my favorite time of year; I like everything about it. But there are people I know who are much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-horne/the-fringe-is-by-far-my-favorite-time-of-year-i-like-everything-about/) [Alex Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-horne/) ## 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 Checks 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/) > [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) Roxanne Shante > [I pay these niggas with a reality check…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-pay-these-niggas-with-a-reality-check/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The first thing you ought to do is verify what I present. Just because I say it doesn't make it true. So check it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-first-thing-you-ought-to-do-is-verify-what-i-present-just-because/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [It's a constant man-ego-check going on in the streets, in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/it-s-a-constant-man-ego-check-going-on-in-the-streets-in-this-world/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [Well, a lot of our concerts do okay, and I know we still get royalty checks which still isn't that important, but again, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-johnston/well-a-lot-of-our-concerts-do-okay-and-i-know-we-still-get-royalty/) [Bruce Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-johnston/) > [The things of the world are ever rising and falling, and in perpetual change; and this change must be according to the will of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/the-things-of-the-world-are-ever-rising-and-falling-and-in-perpetual/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [If you find your feet dragging, check your path. You are probably on the wrong one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-toshio-sudo/if-you-find-your-feet-dragging-check-your-path-you-are-probably-on/) [Philip Toshio Sudo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-toshio-sudo/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [I'm a little bit superstitious, and I think that just comes from playing hockey. I won't avoid the number thirteen. A big one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/i-m-a-little-bit-superstitious-and-i-think-that-just-comes-from/) [James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/) > [A lot of independent films offer a harsh reality check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-plaza/a-lot-of-independent-films-offer-a-harsh-reality-check/) [Aubrey Plaza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-plaza/) > [Seeds have the power to preserve species, to enhance cultural as well as genetic diversity, to counter economic monopoly and to check the advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/seeds-have-the-power-to-preserve-species-to-enhance-cultural-as-well/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) Browse all 1,697 Checks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Unfortunately hip-hop is so competitive that in order for fringe groups to get in, you gotta be better than whoever's the best. So before Eminem, the idea that there would be a white rapper that anybody would really check for was fantastic or amazing or impossible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Talib Kweli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/unfortunately-hip-hop-is-so-competitive-that-in-order-for-fringe/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Checks" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/unfortunately-hip-hop-is-so-competitive-that-in-order-for-fringe/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/talib-kweli-1746_checks_unfortunately-hip-hop-is-so-competitive_2361803.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/talib-kweli-1746_checks_unfortunately-hip-hop-is-so-competitive_2361803.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/talib-kweli-1746_checks_unfortunately-hip-hop-is-so-competitive_2361803.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Unfortunately hip-hop is so competitive that in order for fringe groups to get in, you gotta be better than…” — Talib Kweli", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Talib Kweli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Unfortunately hip-hop is so competitive that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/unfortunately-hip-hop-is-so-competitive-that-in-order-for-fringe/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/unfortunately-hip-hop-is-so-competitive-that-in-order-for-fringe/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```