---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never been competing with rappers…"
description: "\"I've never been competing with rappers about who's the best rapper. I've been making songs that people like.\" — Too Short"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/too-short-5557_best_i-ve-never-been-competing-with-rappers-a_2119454.jpg"
---

#  I've never been competing with rappers about who's the…

![“I've never been competing with rappers about who's the best rapper. I've been making songs that people like.” quote by Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/too-short-5557_best_i-ve-never-been-competing-with-rappers-a_2119454.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/too-short-5557_best_i-ve-never-been-competing-with-rappers-a_2119454.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/too-short-5557_best_i-ve-never-been-competing-with-rappers-a_2119454.jpg)

> “I've never been competing with rappers about who's the best rapper. I've been making songs that people like.”

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Focus on creating music that resonates with listeners rather than battling for supremacy.

**In simple terms:** Make songs people enjoy instead of competing.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize audience connection over ego.

Themes

music authenticity audience creativity

Mood

reflective confident

Type

artistic motivational

When to use this quote

- album production
- live performances
- songwriting
- fan engagement

Key Concepts

Hip hop culture artistic integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you measure success beyond charts?
- What inspires you to connect with listeners?

A Different Perspective

May overlook the motivational of healthy competition that can drive innovation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Best rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-rapper/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Rappers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rappers/)

## Related quotes

> [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/)

> [I don't wanna forget the fact that I wanna be one of the best rappers. I feel like some of the best rappers ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-don-t-wanna-forget-the-fact-that-i-wanna-be-one-of-the-best-rappers/)

[J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/)

> [Lil wayne is the best rapper alive, and I don't fux with him, cause he would murder my ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/lil-wayne-is-the-best-rapper-alive-and-i-don-t-fux-with-him-cause-he/)

[J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/)

> [You know the world is messed up when the tallest man in the NBA is Chinese, the best golfer is black, and the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/you-know-the-world-is-messed-up-when-the-tallest-man-in-the-nba-is/)

[Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/)

> [Everybody knows rappers don't do all they say they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/everybody-knows-rappers-don-t-do-all-they-say-they-do/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [Rappers have always thought they were better than me. And the media has always thought that I was not relevant to hip-hop, so therefore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/rappers-have-always-thought-they-were-better-than-me-and-the-media/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I think hip-hop brought it on itself. When rappers got a chance to talk to the media, they would get in the interview and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-think-hip-hop-brought-it-on-itself-when-rappers-got-a-chance-to/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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 Too Short

> [In my opinion, the Bay is a trendsetting area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/in-my-opinion-the-bay-is-a-trendsetting-area/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [In 1979, I was in ninth grade. Before I started tenth grade, I was already rapping myself. I didn't wait around to see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/in-1979-i-was-in-ninth-grade-before-i-started-tenth-grade-i-was/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [When I finish contributing, I feel like I've left enough to where people are gonna say, 'They got that from Too $hort.' I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/when-i-finish-contributing-i-feel-like-i-ve-left-enough-to-where/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I would never marry for feelings and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-would-never-marry-for-feelings-and-love/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I'm not the one to pat myself on the back or even need somebody else to give me credit, but I listen to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-m-not-the-one-to-pat-myself-on-the-back-or-even-need-somebody-else/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [We can all admit this - women do it better when it comes to planning and shot calling, running households, raising kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/we-can-all-admit-this-women-do-it-better-when-it-comes-to-planning/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I think Jive was just a shady label that they didn't want artists in the same room like, 'Hey, what you making?' Like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-think-jive-was-just-a-shady-label-that-they-didn-t-want-artists-in/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [It's not a passion of mine to follow politics. When I deal with political issues in my songs, I just say stuff that's current,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/it-s-not-a-passion-of-mine-to-follow-politics-when-i-deal-with/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [Hip-hop is not one thing. There are 50 different approaches to making it and showing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/hip-hop-is-not-one-thing-there-are-50-different-approaches-to-making/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [People who really know me say it's funny I'm Too Short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/people-who-really-know-me-say-it-s-funny-i-m-too-short/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I've always had opinions on what was going on in my community. I always knew a lot of people listened to me, so why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-ve-always-had-opinions-on-what-was-going-on-in-my-community-i/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I love Vegas. I come to Vegas all the time... Check into a hotel for a day or two and enjoy the city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-love-vegas-i-come-to-vegas-all-the-time-check-into-a-hotel-for-a/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I really do respect and appreciate all the Bay Area artists and all the love they always give me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-really-do-respect-and-appreciate-all-the-bay-area-artists-and-all/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I've got a core audience, so regardless of what I put out, I can sell 100,000 records on an independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-ve-got-a-core-audience-so-regardless-of-what-i-put-out-i-can-sell/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [When I make a song, I actually literally talk to one person on purpose... I don't focus on, are people in Chicago gonna like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/when-i-make-a-song-i-actually-literally-talk-to-one-person-on-purpose/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

[Explore all 100 Too Short quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

## More Best quotes

> [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/)

[Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/)

> [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

> [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/)

[Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/)

> [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/)

[Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/)

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/)

[Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/)

> [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/)

[Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/)

> [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/)

[Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/)

> [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/)

Gene Scott

> [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/)

[Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/)

> [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/)

[Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/)

> [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/)

[Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/)

Browse all 21,674 Best quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've never been competing with rappers about who's the best rapper. I've been making songs that people like.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Too Short"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-ve-never-been-competing-with-rappers-about-who-s-the-best-rapper-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Best"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-ve-never-been-competing-with-rappers-about-who-s-the-best-rapper-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/too-short-5557_best_i-ve-never-been-competing-with-rappers-a_2119454.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/too-short-5557_best_i-ve-never-been-competing-with-rappers-a_2119454.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e0/too-short-5557_best_i-ve-never-been-competing-with-rappers-a_2119454.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've never been competing with rappers about who's the best rapper. I've been making songs that people like.” — Too Short",
                "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": "Too Short",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've never been competing with rappers...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-ve-never-been-competing-with-rappers-about-who-s-the-best-rapper-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-ve-never-been-competing-with-rappers-about-who-s-the-best-rapper-i/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
