It wasn't until I hung out with Dead Prez and understood how to make, you know, raps with a message sound cool that I was able to just write "All Falls Down" in 15 minutes.
As a man I am flawed, but my music is perfect.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the idea that while the artist may have personal shortcomings, their creative work can still achieve perfection.
Kanye West's quote suggests a distinction between the creator and their creations. It implies that artists often grapple with their imperfections as individuals, yet their art—be it music or any form of creativity—can transcend those flaws and resonate with a sense of perfection or beauty. This underscores the notion that art is a separate entity that can shine on its own, captivating audiences regardless of the artist's personal shortcomings.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
You can use this quote to inspire young musicians to embrace their flaws while aiming for excellence in their art.
More from Kanye West
All quotes →If I don't win, the award show loses credibility.
I am God's vessel. But my greatest pain in life is that I will never be able to see myself perform live.
God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down
I said Yo Jay, I can rap. And I spit this rap that said I'm killin' ya'll *****s on this lyrical sh*t, mayonnaise colored benz, I push miracle whips.
All these walls that keep us from loving each other as one family or one race - racism, religion, where we grew up, whatever, class, socioeconomic - what makes us be so selfish and prideful, what keeps us from wanting to help the next man, what makes us be so focused on a personal legacy as opposed to the entire legacy of a race.
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Sometimes I'm asked if I do research for my stories. The answer is yes and no. No, in the sense that I seldom plow through books at the library to gather material. Yes, in the sense that the first fifteen years of my life turned out to be one big research project.
If a writer doesn't generate hostility, he is dead.