Artist Classification Quotes

I'm from Atlanta, but I don't really consider myself an 'Atlanta rapper.'

Being singer/songwriter implies versatility and being able to create more than one medium, and R&B artist is a box, simple as that. It is 'that's what you do, that's what you are', and that's a little unfair, to me, because I don't just do that. So I like singer/songwriter because it allows me to move a little bit more freely.

To call yourself a Chinese artist or woman artist or African artist reflects a certain kind of condition. To me, that is not necessary.

I don't like being categorized as a rapper. I make music; I don't just rap.

I have always felt I was more accurately a Hard Rock musician.

There are artists who are writers, but there was no such thing as cartoons that were written by somebody who couldn't draw.

Despite a large body of work in films, TV, theatre and concerts, I am viewed by many as a Jewish artist. I do not resent the label, except for the fact that I disapprove of labels in general.

I've always tried to stay clear of being labeled, putting a label on what type of music that I make.

People still look at Michael Jackson as being a Motown artist.

One of the things that I am happy about in my life as an artist is that I am not considered a Hispanic artist.

I am not a dancehall artist, and I am not a reggae artist.

I dislike the word 'emerging artist.' Emerging connotes to me an alligator coming up from the water. I consider all artists to be artists, not rising, emerging, amateur, beginning, but the real thing.

I think they want to keep it separate, but I've never been a crossover artist for some reason.

Bruce Springsteen's a rock star. Elton John is a rock star. I'm a folk musician. Honestly, I think that's true.

I'm a performance artist first; I'm a recording artist second.

I feel like I am beginning to be a part of a musical community, but I wouldn't say I'm a country artist because I wouldn't want to invalidate anybody else or to even begin to be so preposterous as to think I can just skate into town and get some fans.

I don't think I'm a country artist, really. I'm a country person, but I don't think I'm necessarily a country singer or musician.

Many people say Nicki Minaj is a rapper, but she's also a singer.

Artists who don't paint aren't artists.

The record company doesn't know what to do with me, because I'm not a Lily Allen, but I'm not really an indie artist, either. All the best artists have been in the middle.

People grapple with labeling me as hip-hop, R&B, or pop, and it's interesting to me. I'm just making music.

People always try to pigeonhole you, especially the media, who are happy if they can label you as a particular kind of artist. But the spectrum of songs I write and record is vast.

Labels only confuse people. The smarter people recognize artists who transcend categories. But I always try to entertain. It's in my nature; writers are born to entertain. If that means working ostensibly within a genre, fine.

I don't like artists who are actors. I like artists, but I don't believe in that.