Artist Validation Quotes

To have John Mellencamp compliment my songwriting? That was unreal.

When you win a Grammy... you're thinking about you winning. It is amazing. Your peers and folks in the record business are saying, 'This is what we think of you.' And that's why the Grammy will always be, to me, the ultimate in what you get as far as a music trophy, because it is the one.

It's a real wrenching thing to go from being a private person to being a public person, especially when you're being autobiographical. But it's what everyone wants - to get everyone's attention, to have your music make a living for you, to be validated in that way.

It was amazing to be on the map, to be recognised by other artists, and to be so successful.

Most people think in order to validate yourself as an artist, you have to write your own songs. I commend the guys that do. I've done it. But I also think that you can pick great songs outside that you didn't write that can help your career.

In 2013, the week before I dropped 'Crenshaw,' 'Complex' wrote an article that said that Nipsey Hussle is one of the top 25 underperforming artists. I was so offended that I responded with my own opinion about these journalists - their point of view is not validated in our culture.

Musicians don't respect a lot of the stuff that is on TRL and a lot of musicians think that stuff on the radio is not good musically so when musicians say that they like us it obviously feels good.

People who die in an untimely way who are artists, somehow that validates their art, we feel. Why culturally we feel that, I don't know.

One thing Drake is known for is putting out good, quality music. To acknowledge me and my music was all I needed to hear from anybody. Nobody could tell me anything after that.

Having other comedians complimenting my work is the biggest accolade that I can get.

The Grammys to me, well, that's my peers. That's the industry thinking what I do is good.

For artists, we're always looking for approval. We're putting our artwork out there and saying, 'What do you think?'

I want people to be like, 'Your album's just as good as Kendrick [Lamar]'s or Esperanza Spalding or Beck. I work just as hard as them.

It is one of the most validating things for an artist like me, to have people sing along to your songs.

I've got a million people telling me why I can't do it. You know, that I'm not a real designer, that I'm not this. I'm not a real rapper, either!

My first book really did change my life. It allowed me to fully express myself. There was a sense that I was worth something as an artist.

I was 23, and all sorts of people were coming in and out and watching me, like Steve Allen and Bette Midler. David Brenner certainly took me under his wing. To drive home to my little dump in New Jersey often knowing that Steve Allen said, 'You got it' - that validation kept me going in a big, big way.

John Lennon and Ringo Starr liked my songs. I used to write songs and they heard me sing songs on stage in London.

It's very validating to have people who do what you do react to a song in a cool way.

Especially when I finish one of my songs I play it to my friends who are just normal people and not people in the music business.