I've been approached by major labels every single year of my existence as an artist. Since 1996. El-P More Quotes by El-P More Quotes From El-P I think Trump is indicative of a larger problem. It existed way before him, it is our generation's issue that all over the world people are and have been suffering from despotic power figures who want nothing more to control than help the people they claim to represent. The difference being is a lot of people had not been paying much attention prior because it wasn't directly impacting them. El-P suffering people thinking Just when you think you should start accepting that you're becoming an adult, all your childhood fantasies come true. El-P fantasy childhood thinking My whole mode is to do what I want to do and let people understand me through that. El-P understand-me want people I believe that if you're an artist, it's like a gift. If you can do this for a living and you can be involved in it, it's something that you can't ignore. It's the chance for you to have a voice and create something from yourself. El-P chance artist believe You've gotta be an outsider a little bit to shake yourself loose from the mill, the "machine." In order to even cut the space in your life to pursue what most people literally cannot afford a moment to pursue. So, yeah. I think that not only is that the role of the artist, but it might be a requirement. El-P cutting artist thinking I'm trying to consciously evolve myself. I have no delusions of grandeur. El-P delusions-of-grandeur evolve trying Any issue and any problem, no matter what height you look at it from, no matter how much you extend past the first fractal, it's still a fractal of something that emanates from within your consciousness - from within the human consciousness. And it'll move on and manifest itself externally, and then those are what we pick up as societal ills. But all these battles we're fighting are internal. For me, it's reconciling hope with dread and trying to cut out some place in my mind where my heart can be protected a little bit. El-P fighting heart moving Trying to separate myself from my instincts of pessimism and cut out and define what it is that I really do love, what I'm here to be, why I'm here, and what I think is worth being alive for and fighting for. And those things change, but I think that that's something I am always chasing. El-P cutting fighting thinking Why should I be sober when God is so clearly dusted out his mind? El-P sober should mind There's a responsibility as a musician to do the music that you want to hear. El-P musician responsibility want We're fighting internal struggles, I am the cancer for my own cure. El-P cancer fighting struggle I'm not really one of these people who's been known for particularly hopeful sentiments. El-P sentiments hopeful people Most people aren't happy about being consistent and staying at the same place for years. People want forward progress and motion. El-P progress people years I'm a fan of some of the hyphy stuff. Hyphy has been going on a lot longer than the press has been recognizing it. El-P recognizing fans stuff Oh my god what am I doing with my life? El-P The fact of the matter is, if you're not putting out stuff that people are feeling, then your record label doesn't mean a goddamn thing. El-P feelings mean people I try to take a snapshot of who I am now, who I am becoming, as opposed to who I was when I was first starting to make records. I'm not trying to make boring adult music, but I try to make music more reflective of what matters to me now. El-P what-matters who-i-am trying There's something in the German language that makes you feel like you're getting a hug and a backstab at the same time. El-P hug like-you language People are very afraid. In my country, you had a corrupt party who sabotaged an amazing candidate Bernie Sanders who was stronger than the other. Had Sanders faced Trump even more young people - from black millennials to the gay and lesbian community - would have voted because he represented them at his core. Fear drove the American vote, because if you're choosing from two devils like Hillary and Trump then you're more likely to end up picking the one who is cooler and makes you laugh. El-P gay party country The only thing an artist is useful for, and the only reason why we don't just line 'em up against the wall and shoot them, is because, at their best, they're the reflection of our lives, that most regular people can't even afford to think about. El-P wall artist reflection
