I sat out a few years because I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do next. So many things were changing in music and in culture, so it seemed like a good time to step back.

Topics: Beck Quotes

In the past it seemed like I was making fun of rap a little bit....

In the past it seemed like I was making fun of rap a little bit....

Every time you go in, it's like starting over. You don't know how you did...

Every time you go in, it's like starting over. You don't know how you did...

I think my whole generation's mission is to kill the cliche.

I think my whole generation's mission is to kill the cliche.

I did that Grammys thing - I did a little freeform poem.

I did that Grammys thing - I did a little freeform poem.

When my nephew was 3 and 4, he would say the most genius things. He...

When my nephew was 3 and 4, he would say the most genius things. He...

When you work with somebody for a long period of time, you develop a shorthand...

When you work with somebody for a long period of time, you develop a shorthand...

I'm just taking one step at a time. I could zigzag one way, but it's...

I'm just taking one step at a time. I could zigzag one way, but it's...

We play a hip-hop song and suddenly 25 people on the left jump up and...

We play a hip-hop song and suddenly 25 people on the left jump up and...

I hear a lot of bad TV commercials that try to sound like Where It's...

I hear a lot of bad TV commercials that try to sound like Where It's...

I think you have to keep a childlike quality to play music or make a...

I think you have to keep a childlike quality to play music or make a...

There are a lot of people who really abused sampling and gave it a bad...

There are a lot of people who really abused sampling and gave it a bad...

Tonight the city is full of morgues, and all the toilets are overflowing. There's shopping...

Tonight the city is full of morgues, and all the toilets are overflowing. There's shopping...

I would love to do an electronic record. There's just so much to see and...

I would love to do an electronic record. There's just so much to see and...

I hadn't done much rapping in a while. I really wasn't sure I was going...

I hadn't done much rapping in a while. I really wasn't sure I was going...

You have to shelve a lot of your inspiration. There's only so much you can...

You have to shelve a lot of your inspiration. There's only so much you can...

The years keep going by and you realize, Wow. Doing these records is such a...

The years keep going by and you realize, Wow. Doing these records is such a...

I didn't want to do something typical.

I didn't want to do something typical.

I had long hair when I was a teenager.

I had long hair when I was a teenager.

There's never any pressure on the music having to be something.

There's never any pressure on the music having to be something.

Two men look out the same prison bars; one sees mud and the other stars.

Two men look out the same prison bars; one sees mud and the other stars.