Takeoff Quotes

I've seen a lot of people stealing from what I do. Some people show love and say thank you and tell me how I was an inspired for them.

My cut is blunt and futuristic, and Nicki Minaj started wearing that bob on her head after she came to my show, so at the end of the day, I know what I do, and I know what I possess, and I know who I am. I'm a trendsetter. The biggest form of flattery is imitation, so I'm flattered.

I can't take any credit for people dressing like me, you know?

I'm starting to see players copy what I do. I'm flattered.

Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.

Nothing was a style first. Everything started as an idea. A guy did something with an idea. Someone copied him. Some copied all of them and it became trendy and then it became a style.

When you see all of these bands citing you as influences, it makes you feel relevant.

You find a lot of ideas from my shows in adverts now. I find it a compliment.

I definitely went through this whole phase of seeing what my seniors or friends would be wearing and just copying that.

One of the most flattering things is when other people are seeing what you're doing and then replicating that kind of thing.

Everyone always gets a little irritated by imitators, but mostly I'm flattered. What if you never did anything anyone wanted to copy?

Artists, by definition innocent, don't steal. But they do borrow without giving back.

Authors from whom others steal should not complain, but rejoice. Where there is no game there are no poachers.

It's an honor when someone writes for you. That means they can hear your voice in their head.

When a thing has been said and well, have no scruple. Take it and copy it.

Future's not everybody. The people who are taking my style are like my babies. I've got a tribe of kids that want to be like me... But I understand why people want to imitate the things I do. They're dope. It comes naturally to me. My fans can expect greatness. If I wasn't me, I would want to be me.

I have always been an admirer. I regard the gift of admiration as indispensable if one is to amount to something; I don't know where I would be without it.

I can understand when people copy people of the past and make the future their own.

We all have idols. Play like anyone you care about but try to be yourself while you're doing so.

You want to do something that shows some type individuality and talent and imagination - at the same time, you want to be truthful to the predecessors, because obviously the audience liked something about them and you have to replicate that experience to a certain extent.

I think you have to show homage to creators.

I realized that I could try to sound like Waylon Jennings, or I could try to be like Waylon Jennings... but it's impossible to do both.

The only thing I really recommend, if you're starting out in stand-up is to not try to copy anybody else. You can be influenced by people. I was influenced by Steve Martin and Bob Newhart and Woody Allen, but I never tried to be someone else. I always tried to be myself. And the reason people are successful is they're unique.

You'd have to be completely crazy not to be influenced by and take from other artists. It's completely impossible not to.

Lesser artists borrow, great artists steal.