Rick Rubin on Cultivating World-Class Artists (Jay Z, Johnny Cash, etc.), Losing 100+ Pounds, and Breaking Down The Complex (#76)

On the importance of incremental progress:  "I think if your goal is to be better than you were, if you're competing only with yourself, it's a more realistic place to be."

There are so many things that get in the way of the artistic process. For example, any commercial considerations usually get in the way. If you're thinking about making songs that get on the radio, chances are you won't be using your own voice… [It's about] getting closer to the source and not being distracted by any nonsense that would get in the

The idea of watering things down for a mainstream audience, I don't think it applies. People want things that are passionate, that are the best version they can be. And often the best version they can be is not for everybody

Going to museums and looking at great art can help you write better songs. Reading great novels… Seeing a great movie… reading poetry… The more you can do to get out of the mode of competition, where you get out of what other people are doing and wanting to be better than them or be inspired by them. The only way to use the inspiration of other ar