I think music is in a very good state right now. Creativity is being exercised and embraced. I think the playing field is a bit more leveled than it was 5-10 years ago when only the big dogs could eat. The one problem with that, now everyone has joined in. Sometimes I ask myself the question “is there anyone left that is just a fan?” It seems if someone doesn’t sing or rap, their son, daughter, cousin Pookie, or mailman does. I refuse to believe there were this many “artists” 5 years ago when you had to really be dedicated to even be able to record.
I know it frustrates the heck out of artists who really do it for the love; I even know some people who were talented but quit due to the sleaze fest that’s going on. My message to people like that is, don’t quit. Slowly but surely a lot of the fair weather artists are realizing that it just isn’t what they thought it’ll be. Each time a one hit wonder flops, 20 of his imitators cancel their myspace music accounts. Sooner or later, they’ll all go back to their 9 to 5′s and allow you to be the only music maker when you walk into your local McDonalds or CVS.
I once said, “there’s no such thing as saturation if you are one of a kind at what you do”. I mean that. Kobe Bryant doesn’t care how many people decide to play basketball, because he’s the best. If the whole world woke up tomorrow and signed up for the NBA he would still be in the elite and standout. So basically just work at your craft, hone it and own it, and you’ll never have to worry again.
Things to check out: Drake’s new mixtape. I normally stay away from folks that everyone and their mama is co-signing but this guy does have some fresh stuff. If you haven’t by now, definitely give it a listen.
An industry person that most of you probably know told me the other day that most people these days like to hear music, they don’t really care much about feeling music. They said that sucks for a person like me, because most of what I do is based on feeling. Like Soulja Boys “Donk” is a great song to hear. The drums, the lyrics, everything. It was designed to be heard and not felt. What Mr.Big Shot said about me was true, except saying it sucks. During this past week, 3 Facebook friends of mine had my stuff quoted in their respective status updates. Some of these folks don’t even like me. That means that something I came up with in my head and recorded touched someone so much that they remembered it and applied it to their real life situation. That’s satisfaction holmes. The most successful artists (Jay, Kanye, Pharrell etc), they make stuff that appeals to the hearers and the feelers…that’s what we should all strive for.
Keep rocking on fellow artists, the force is with you.
