God
Creator of the Universe
ill o.g.
S'up fam. I noticed cats posting shit on the forums or getting the occasional PM like "I wanna be in the industry."
Let me tell you two stories.
I. STORY ONE
There was a cat who was a lawyer. I knew the dude - in fact I knew him since we were in high school.
Dude had EVERYTHING going for him. Hot girlfriend, good job with movement upwards - he was promoted within the law firm.
Thing is - I knew the cat was a musician since HS. He was one of the most creative motherfuckers I knew. In fact, I would pick his brain for advice on shit. The cat knew music - he used to be in an R&B group that "almost made it." He wrote songs. He wrote poetry. He painted.
So we're not talking about a chump. I remember him calling me a couple years ago and he told me he couldn't deal with the bullshit of "faking" his life (I thought he was going to tell me he was gay or something).
He wanted to do music.
That's what he's been doing since he was six (according to him) and he wanted to know my opinion. Dude had a lot of talent.
Now, I knew him - he was right - dude was talented. I knew he was an artist not a lawyer but STFU - his life, his decisions. He was lying to himself. I told him to write a couple songs and make a PK and we would see what happened.
I told him he had one life. He should give it a shot, but not fuck himself over.
It took him a year to make himself the demo and PK - but he did it. He put himself on the line. He promoted himself. I helped him along the way...
Fast-forward a couple years: He is now a professional songwriter and makes shitload of bread that way. Makes a lot of money off royalties.
He's happy. He doesn't hate going to work everyday.
II. STORY TWO
A friend's son "makes beats." He was in his early twenties. He can't compose shit and has the same repetitive loop over and over. If it were a good loop, like "In Da Club" that would be hot. It's not.
I asked him to write a hook. He tries and is "still getting it." My friend is influential so I have to pretend like I give a shit about the son.
The son wants to "study engineering." I tell him to focus on getting back in college.
He went to study "engineering".
Fast forward a couple years later: he's an intern at a friend's studio. He's wasting his life. He's not talented. He should have went back to college. He still thinks he's "going to make it." He's not - he has no redeeming songwriting skills or marketable talent. He is grouped with every other beatmaker out there.
The guy was a good talker though. He could have used that talent to work in marketing or promotions. He thought he was a "producer" though. He would have made more money in marketing than in "production" or engineering.
-----
What's the difference. One had inherent talent. He felt dischord and unhappiness in his life by not singing. By NOT writing songs. He felt like he was WASTING AWAY. He knew he could do it if he tried, and he did. His girlfriend left him - called him crazy, but now he's got a way hotter one. He paid off his loans, etc.
The other doesn't have talent. He tries to figure out "mathematical ways" to make songs "work." He is not innovative. He looks to see how "Dre makes a beat" and clones it. He lulls about and goes his merry way. He's a nobody.
I see the second example quite a lot. Be realistic in your expectations.
If it seems like you're struggling to write songs all the time - or don't get that muse with the hook in it. Maybe there IS something telling you to just keep it a hobby.
Felt like sharing this. Just something to think about... life talk.
Let me tell you two stories.
I. STORY ONE
There was a cat who was a lawyer. I knew the dude - in fact I knew him since we were in high school.
Dude had EVERYTHING going for him. Hot girlfriend, good job with movement upwards - he was promoted within the law firm.
Thing is - I knew the cat was a musician since HS. He was one of the most creative motherfuckers I knew. In fact, I would pick his brain for advice on shit. The cat knew music - he used to be in an R&B group that "almost made it." He wrote songs. He wrote poetry. He painted.
So we're not talking about a chump. I remember him calling me a couple years ago and he told me he couldn't deal with the bullshit of "faking" his life (I thought he was going to tell me he was gay or something).
He wanted to do music.
That's what he's been doing since he was six (according to him) and he wanted to know my opinion. Dude had a lot of talent.
Now, I knew him - he was right - dude was talented. I knew he was an artist not a lawyer but STFU - his life, his decisions. He was lying to himself. I told him to write a couple songs and make a PK and we would see what happened.
I told him he had one life. He should give it a shot, but not fuck himself over.
It took him a year to make himself the demo and PK - but he did it. He put himself on the line. He promoted himself. I helped him along the way...
Fast-forward a couple years: He is now a professional songwriter and makes shitload of bread that way. Makes a lot of money off royalties.
He's happy. He doesn't hate going to work everyday.
II. STORY TWO
A friend's son "makes beats." He was in his early twenties. He can't compose shit and has the same repetitive loop over and over. If it were a good loop, like "In Da Club" that would be hot. It's not.
I asked him to write a hook. He tries and is "still getting it." My friend is influential so I have to pretend like I give a shit about the son.
The son wants to "study engineering." I tell him to focus on getting back in college.
He went to study "engineering".
Fast forward a couple years later: he's an intern at a friend's studio. He's wasting his life. He's not talented. He should have went back to college. He still thinks he's "going to make it." He's not - he has no redeeming songwriting skills or marketable talent. He is grouped with every other beatmaker out there.
The guy was a good talker though. He could have used that talent to work in marketing or promotions. He thought he was a "producer" though. He would have made more money in marketing than in "production" or engineering.
-----
What's the difference. One had inherent talent. He felt dischord and unhappiness in his life by not singing. By NOT writing songs. He felt like he was WASTING AWAY. He knew he could do it if he tried, and he did. His girlfriend left him - called him crazy, but now he's got a way hotter one. He paid off his loans, etc.
The other doesn't have talent. He tries to figure out "mathematical ways" to make songs "work." He is not innovative. He looks to see how "Dre makes a beat" and clones it. He lulls about and goes his merry way. He's a nobody.
I see the second example quite a lot. Be realistic in your expectations.
If it seems like you're struggling to write songs all the time - or don't get that muse with the hook in it. Maybe there IS something telling you to just keep it a hobby.
Felt like sharing this. Just something to think about... life talk.
