Welcome to Real Men DON’T Cry!!! The informative column for ALL artists attempting to find stability in the equivalent to a Crap Table for creative people. You guessed it, the Music Industry! I like to thank all the artists, DJ’s, execs & bloggers who have embraced this column and its intention with open arms.
This week my secret word has to be “Entitlement”. I was having a conversation with a couple of colleagues and I brought up the word “Entitlement”. I said, “Personally, I’d rather a person be jealous of me then feel like they had the right to feel some sense of entitlement”. On The Firm’s “Affirmative Action” AZ said it best ,” Niggaz don’t understand the 4 devils! Lust, Envy, Hate & Jealousy”. Well if those 4 devils were the Lions then “Entitlement” would be their version Voltron. Because a person who with a sense of “Entitlement” will let one of these devils cause them to WRONG you and believe that they were RIGHT to do it. People seem to think that in the Music Business if your man is “poppin” that there should be a trickle down effect. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that time has come and gone. You have to WORK!!! It’s NOT “Hollywood” if your guy doesn’t want to baby sit you and your career. In the current state of the business nobody can afford to hold another artist hand unless it’s a “sure bet”.
Well what makes an artist a “sure bet”? There are a few attributes that you can see in yourself and others that will let you know if a “career” is realistically on the horizon. “They say your ATTITUDE determines your LATITUDE” as stated by Ye. Your attitude towards your business is reflective in the initiative you take to show people your value. If you’re too busy worried about why someone hasn’t done this, that & the 3rd for you, ultimately you will end up watching the game slip right out your hands. By the same token if you are diligent enough to remain consistent through whatever circumstances, people will eventually have to honor what you bring to the table. In this game everybody is watching everybody but the smart people are the ones who OBSERVE (That means to study!!!)
What really irks me is when a MFer starts feeling like they should receive the “Star Treatment” before they have accomplished anything. There are a lot of “upstarts” who have this “come-up” shit twisted. If your man gives you a “look” you should be grateful. But some rappers think that once that happens they should get the crown by default. Sorry fam!!! This is a gladiator sport and you only get the crown by earning it. When you’re attempting to elevate your career there is NO room for an EGO. Allah bless his soul, my man Shaka used to have a saying, “Individually, sacrifices have to be made in order to attain greater GOALS”. Meaning, there will be times where your pride has to play the back burner if you want to achieve the things your heart truly desires.
The reality is no one OWES anyone anything in this life. Whatever you stumble upon to help through your journey is a BLESSING. It’s our job to take what we are blessed with and nurture it into something long lasting. I only want what I EARNED and not what I DESERVE. To all my upcoming creative people never lose sight of the fact that “Hard Work Pays Off”!!!
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