You know what a real friend is? A real friend is someone who will tell you what you need to know not what you want to hear. I have one of those. An older brother in the industry that I met with this week regarding my career in music. I saw him sitting on a panel just recently and came to him for help. He went right in on me. Do you have this? (good material) Do you have that?(distribution) How do you plan to do this? (marketing) How do you plan to do that. (retail positioning) He knew I didn't have a clue. He saw right through me. Because of this he got real serious with me and it brought me to tears.
No, not because I was a cry baby ass wimp but because I needed this talk years ago. Back then I thought I knew everything. I didn't listen to many people. I had a manager but basically did my own thing, I was getting shows, more than everyone, right ups in major newspapers, and getting paid to come to seminars and speak to people on how I was "Making It." This man had me in tears 25 minutes into the conversation. I'm thinking to myself "DAMN I cant stop these tears". These tears were tears of realization. These tears were my wake up call.
No I don't know everything, I don't need to know everything. I just need to put the right people in place to get things done. No I don't have a budget but I do have enough to get started everything else will fall in place. he also asked me: Who is my audience, Am I still relevant? Relevant? that's a good one we all need to ask ourselves these questions. Can u relate to the kids, young adults, masses? Do you have something to say that people will identify with? and I thought to myself Do I laugh ,cry, feel, worry, wish, feel joy, love, hate and dream like everyone?
I do, just like everyone . So yes the relevancy is there and my audience is the world no matter what my age is no matter what their age is. I still relate to the people, because I am still a person. I'm able to reach anyone with ears and a heart. I have the ability to share my experiences with the masses tho we all have walked different roads and walk in different shoes.
In the end, it all leads to the same end. In every struggle there is a victory. And my plan is to be victorious in music and in life. No, it's not gonna be easy. Nothing worth having ever is. But because there is some young sista or brotha out there just starting, it's my duty as an emcee to be the best at what I do so they can see how it's done and improve on what I did or didn't do. In order to be the example I have to give it my all and listen to those before me. You can't taste what I chew, but I need to at least make a menu for you to chose from. I need to at least make a appetizing plate for right now I no longer want to eat a steak dinner off of a garbage can lid.
