If you’ve been following Hip-Hop for the past few years, you know that its bubble has boomed and burst right along with the American Economy. People invested in expensive things (most notably homes) that they couldn’t afford, and worshipped fantasized rap star “lifestyles” that led more to divorce, hospitalization, jail, and death, than they did to improved quality of life. Those who didn’t squander their money in the rush for stocks, real estate and material objects are now happy to have not lost everything. Those who didn’t limit their search for Hip-Hop to commercial radio, television, and magazines are proud to have been helping some very dedicated independent MCs make a living through myspace, youtube, CD Baby, live shows, personal websites, and hand to hand sales.Yet there is one other, very rare, group to have emerged successfully from this dramatic boom and burst. Those lenders and guides who led investors with a full knowledge of the risks and responsibilities involved, coupled with those investors who worked twice as hard as their lenders to add value, rather than expect to make a fortune from whatever was given to them. What about in the world of Hip-Hop? Were there any pop stars who gave their listeners a dose of the truth (both good and bad) behind the fantasy rap star lifestyles? Were there any Hip-Hop heads who continued to support their favorite MC even after becoming famous, allowing them to spit both “braggadocio” and “real talk”, while never confusing the two?
I can point to a few examples, but the one I’m going to use is problematic due to that never ending rash upon the face of America… racism. Racism worked in Eminem’s favor, because when he was the “white boy” in the Hip-Hop club that wasn’t supposed to rap, it was just that much more amazing every time he won a battle. Racism also worked against Eminem, because after the battles when he was supposed to go home to his fancy suburban, manicured lawn-having, two-parent home, he was actually going home to the Detroit hood with everyone else, living in a dysfunctional family… where he was STILL looked at as the “white boy” that wasn’t supposed to rap. Classism is always more painful than racism, and the worst cases of racism tend to be the ones where classism (limiting one’s choices based on financial circumstance) is tied to the question of race.
After growing up poor and in love with a culture that he was not “supposed” to represent, we might expect him to walk around paraphrasing nothing but, “I’m rich and I’m the best rapper in the world!” After all, that’s what most African-American pop stars - pardon me - "pop ni**as” repeatedly chant to the youth. Think about it. Eminem is at a point from which he could spit hot garbage and still receive praise from millions of people. Don’t get me wrong - I’m sure he does sometimes toot his own horn, brag about his skills, squander his wealth, and call himself a “pop ni**a” like most rap celebrities. My point is that other than a strong sense of personal integrity mixed with a passion for sharing with other aspiring professional Hip-Hop MCs, there is no reason for him to be the author of “The Way I Am”. This book is honest, candid, comprehensive, easy to read, and for the attentive reader, is a roadmap to success – not a rollercoaster ride of braggadocio - a roadmap to success.
I took a few notes while reading the book, and saw how Eminem’s journey applies to my own journey as a professional MC. Now I’m sharing that insight with you:
1. Eminem made tapes, paid for studio time, and got free studio timeAspiring artists tend to think that if their art is good enough it will suddenly pop up on major TV and radio shows. They believe that’s how the celebrities on the air now got there. The truth is that most “overnight celebrities” have been working on their art for years, proving their commitment to the BUSINESS of music. You might say to yourself, “I’m more talented than [fill in celebrity here]”, and you’re probably right. But if you’re not willing to put your time, money, and energy into being a PROFESSIONAL artist, it doesn’t matter how talented you are – because other than your friends and family, nobody will know.
When my group’s producer was killed years ago, I saved up money, bought production software, and made beats for other local MCs, which eventually lead to me getting a production deal offer with Def Jam through JMJ (RIP). Now I’m at the point where people pay me to record on their beats and invite me to use their studios for free, but that’s because… I’ve already spent years of time, money and energy helping myself and the people around me.
2. Eminem performed and got booed so badly, it was embarrassingLasting success doesn’t come to one hit wonders, or to people who always win their battles. It comes to those who can lose a battle, but continue to win the war. I’ve won a lot of rap battles, but the people I respect most in the rap battles are the ones who lose and still show up to the next one. Those are the MCs who are eventually going to win.
It’s funny that in a rap battle with 16 to 32 (and sometimes more) rappers, there is only one person who seems to win the prize. That means there are 15 to 31 (or more) “losers” created by each battle. But what is the real prize? Is it the jacket? The cash? The trophy? If you are going to be successful, the prize is the experience of learning first hand, what works and what doesn’t, for you and for others. It’s the physical and emotional feeling of not being in first place – that knowledge will either drive you to never compete again, or will drive you to do better next time. If you enter a competition and appreciate that experience along with that wisdom, YOU WIN, even if you didn’t come in first place. If you think battling 15 MCs is hard, how will you deal with releasing an album and hearing negative feedback from the “haters” every day? Sadly most people who enter contests take that experience for granted. If they don’t win first place, they quit. If they do win first place, they neglect to reflect on what they could’ve done better. In other words, all 32 MCs in a battle decide whether they are winners… in the moments AFTER the battle is OVER. Yet sometimes all 32 settle for being LOSERS, including the one in first place!
