I was listening to my iPod on the way to work this morning when it occurred to me that most rising hip-hop artists share a common thread. They are BIG dreamers who possess both raw talent and an extraordinary hunger. Think about it, how many times have you heard a brand new artist rapping in his very first single about HIS big jewels, big money, big property, and big "whips"? Go home and turn on your television and observe as that very same artist is profiled in his debut music video donning all the superficial items that he glamorizes in the lyrics of his catchy new tune. You know as well as I do that these are video rentals of course. I mean clearly the average new artist doesn't actually own any of those high-end possessions.
Now fast forward two years (and one hit album) later and it probably doesn't surprise you to learn that the artist has secured every material possessions that he foreshadowed a few dozen months earlier, in his rap songs. You don't have to agree with his message but you have to applaud his methods. This young brotha is going after his dreams and achieving them. No matter how short-lived some of these dreams may be, the fact remains that he managed to seize an opportunity and actualize his dream. Many of us are quick to identify the negative attributes portrayed by today's young, aspiring rap artists. Conversely, I think we would be remiss to overlook their zeal, tenacity, and passion for making their dreams materialize in order to actually experience a taste of what they consider to be "The Good Life".
Perhaps it's time we stopped hatin' and started congratulating. We could all possibly benefit from taking a page out of their "hustle" manual. These youngens have set their sights on a specific set of goals and transformed those day dreams into a reality. You'll be happy to know that you possess the ability to do the same. The lone difference between most of us and them is that they not only dared to dream BIG but they actually took the necessary steps to bring their dreams to fruition. So today, I want to encourage you not to spend your day dreaming on a moderate scale. You were designed to do marvelous deeds. I charge you to dream BIGGER and hustle harder. Whether your dream is to acquire wealth, better health, a fairy-tale romance, continued education, etc... know that with a proportionate amount of hunger and drive, you too can live out your own personal definition of the good life. Be blessed.
Corey R.
4 comments:
I love it Corey. You are very talented and enlightened. Keep them coming, I look forward to them.
B.
I'm an advocate of teaching people to think and dream 'Big'. However, I don't think aspiring to have the big whips, jewelry and video vixen by your side necessarily qualifies in this day and age. When I hear the most popular rapper of the day (hint - a milli) say in an interview that he was planning a trip to st. tropez but ended up cancelling it when he 'found out' that it was in europe and thus, a long flight, I don't consider him a 'big thinker'. In addition, don't sleep on the video rental game, that can go through the second album, unless the the artist owns his own beats and lyrics (thinking/dreaming big).
I guess I'd just like to see that same hustle verve,that is so common in the hip/hop game, applied to other professions that don't involve entertainment or sports. That would be thinking/dreaming BIG in my book.
I'm on the fence about using the "huste" of most rappers. There are some rap artist that tell a story about how they came from nothing to something by working hard. But, the majority of the rap artist talk about street hustling ie., drugs, guns, money, and women. That hustle is not impressive to me!
I agree with penni brown... I want to see us hustle to reach of full potential but at the end of the day, I want to be proud of how I accomplished my goals and dreams. I want my family and friends to be proud of how I accomplished my goals and dreams... but most of all, I want GOD to be proud!
Remember, dreaming big is great but in order to accomplish those dreams, you have to work hard, stay focused, and never give up! That's my hustle and I'm stickin' with it! :-)
I really looked at Kanye West's lyrics to "When It All Falls Down" --- "I went to Jacob with 25 thou before I had a house and I'd do it again." This particular verse makes me cringe. The rest of the song actually highlights the problem with black spending and lack of assets (http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2004-04-01-young_x.htm). The media does much to encourage lots of spending among African Americans on depreciable products. I would prefer a song like Plies "Rich Folk" ... it's is closer to wishful thinking, but not stupidity.
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