The one question everyone has been asking me lately is how I have been able to be in the industry and not of the industry. Honestly it is quite simple, I have learned how to truly gauge what the meaning of success is. In the same token, I have also come to grasp with being able to differentiate my talent from my gift.
Although I am a rising hip hop entertainer, I consider myself to be an artist and not a rapper. People ask me all the time what the difference is and if it has anything to do with one’s level of talent. Personally, I believe the difference between an artist and a rapper is nothing more than mentality. An artist has the ability to recognize that the whole world is their oyster while rappers more often allow their talent to define who they are. I never say I’m a rapper because before I ever pick up my pen and begin to compose a song I am already so many other things first- a husband, a father, a son as well as a friend that many depend on. The problem that the hip hop community is facing in my opinion stems from the fact that too many rappers don’t see themselves as anything more. Whenever we allow one thing that we do to dictate who we are to the world, regardless of what it is, we are definitely in big trouble. The failure in falling victim to this type of mindset limits our potential as well as our creative ability. I know that rapping for me is nothing more than a talent because if God chose to take away this ability my life would still hold a great value, hence the difference between talents and gifts.
We all have to realize that we have greatness beyond measure that God has placed within. Your talents will bring you fame but your gift will bring you fortune. Nine times out of ten, if there is something you can do exceptionally well that can make you money and bring you recognition, you have discovered your talent. The tricky thing about talent is some people are born with one while others have to work hard to develop one. Either way it goes, at the end of the day any talent that you possess will fade away or can be taken away all together unexpectedly. Once you recognize this fact you must never let your talent define you because you should value your life enough to know that you have more to offer the world than just a hot rhyme, a nice jumpshot or an astonishing left hook. But once you have found that thing that makes you conscious of how you are perceived when you’re using it, you have probably found your gift. The thing about a gift is because it can very rarely be taken away, it comes with grave responsibility. Gifts are what encourage change in ourselves as well as others. When my life ends my words will live on, that’s why my music is nothing more than a tool for me to spread the messages that weigh heavy on my heart. I know that making music is one of my talents so I try to incorporate my gift with the use of my ability to produce the kind of songs that invoke change and promote consciousness. I know that I am successful in life because of my wife, my children, my family and friends and most of all because of my personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Regardless of the current fads or popular music trends, I will always make it a point to convey through my songs the things that I find important in my life and relevant to the world.
I am just one man, no different from any other person walking the Earth. The only difference between me and most people is I don’t fear anything in this life so I don’t have to compromise any of my personal beliefs or visions. Once we all come to grips with our talents and our gifts and learn how to gauge success on a personal level, the whole world will be a better place.
