Published: Friday - March 21, 2008
Words by Donny Goines
Blog by Donny Goines Photo: Don Michaels
Recently my boy asked me to listen to a song he was featured on with several other rappers because he wanted my opinion. After I listened to it, I told him that he needed improvement and the song overall had bad sound quality. After sharing my criticism with the other artists, he told me they all were pissed off. I guess they wanted me to say that it was a dope song (which it wasn't), but how would that have helped them? They are gonna realize one day the importance of this blog.
Since the moment I've started, criticism has been an integral part of my growth as an artist, whether it came from a listener, a producer, another artist, etc. I took heed to all of it. Many friends of mine wonder why I read every single message I get on MySpace and the answer is quite simple: These are some of the people that help point errors and mistakes, as well as what I'm doing right. I mean I've heard it all (and still do) from just about anyone you can think of. From my music, myself, my methods, so on and so forth, but I've realized a long time ago that this just comes along with the business and you either are going to use it to your advantage or you're going to let it get under your skin. The foolish ones choose the latter.
Now there is a difference between "constructive" criticism and just negative comments. The first thing you have to learn is how to distinguish between the two. The first one (constructive) comes in many forms and you should always take heed and listen to it. Even if you feel otherwise just listen, you might pick up on something that you didn't realize you were doing wrong. The second (negative) usually comes in the form of unfounded, irrelevant or ignorant criticism (even some people who read this blog does that). This type of criticism usually is just a form of "heckling" and should be ignored. Sometimes it might get under your skin (it happens to the best of us, including myself), but just learn to take these sorts of comments in stride and keep it moving. Most of the time its nothing worth paying attention.
Once you figure out the difference - here comes the tricky part -- learning to turn this criticism into a positive. Many aspiring artists fall victim to this one. First things first, check your ego at the door. Many times artists take criticism as a form of "attack" so to speak when in all actuality, it's usually the complete opposite. Think about it, if someone takes the time to listen and critique what you did OBVIOUSLY they have some sort of concern about your art. If they didn't, they wouldn't even bother. Learn to listen and put your ego aside. Secondly, learn to filter what they say and use the most important information. Many times people will tell you things you already know, or things that really don't apply to you, so you have filtered the useful stuff. Finally when you get good advice, APPLY IT!!!!! Don't be one of those sort of people that waste others time. If someone takes the to give you constructive criticism use it.
Now back to those artists I was speaking about earlier. Since they felt some kind of way, I took time out of my busy schedule to give them a full critique. My boy told me it made them even angrier and that's fine. It doesn't hurt me in anyway, but I'll let you know this. In the long run, that sort of ignorance will hurt them.
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