Hustle Harder: Separate Yourself From The Pack

The other night I had a conversation with Zach Katz (if you don't know who I'm talking about, Google his name) and he told me something that made a lot of sense. He basically said that I needed to find a way to separate myself from the million other artists out there. He's right. No matter how talented I may be, at the end of the day what makes me any different from any other rapper out there?

No matter how you put it, I'm just like every other artist out there -- signed or unsigned, rich or poor, black or white, whatever. At the end of the day, we are all trying to make a living with this thing we call rap. HOW we go about it though, is what separates us. You see, I am the sort of artist that prides myself in originality and depending from your point of view, this either helps or hurts me. I'll explain. You see, being an original artist helps to separate me from the pack, but sometimes that can also make you an outcast. Make sense? It's hard to find a balance sometimes, but usually if you are too left field, people don't get it and if you conform too much, they say you are a follower. See how this can be confusing?

I'll be completely honest people, I don't have the answer to this one. I think I am different and many people feel the same exact way, but I don't think that was Zach's point. I interrupted his statement as "What standout move will I make to break my career?" For instance, 50 did mixtapes, Soulja Boy did a dance (believe it or not people, this dude is a trendsetter in his own way), and Lil Wayne did features, etc. You can put any successful artist in this equation and see that they did something unique or groundbreaking at the time, which helped launch there careers. Now I'm not saying I necessarily like or agree with what certain artists did, but in retrospect you have to look at it for what it's worth and learn from your predecessors. What can you do as an artist that will set you apart from all the rest?

I sat back that night and really put a lot of thought into what he said. As for myself, I honestly think it's going to be something that happens, rather then something I do, which will launch me into the sky. For you, maybe you already know, but whatever it is just make sure that once you find it you run with it and make it your own. Then people will remember you in the history books. For better or worst.

For more on me and my music visit my Myspace page at MySpace.com/DonnyGoines.

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