Is authenticity relevant in this day and age?
The more the music industry pushes mainstream artists towards the opposite direction, the more the public ruminates on this question. Here's the answer: authenticity is relevant. In any art, especially in music, the artist must be able to provoke emotions, raise doubts and seek some kind of truth.
Right now, authenticity in the game is being obstructed in favor of other values, mainly involving material things.
Let's focus on rap.
Many artists get involved in rap for the wrong reasons. Some of them think it's just a cool thing to do, like being a DJ, and don't want to miss out; some others are following their friends' lead; some are attracted by the sexy, luxurious world portrayed in rap and hip-hop music videos and become rap artists in the attempt of gaining that beautiful lifestyle; some others have developed a strong passion for rap music and want to give it a try themselves. As important as it may be to have a strong passion for music before getting into it, or dreaming of a better lifestyle, none of these reasons are enough to make your music authentic.
I'll try and explain what I mean by authentic, writing about my personal experience. My case, as a matter of fact, is a bit different from the scenarios presented earlier. I am usually a quiet person, far from the noisy and boisterous rapper cliche, who sometimes experiences anxiety issues. These unpleasant moments of strain give me the inspiration to write music and, at the same time, music allows me to vent. This premise is what defines my goal as an artist: raise awareness on issues I care about, including those concerning mental health.
My goal, and its connection to my real life, is what makes my music authentic. Being authentic, in fact, might also be the key to your creative process. The creative process is a mysterious and beautiful endeavor, influenced by many different factors, experiences, even emotions, but one thing is certain: being true to yourself will help you doing something different, something that stands out instead of being a copy of what other people did before. Someone might argue that following trends is the key to easy success. Unfortunately, it would also be the key to kill your creativity.
As an ancient Greek saying goes, know thyself.
Are you sure this is what you want for yourself? Are you sure you would look yourself in the mirror without regretting how you let go of your very own talent in exchange for a chimera called success? Wouldn't you be happier to know you treasured those features that make you unique, without compromising?
More and more rappers are choosing to be authentic and work on their own terms. South African artist Cassper Nyovest, signed to his own record label, is an example of this. Of course, he managed to gain worldwide success because of his great ability in marketing activities. We might not be as good as him at promoting ourselves, but we can surely find our own place in the world if we choose authenticity.
Many people surrender to the temptation of easy success and easy cash, losing themselves. Don't make this mistake!
Forget about other people's judgment and do what feels right.
You have a very unique story to tell, in a way only you can.
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