Don’t Get Cocky Too Quick

Picture Credit: tattly.com
Tina Roth Eisenberg

Humble Yourself While You Step Your Hustle Game Up

Remember that really promising and talented rapper who had that dope track that became a top club banger at every party you went to for months on end, but suddenly disappeared when his music lost its hold over everyone? Or that guy who confidently cleaned up music award ceremonies year after year – however did he become so irrelevant?  One thing’s for certain: very few people remember those okes, apart from their families, of course. At times, they’re lucky you still remember their names.

All talk, all fraction

Every now and again, I usually ask myself questions like those, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s thought about it. At some point in your life, you’ve probably come across a promising performer with lots of potential– heard his music just about everywhere, even caught his interviews on all the top television and radio channels, then like a light switch that goes off, you never saw or heard from him again. He may have tried to launch a few comebacks, but they all probably flopped worse than a birthday cake baked without baking powder. I like to say people of that sort let their egos grow far bigger than their careers ever did.

People love to talk about how great they are and often tend to buy into their own hype, but they never really have anything to show for it. They walk into a room like they own the place and everyone in it, and look at you as if you’re nuts for expecting them to take off their shades in respect when they speak to you. Funny thing is, they know they need your support, but these ninjas aren’t willing to get off their high horses to look desperate for anything – even when they actually are. 

Quite frankly, I’m one of those people that can smell a two-minute-act from miles away. I can tell from the minute a person launches a new single or video whether they’re potentially a legendary class act or if they’re simply a future flop story. And what I can tell you without mentioning any names is that most (yes, I said most) of the big names on local TV right now are definitely tomorrow’s leftovers. They’ve become more like ‘Here today – gone tomorrow!’ gimmicks.

All a part of the of the plan

Apart from being cockier than real noteworthy successful celebrities, what they lack is substance and a sustainable long-term plan for themselves. Like the Big Dogs of entertainment, they may like to see themselves as businesses, but guess what? Actual businesses succeed because they have business plans. Duh. The importance of having a proper and well thought-out career plan cannot be emphasised enough. This serves as your guide and tracks your milestones so that you know when you’ve arrived where you set out to be one day and tells you what steps you need to take from there on. Regardless of how ‘successful’ you become at what you do, your success will be short-lived if you don’t write and constantly revisit this crucial plan. The days of blindly doing something and crossing your fingers hoping for a perfect ending are long gone. Sadly, not all artists are willing to put in the amount of work required to make it, or lose interest when they realise how hard holding your own in the industry really is. Irrespective of what industry you’re in, you need to stay focused, humble and dedicate yourself if you really want to make it in today’s ever-changing world.          

Be bigger than local

If your name isn’t being used in the same context as Jay-Z, Eminem, Kanye West, Drake, Kendrick Lemar or some other great act along those lines, and if you’re not receiving standing ovations from countries in all corners of the world, don’t even think of letting your head grow bigger than the actual bulge in your wallet – you still have a very long way to go, buddy. Nobody cares anymore if you have a half a million pending requests over the 5 000 friends limit on your Facebook account. If you’re even one digit short of a million followers on Twitter, don’t bother bragging to everyone about how dope you are at what you do. The figures always speak for themselves.     

Personally, I don’t think we have any extremely outstanding performers or celebrities in the country – people that literally wow me out of my skull. I think we’ve just learnt to make do with what we have, and then they automatically stand out as ‘SA’s best’. If you honestly want to become a world-class act, as an artist, you have to think on a global scale: if you had to measure your craft and what you do to the standard of the world’s best, how would really measure up?  

Do what you love, and the money will follow

Another thing: find ways of getting your name out there without your main focus being on the loot. Genuinely get to know your fans and treat them like they pay your bills because they do. Perform anywhere and everywhere you to get the opportunity to be in contact with your market, whether or not you’re getting paid for it. Heck, never stop hustling until everyone’s cheerfully singing your name in chorus – until groupies and fans alike are dying to get your name permanently tattooed on their backs -- until your name is worth its weight in gold. Only when that happens, will you have earned your right to unlimited cockiness. There won’t be a need for paper chasing; you’ll be swimming in all the dough the Olympic-sized pool your 3-storey mansion’s backyard can hold, and then some. 

But until that glorious moment – when you famously have the world at your feet, put your best face on, get yourself and your act together, come up with a long-term plan for yourself, and start building your brand – one loyal fan at a time.

By: Pumzile Tracy Wilbon

Initially written in October 2011 for the Strictly Hip Hop online magazine