FistFulloDollaz said:
whenever somebody compliments my work, that shit just pushes me
to me its all about getting a reaction from people that arent close to me, it motivates me more when somebody that I dont know be like ya ish is hot
I feel you. I was living in a small city that gave me amazing credit for our work, and bought hundreds of CDs from our group. But I needed to put things in perspective, so I left to find if others could appreciate my shit as well. I was happy to find a universal appreciation, including from people who I never met, and it feels SO much better when someone drives by you blastin your shit, and you have no clue who they are!
shadeed said:
Since I no longer desire to compete athletically I need an outlet for my competitive drive.
Wow. In high school I went through the SAME EXACT THING. I quit varsity baseball in 10th grade because of the [go-home-after-school-and-get-high-and-make-something-to-put-on-tape] lifestyle that took me in. It was my favorite [mistake?] I've ever made.
StressWon said:
I'm motivated by my music. And the reaction by others. Nothing compares to steppin out the booth after sptittin somethin ill and lookin at cats faces. Plus, when I let someone hear a beat for the first time and they immediatly start bobbin heads or want to jump on the track. Businesswise, i'll reach that bridge once I cross it. I can't let money interfer with what I do. I like amiing music and thats enuff motivation for me...if I make money then that's just a plus.
I look up to the cats that will stay indy just for the fact that they won't water down there music for radio or television. That's "real". That also inspires me to do what I do.
Stress, I really like your attitude.
Spen Zilla said:
1. What motivates you?
2. Do you have role models/people you look up to?
1. I'm motivated by a few things. First, the talent out there that reaches me personally. I used to be strictly hip hop, (which I thought of as shallow) but now I get inspired by ALL types of music. Second, when I'm in the studio in the middle of making a beat, or in front of the mic, or behind the console in the sweet spot between both monitors, and things are going REALLY well, and third, when I receive the feedback from others when I finish, that reinforces me to get my ass back in the studio immediately to do it again. I think we all share a sense of pride (if not we wouldn't be able to express ourselves completely) and when that sense of pride is fulfilled, we feel like gods of our own domain, creating beats like children; in seven days, and then resting on Sunday to listen to the shit. Although it may seem narcissistic of me, I still allow myself to get inspired by my own motivation and talent, and a feedback loop is made that oscillates right back into the same channel I was lighting up LEDs on in the first place.
2. I take a tiny piece from who I can, and like to create my own role models. No one is perfect, and if you put all your eggs in one basket, thinking one way is the right way to do it, then your beats will beat your eggs scrambled. I look up to Nas for his storytelling skills, Rza for his [just-touch-the-keys-and-buttons-until-something-hot-comes-out-and-don't-care-about-how-uncut-the-shit-sounds] technique. I respect Jay-Z for his business sense, not much for his message, but a little credit for his wordplay and lax attitude. I appreciated Biggie for his skill in delivery (although I hated it when the day he died, EVERYONE claimed he was their FAVORITE rapper).
I mostly look up to artists who started from scratch, poured their hearts out in rhymes or music, found a new lavish life, went through a BRIEF period of an album called "I'm The Shit, Girls Lick Me Clean, Money Is God, And I Got All In Between", then realize that it's more about content, and deliver some heartfelt shit, usually about how they fell after they thought they were on top of the world. In other words: I guess my favorite role models are yin and yang.
