There is no mainstream there is no underground.. no one is slept on and no one is overrated...
Just 7 billion humans involved in millions of different micro-communities sharing similarities with one another.. no one is better than another.. we just exist.
Do U stop complaining.
Everyone starts by being “slept on” stop complaining about people sleeping on you.. none of us are entitled to ANYONE’s attention... earn that shit and stop being spoiled, impatient and insecure.. work harder like every other successful person on planet earth.
I truly hope MAC knew he was loved this much by his peers and people he looked up to.. maybe we should vocalize our appreciation more for EACH OTHER and show more LOVE to each other while we’re still alive.. it’s not “d*ck riding” its called being a good HUMAN ❤️
You never meet someone who says “oh, that Kanye album? It was aaaaight”
No
It’s either “that shit was TRAAAASH!”
Or
“That album is fuckin incredible. A classic”
That’s what great art is. It doesn’t live down the middle like everyone else does. It lives on the edges only.
Someone asked me recently “why do you give away so many secrets & tools are u afraid someone might take your spot?”
My answer: No. Only a small % actually execute + are built to withstand the sacrifice. Those are the ones I’m excited to watch become successful.
Producers who "just added drums and 808" aren't lazy..
Sample composer producers who want to collab aren't lazy..
They both equally responsible for the sum total of the song..
Drop the EGO and ARROGANCE and get over yourself on who's more important.
We're ALL IMPORTANT.
When I made the
#LoveYourz
beat, I knew it had to tell a story. I didn’t know what or for who.
For
@JColeNC
to turn it into what he did still blows my mind 5 years later. I’m always in awe every time he performs it. Can’t express enough how thankful I am for this song.
If u left troll comments before or said some mean stuff about me in the past, but recently had a change of heart and now I inspire you, I accept your apology. You were just tuned to negative frequencies and had to catch up to mine. You’re good now. You’re ready to win now.✌🏽👍🏽❤️
My friends thought I was a loser because I wasn’t in college.
Parents pressured me.
Industry people paid no attention.
No one believed.
Broke in my 20’s in mom’s basement.
Scraped up $ for studio gear.
Made beats all day.
Swallowed my pride.
All worth it now. 🕊🏆
Can we bring back hard G-Unit street beats? Them were some of the hardest vibes ever.. 82-88 BPM dark crazy baseline swangin drums 2-4 bar loop no crazy change ups just straight TIMBALAND BOOTS AND CHOPPED CHEESE
Let me keep it a BUCK for all my up coming rappers out there.
If I were you, I’d look for an up-coming Producer who’s willing to build a long term relationship & not charge much. It’s the BEST way to start building your own sound and nurturing a REAL chemistry. For BOTH people.
You didn’t JUST do the loop
You didn’t JUST add drums
You didn’t JUST play keys
You didn’t JUST add your vocal textures
You helped make this sh*t a reality which means you deserve a %
Why is this so hard to understand?
It’s simple. There’s no argument.
Just RT this FACT
Innovative
Musical
Honest
Groundbreaking
REAL BARS
Sonic ear candy
Funky vintage progressive
Musically satisfying in every way.
Just sat down with
@jonbellion
and he played me his up coming Album.. those are some of the words I have to describe what I heard. Phenomenal man.
The phases of a music producer:
1. Copy stuff
2. Try stuff
3. Copy some more
4. Try stuff
5. Make complicated beats to impress other producers
6. Realize no one cares
7. Depression
8. Learn how to make beats with enough room for artists
9. Wow this kinda easy
10. Plaques 💿💿💿
I think what’s happening is people see other people having a blast on social media and they become envious so they post themselves having a blast meanwhile no one is really having a blast in real life so it’s just one Big loophole of no one actually having a blast lol
Don’t let this social media stuff fool you... most people who are making actual moves are not posting about it.. there’s people with 250 followers + “last post April 2019” holding keys to million dollar plays...
If I use another producer’s loops and I get a placement... I don’t give AF if u selling that bxtch royalty free... I’m tagging you in all the posts AND you’re getting a % compensation..
Lawyer up... welcome to the big leagues.. I will NOT leave you high & dry. We win TOGETHER.
Nobody wants to make 5 beats every day for many years and not get paid and maybe get 1 placement but the reality is that’s the criteria. That’s the cost of entry. If u not trynna pay that cost, no strategy is going to work.
I’m down to work with anybody, but here is my criteria:
I must be inspired by u
U must be inspired by me
Willing to sacrifice
No complaining of any kind
Open minded
Good people person
Talented
No desperate energy
Willing to try weird shit
On time
Reliable
Hungry
Bought 4.2 acres and building my first dream home/studio all from this music sh*t. Unreal where life can take you with faith, love, patience and persistence. Forever grateful for this new journey 🏠 ❤️
Make music.
Try stuff you havn’t tried.
Don’t be a d*ck.
Keep learning.
Do research.
Meet people.
Be respectful.
Invest in yourself.
Collaborate.
Get enough sleep.
Don’t get so f*cking wasted.
Try it.
For 30 days straight (or more).
Congrats.
You’re on your way.
YouTube producers
Industry producers
Type beats
Tutorial producers
No placement yet producers
Placement producers
Artist development producers
Drum kit dropping
Loop makers
Drum click grid programmers
How about f*ck a title and do what makes you happy
[24] I wasn't ready back in 2014. It wasn't time yet. I thought I had it all figured out. I didn't. I thought my sound was "IT"... it wasn't... It forced me to experiment and to get out of my head creatively and to try new things... It set me up to SUCCEED.
Another plaque 💿 This one is extra special though. I will always say that this is the most important song I ever produced. I’m honored. Jermaine, you’re a special human being bro. No such thing as a life that’s better than YOURZ. Plat plat. 💿🙏🏽🦅
Fall in love with a thing..
Make a list of the top 3 people who are currently the best at that thing..
Study them..
Work hard to become really good at that thing in your own way..
Build with your PEERS at your level doing the same “thing”..
Don’t complain & don’t be a d*ck.
If you get a $1,000,000 advance here’s how we looking:
- $400k taxes
- $120k fees (management, attorney)
Net profit: $480,000
Budget out a $120k/year salary and this will last you roughly 4 years.
Wild right?
If you’re making a living doing purely what you love with no one to answer to, all bills paid, full freedom to do what you please, when you please, taxes paid, savings, look forward to every phone call, motivated every morning.. you’ve WON.
No need to compare yourself to anyone
If you sign to me, part of my goal is to help you to make $1,000,000+ in digital revenue of which you own 100% of.
And that’s not even including all the music we make and placements
I did it, now it’s time for you to do it..
The “producer” ear is way different than the “artist” ear it took me a long time to learn that shit.. they need to hear their own voice on the beat it’s not necessarily how GOOD the beat is.. if they can hear themself on it that’s step
#1
If you’ve sold a beat for $50, you’re on your way to winning the game of happiness... that’s 5 hours of scrubbing toilets at $10/hour...
Now you just have to work your a$$ off to scale that. Scaling is the hard part, but not impossible.
If I collab with a brand new producer who never sold a beat in their life and they’re 🔥🔥 and easy to work with and I get us a placement, you’re getting your %’s including MY ADVANCE RATE.. I’ve always done it and will continue to. I don’t just talk I DO it ❤️✌🏽🚀
My job as a music producer is simple. To bring the best out of you. How we do it can vary person to person. It’s much more than just sending you a beat or playing keys or laying down drums. How can I help you IMPACT the world with a song? It’s not about me, it’s about your voice.
Open to failure
Experimentation
Patience
Focus on task every day
Keep learning
Don’t focus on other people’s success
Limit social media swiping
Get enough sleep
Pay off debts
Don’t ask permission
Be of service to others
Travel
Find people like you
Believe in what you’re doing
Everyone has 🔥 beats..
So what sets you apart from the rest?
🤔
Consistency
Relationships
Sacrifice
Staying humble
Always learning
Instinct
Showing up
Being respectful
Patience
Collaboration
U on your way if u check all them bitches on that list.
When I started taking weekends off and prioritized my happiness and joy over the pressures of “team no sleep”, I made my first million.... don’t believe everything you hear.
Example..
Every time I collab with, say,
@Boi1da
Everyone on the song eats, gets %, and he always tags everyone
Some y’all not even close to his level and u don’t even do half that.
That’s why he’s where he is.
It’s called good business & doing the right thing.
U wanna know the greatest gem to be successful?
Keep going and do this for a looong time and when you get your first dub, keep going again
5 years is not a long time
Here are the various stages of a producer:
Years 1-3: mimic other shit keep it simple
3-4: mimic other shit but accurately keep it simple
4-7: experimental phase impressing other producers over producing
7-8: keep it simple
8-11: keep it simple
11+: yup simple is better lol
My bro
@russdiemon
out here dropping songs every week like he an upcoming artist literally practicing what he preaches, yet most y’all actual up coming artists still think you too good for that and refuse to put the work in.. that’s why I can’t take most of y’all seriously 🤷🏻♂️
My partial discography for those asking.
Nas
Kanye
JCole
Drake
Khalid
Lil Uzi
Meek Mill
A Boogie
Travis Scott
Quavo
Future
Bryson Tiller
21 Savage
Kelly Clarkson
Romeo Santos
Jon Bellion
Andy Mineo
50 Cent
Little Brother
Scarface
Skyzoo
Joell Ortiz
Slaughterhouse
Lin Manuel
Don’t believe any advice that has to do with shortcuts or making things easy... it’s not easy... and there are no shortcuts.... it’s all bullsh*t
U want success? U better be built for it.. u going to be broke, people going to doubt u and life will test u..
Its all requirements.
Let’s not overlook the fact that with all this mental health stuff happening... you’ve got guys like Logic and J Cole (amongst others) really saving lives through their music & contributing to better outcomes for the youth.. of u can’t respect that, you’ve got issues.
What’s holding a lot of REALLY TALENTED producers back is that they dwell on the fact that they’re better than a lot of people but complain that they’re not as successful so they waste a ton of time getting frustrated and no one wants to be around that energy so nothing gets done
Let’s set this straight once and for all...
The MELODY matters.
The DRUMS matter.
Both are important asf.
You’re not any more or less of a producer if you do one or both. Just make 🔥
The end.
That random beat you make this week or lyric you write or song you record tomorrow could be the one that changes your life forever and it’s ok to not know how or which one it is.. you’re not supposed to.. you’ll never predict it.. no one ever has.
Most valuable and most obvious thing I learned in the last 10 years.. if you wanna be a successful music producer, you have to prioritize the act of producing music above everything else. Content networking branding etc comes 2nd. Make beats Dammit. All the time. Always.
Why drop an album when you’re up coming and not many people know you yet? That’s a LOT to ask from strangers to expect them to listen to that many songs and actually care..
I know it feels good to drop a “full body of work” but that ain’t it....
yet...
Drop singles 🏋🏽♀️
The real heroes are these companies who made the DAWS for us....
FL ableton reason logic etc whatever it is that you use... wtf would we be doing without their existence lol
It’s a wrap whoever makes a ChatGPT DAW
“Create a dark melody with pianos and fast arps in the key of Cminor”
“Add 1/16 hihats with random variations every bar”
“Add thumpy 808”
“Add snares and kicks”
“Mix it like a top 40 trap song”
“Name it and export as mp3”
LOVE to all my producers.. whether u 10 or 50... platinum or in the basement... Grammies or no Grammies... SHINE bright make that 🔥 and don’t let nobody tell u sh*t!
Don’t worry bout being on these lists.. just keep being that silent killer until they’re forced to no longer be silent.. the ART is the priority always, not anyone’s validation
Most people won’t make it in music unfortunately because most people aren’t able/willing to go through the “damn this really sucks and everything is taking way too long and I don’t know what the future holds” phase 🤷🏻♂️
I love that Ye made sure all the production credits and all co-pros we’re listed at launch… from jump… that simple thing changes LIVES and I hope it always happens especially with big releases.. if Ye and his team did it then you might look crazy if you DONT ❤️
Show love!
If you want an Illmind beat and you’re an up coming artist with literally no label or investor or backing and funding your career completely out of your own pocket, keep your $… I’ll work w/ u for FREE only if I believe in you. Don’t pay me my fee I rather help you blow up 💫
This is gonna sound crazy to most people, but when I stopped over hustling team no sleep and started to get 8+ hours of sleep, strict weekends off, listening to my instinct prioritizing joy and being more patient, I started making the most $ in my life. This concept is powerful.
Some people are not gonna like you, your music, your Art, whatever it is u represent.. it doesn’t mean you’re not dope.. they just don’t resonate with u.. focus on the ones who DO.. they’re out there and it’s your job to find them and nurture them 🤘🏽
When u stop chasing everything (placements, people, money, plaques, charts) and just focus on what’s in front of you, those things start to actually happen ❤️
The thing about Drake is he creates moments you remember by not trolling and just making great music with insane execution that you’ll remember forever... that’s why the man is still the king.