3 Things Aspiring Black Artists Need to Know About the Business

Music industry veteran Ray Daniels shares his advice for aspiring black artists and professionals.

There is nothing more dangerous to America than a Black one that is equally talented as an artist and as talented in business. This is something I actually have come to understand throughout my profession. From sports to music, every white-dominated industry fears the intersection of raw talent and refined intelligence in Black characters. As our culture is viewed more as a commodity than our authentic stories, I actually have found it essential for the next generation of Jay-Zs and Serena Williamses to higher understand the power they’ll truly wield with the right strategy.

As someone who still has to cope with feeling helpless towards people in my community (especially younger kids who are only coming onto the scene), I wanted to share some things I’ve learned that may help my black brothers and sisters rise to the top, stay strong, and make the world a greater place for others like us.

Money buys you time, but it surely doesn’t all the time buy you freedom

Black people would not have the same luxury of grace to make mistakes and learn. So over the years we now have adopted “black magic,” pulling tricks out of our asses for generations to prove what we will do in the smallest window available to prove it. Knowing this, it will be important to understand that without an internal algorithm and structure you’ll be able to fall into traps and contracts which have those immediate dollar signs but can just as quickly rob you of your long-term freedom. Never lose sight of your values ​​and self-worth. I’m fair game. I consider in capitalism, but I also love my people. I consider in doing what is true and earning money, not making more cash doing what’s flawed. We would not have to sell our souls to achieve success.

Investing in your community

You have to be willing to make sacrifices that may take you to the next level. For example, when you’re focused on a brand new automotive, recent clothes, you’re missing the point. Investing in the black community starts with investing in yourself, your health, your mental well-being, and your environment. Focusing on the things we don’t see first, learning to see your brain as a crucial investment. Feeling good before looking good is what creates long-term success for yourself, which in turn inspires others in the community to follow in your footsteps. That’s influence at its best. If you’ve gotten to pay for a mentor or information to provide help to win, (that) is just as essential (as) using that gold chain/fancy automotive to get attention. When you open your mouth and folks see that you just’re greater than just talent, (that) offers you a bonus in any environment where your talents are showcased.

Having your home at the table

In our world, if you’ve gotten talent, you’ll enter the room. If you’ve gotten the knowledge, to protect the talent, you’ve gotten been told or at the very least convinced to stay out.

I used to feel like I used to be lucky to be in that room, like, “Wow! They asked me a question.” But then once I figured that out, I began speaking up because once I was first invited into the room, I used to be just completely satisfied to be there. The same goes for you. If you’re in that room, it’s because they’re talking to an audience that’s listening from YOUR background, which suggests you understand. Knowing your value is essential in those moments since it reminds you that you’ve gotten influence due to who you’re. A whole lot of the mistakes I see young artists make is selling themselves as an artist first, once they ought to be selling themselves as an influencer. Artists sell their music; influencers sell every part about themselves. You are greater than the belongings you create, and it’s the voice behind the microphone that may get people to come and listen.

These are only a number of essential things that I remind myself of in today’s world when it could possibly feel prefer it’s helpless to make it a greater, more inclusive place where black men and girls produce other black men and girls in the room with them once they’re making essential decisions. We need to maintain one another, and the way we can assist is by being attentive to our blind spots. Even as black people, we now have different perspectives and different points of view. Let’s use that to help spread the word. Because like I said before, there’s nothing more unstoppable than someone who knows they’ve talent and knows they’ve intelligence as well. The bottom line is we’d like to trust one another and trust ourselves. If someone is talking to us, which means there’s value there, know your value and construct yourself and your people up.