Number 1 is Overrated: 
I'll close with this. It is typical that some artists and beat makers say and feel they are Number 1 and some actually make it there. However, my goal has never been to be #1, instead, it has been to be the best at what I do.  So I challenge you to strive to do the same.  

Thank you if you made it this far reading my posts on this series. Hopefully it has inspired you and will somehow have a positive impact on your road to success. So be encouraged, stick to your grind and remember to love what you do regardless to whether or not success and fame come your way. And don't let money be the foundation of your drive, because money has no soul and therefore can not give life to what you imagine and create.  

Be blessed and much success to you all, 

Deleswa

Be Original: 
Remember the historical icons of music? Some are still with us, but others have come and gone. The common theme though is that their work never seems to die. You probably have a few in mind already now that I mentioned it. Why were they so successful among many other reasons? They had their individual style. So what I'm saying is strive to create your own lane to standout, even if you choose to go mainstream. Question...If you listened to 5 beats that were all traditional Hop Hop, but one of the beats had a sample of Spanish Stomp Dancing on a creaky wooden floor as part of the hook with a tango type vibe, which beat among the 5 would stand out the most to you? So be different and brand yourself apart from others so that you have a better chance of being remembered many years from now...or better...to be known as one of the classics.

Invest in Yourself: 
If you have got mad skills, then maybe it's a good time to do some research on music equipment to establish your own home studio. It’s okay to borrow sometimes, but it’s much better to have your own setup when inspiration strikes, instead of working around someone else’s schedule. Many successful artists today and in the past have made a hit record working right out of their garage, basement or hotel room. So working with a home studio or going mobile is a great opportunity to capture your best work when it happens.

On the other hand, if you are not as blessed to have the skills of the naturally talented, then you probably should focus more of your time on learning or perfecting the areas that could use some improvement, before buying all that gear (that does not necessarily have to be cutting edge by the way). For some this could be as simple as reading up on a few good books, watching informative tutorials online or going all out and taking lessons.  It is really up to you to determine how to proceed forward that will most likely depend on where you are musically and what you are driven to do.   

Put the Writing on the Wall: 
One of the most important things you can do as an artist or beat maker is to promote and make yourself visible to the world. This could be by word of mouth, by passing out flyers, pushing demos or by joining music sites that are designed for artists to connect with the rest of the music world. So don’t be afraid to get out there and meet people who have the same passion as you. Music collaborations are another great way to show your professionalism, versatility, and ability to work well with others. These are qualities that others will respect that will most likely open doors you thought not possible.

If you aren’t already on the major social networks, I would suggest doing that as well as it will allow you to connect your music fans around the world with the work that you do. This will help grow your fan base because you know without fans, there wouldn't be any stars. For some, this may be a big step, but it will really help you brand yourself within the music communities and could possibly generate leads from A&R scouts who may have had their eye on you all along.

It’s Okay to be a Beginner: 
A personal word of encouragement to all who are just starting out is not to get discouraged because you have extra work to put in. The advantage you have over the more talented is that people will more easily connect with you on a personal level, and will have the opportunity and privilege to watch you grow and mature as you pursue your dream. It’s one thing to see someone come out of nowhere and be an instant star, but it so much richer to watch someone come up through the ranks as they perfect their craft in pursuit of their musical goals.

So keep your head up if your are just starting out. It is not as bad as you think. The worst thing anyone could do is have the passion or the natural talent, but do absolutely nothing with it. Think of it. Do you want to be that person who looks back years later and thinks along the lines of ”If I could do it all over again” or "If only I would have gave it a shot". Now is the time to go after what you really want no matter where you are on the scale of talent, because every success story has a beginning. All it takes is a dream and determination with a plan and you are well on your way. 

Don’t Believe Everything You Hear: 
Let’s face it, some people are naturally gifted while others must put in twice the work to achieve the same results. Have you ever watched some of those talent shows where someone got on stage and after their performance, you asked yourself how they ever made it to the stage? Remember...know yourself? Don’t get me wrong now. It is great to receive compliments and be encouraged by others, but what about people who are not honest enough to tell you that you are not there yet or that you simply need serious work. The point here is not to let others define you and give you a false perception of who you are and what you have to offer talent-wise. If you are honest with yourself, you will already have a good idea of where you are and where you need to be, regardless of what people say.

Don't Just Say It...Write It Down and Follow Through: 
After you have put your ideas together, formed a plan and projected an objective to achieve, commit to your goals. This will require a significant amount of your time and effort, but it is worth it and you'll see it pay off down the road as you learn more and become better at what you do.

Have a Vision: 
Set realistic goals both short and long, so that you can measure and quantify your progress as milestones along your musical journey to success.

Hello and welcome to my Beat Blog here at Beatzville. If you are a new or intermediate artist (i.e. singer, rapper, poet, spoken-word-lyricist, or dancer) or beat maker (i.e. music producer, composer, musician, or instrumentalist), this is for you. I originally posted this as a single long read, but decided to break it down into a short series and hope that it finds you well. 

Know Yourself: 
This is a short but very important point to understand and follow. If you are interested in a music career, it is a good thing to do a self-evaluation of where you stand musically before establishing your plan of action. You will thank yourself later as you see the time and money saved and the embarrassments avoided. I will touch more on this during Part 4 (Don't Believe Everything You Hear).