Music is an art and Hip Hop music is not only an art but a culture. Hip Hop artists should strive to make their music timely. Think of artists like the O'Jays, The Rolling Stones, and The Isley Brothers. They have been making music for many, many years and what if someone would have told them they could only make music until they were 25 years old?
What if the world put a time limit on how long we could create art? Can you imagine Eddie Levert doing something other than making good music? What about Chuck D from Public Enemy or KRS-ONE? I can still enjoy a good show by De La Soul any day of the week.
These artists have been around for years and they are true to their craft. They put out good music consistently and they do not let anyone tell them when to stop doing what they love.
That love for what they are doing is the key ingredient to a successful career. When you start making music just to make some money or to satisfy a record label or whatever ever, then you are on the way out. The people with long careers are passionate about their music. They are passionate about their fans. They are in touch with their fans and their fans are in touch with them.
Their music is not about winning awards or fancy marketing and promotions tactics. It is about making good music. Music they can be proud of … music that will stand the test of time and create a mental shift in the mind of the listener.
We will always remember the first time we heard a song from one of our favorite artists and when we hear it now it makes us feel a certain way. That is what artists should strive to do with their music. Then, the music will be memorable and timeless!
So what is the formula for making timeless music? It can be summed up in the following steps:
- Have a passion for your music
- Find a way to record and distribute your music
- Promote your music to as many people as possible
- Give great live performances
- Repeat Steps 1-4
Using this formula, any artist, Hip Hop or otherwise, should be able to record and distribute their own brand of timeless music as often as they want to. So what are you waiting on? Now is the time to get started creating a legacy for yourself and your music.