don’t let people’s outside perspectives change what you do the easiest thing to
change what you do the easiest thing to
change what you do the easiest thing to do is to not live presently I don’t want
do is to not live presently I don’t want
do is to not live presently I don’t want to be in the studio every single day all
to be in the studio every single day all
to be in the studio every single day all the time you know we never sat out to be
the time you know we never sat out to be
the time you know we never sat out to be like yo like we’re gonna make this song
like yo like we’re gonna make this song
like yo like we’re gonna make this song about thrift shops and it’s gonna be
about thrift shops and it’s gonna be
about thrift shops and it’s gonna be it’s gonna go multi-platinum because I
it’s gonna go multi-platinum because I
it’s gonna go multi-platinum because I know that I want to live up to my
know that I want to live up to my
know that I want to live up to my fullest potential I want to be the best
fullest potential I want to be the best
fullest potential I want to be the best human being that I can possibly be I had
human being that I can possibly be I had
human being that I can possibly be I had always wanted to get sober I could never
always wanted to get sober I could never
always wanted to get sober I could never get sober did you ever want to just give
get sober did you ever want to just give
get sober did you ever want to just give up on your dream yes we did poetry
up on your dream yes we did poetry
up on your dream yes we did poetry readings and really what that was was
readings and really what that was was
readings and really what that was was just acapella raps and I don’t want to
just acapella raps and I don’t want to
just acapella raps and I don’t want to look back and be like you had it all and
look back and be like you had it all and
look back and be like you had it all and you weren’t even present for it he’s an
you weren’t even present for it he’s an
you weren’t even present for it he’s an American rapper from Seattle Washington
American rapper from Seattle Washington
American rapper from Seattle Washington since 2000 he has independently released
since 2000 he has independently released
since 2000 he has independently released one mixtape three EPS and four albums
one mixtape three EPS and four albums
one mixtape three EPS and four albums his single thrift shop hit number one on
his single thrift shop hit number one on
his single thrift shop hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2013 he’s
the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2013 he’s
the US Billboard Hot 100 in 2013 he’s McLemore and hear his top ten rules for
McLemore and hear his top ten rules for
McLemore and hear his top ten rules for success
don’t let people’s outside perspectives
don’t let people’s outside perspectives change what you do change who you are
change what you do change who you are
change what you do change who you are dictate your happiness dictate your
dictate your happiness dictate your
dictate your happiness dictate your level of self-worth affect your
level of self-worth affect your
level of self-worth affect your self-esteem and as an artist that’s
self-esteem and as an artist that’s
self-esteem and as an artist that’s easier said than done the the public’s
easier said than done the the public’s
easier said than done the the public’s perception does weigh on you the box
perception does weigh on you the box
perception does weigh on you the box that they put you in does affect you and
that they put you in does affect you and
that they put you in does affect you and I think that it’s a constant fight to
I think that it’s a constant fight to
I think that it’s a constant fight to remember why you make music who you do
remember why you make music who you do
remember why you make music who you do it for why it’s important and to follow
it for why it’s important and to follow
it for why it’s important and to follow your process and to not let anybody’s
your process and to not let anybody’s
your process and to not let anybody’s outside opinion dictate who you are you
outside opinion dictate who you are you
outside opinion dictate who you are you know it I think that um the easiest
know it I think that um the easiest
know it I think that um the easiest thing to do is to not live presently
thing to do is to not live presently
thing to do is to not live presently yeah in life we are consistently in the
yeah in life we are consistently in the
yeah in life we are consistently in the past in the future anywhere but right
past in the future anywhere but right
past in the future anywhere but right now and I think for myself as a
now and I think for myself as a
now and I think for myself as a performer
performer
performer it is important to slow down and to
it is important to slow down and to
it is important to slow down and to remember what I’m doing why I’m here
remember what I’m doing why I’m here
remember what I’m doing why I’m here remember the words that I wrote the
remember the words that I wrote the
remember the words that I wrote the feeling that I have when I wrote them
feeling that I have when I wrote them
feeling that I have when I wrote them and deliver that in the same emotion
and deliver that in the same emotion
and deliver that in the same emotion that I had when I was in that moment
that I had when I was in that moment
that I had when I was in that moment writing the music both Ryan and I
writing the music both Ryan and I
writing the music both Ryan and I alright at times I want to say envious
alright at times I want to say envious
alright at times I want to say envious but but we look at other people like you
but but we look at other people like you
but but we look at other people like you take Kendrick Kendrick is a rapper
take Kendrick Kendrick is a rapper
take Kendrick Kendrick is a rapper Kendrick is in the studio right now I
Kendrick is in the studio right now I
Kendrick is in the studio right now I guarantee it
guarantee it
guarantee it he’s not thinking about you know that
he’s not thinking about you know that
he’s not thinking about you know that the merge design that we have right now
the merge design that we have right now
the merge design that we have right now isn’t fitting on it on a tank top the
isn’t fitting on it on a tank top the
isn’t fitting on it on a tank top the way that it should it’s true and and
way that it should it’s true and and
way that it should it’s true and and that’s a it’s a blessing in the curse
that’s a it’s a blessing in the curse
that’s a it’s a blessing in the curse you know we we both are have we are the
you know we we both are have we are the
you know we we both are have we are the output in terms of anything creative it
output in terms of anything creative it
output in terms of anything creative it it’s a music video if it’s directing if
it’s a music video if it’s directing if
it’s a music video if it’s directing if it’s writing a treatment if it’s if it’s
it’s writing a treatment if it’s if it’s
it’s writing a treatment if it’s if it’s you know being a character in the music
you know being a character in the music
you know being a character in the music video it we are everything same thing
video it we are everything same thing
video it we are everything same thing with their merge same thing with just
with their merge same thing with just
with their merge same thing with just the ideas that we have full circle in
the ideas that we have full circle in
the ideas that we have full circle in terms of running a business so that’s
terms of running a business so that’s
terms of running a business so that’s taking away time that we could be
taking away time that we could be
taking away time that we could be working on our specific crass producing
working on our specific crass producing
working on our specific crass producing and rapping so I think that it’s a
and rapping so I think that it’s a
and rapping so I think that it’s a balance we both enjoy business we both
balance we both enjoy business we both
balance we both enjoy business we both enjoy being holistically creative that’s
enjoy being holistically creative that’s
enjoy being holistically creative that’s a fulfilling thing I don’t want to be in
a fulfilling thing I don’t want to be in
a fulfilling thing I don’t want to be in the studio every single day all the time
the studio every single day all the time
the studio every single day all the time I want to be picking fonts I want to be
I want to be picking fonts I want to be
I want to be picking fonts I want to be you know with Ryan color editing a music
you know with Ryan color editing a music
you know with Ryan color editing a music video that’s something that we both
video that’s something that we both
video that’s something that we both enjoy so it’s a balance and I think that
enjoy so it’s a balance and I think that
enjoy so it’s a balance and I think that we haven’t we wear enough hats that we
we haven’t we wear enough hats that we
we haven’t we wear enough hats that we can kind of bounce around and be
can kind of bounce around and be
can kind of bounce around and be inspired but it comes at a sacrifice you
inspired but it comes at a sacrifice you
inspired but it comes at a sacrifice you know we never sat out to be like yo like
know we never sat out to be like yo like
know we never sat out to be like yo like we’re gonna make this song about thrift
we’re gonna make this song about thrift
we’re gonna make this song about thrift shops and it’s gonna be it’s gonna go
shops and it’s gonna be it’s gonna go
shops and it’s gonna be it’s gonna go multi-platinum and it’s gonna be on it
multi-platinum and it’s gonna be on it
multi-platinum and it’s gonna be on it like we didn’t have in our mind any
like we didn’t have in our mind any
like we didn’t have in our mind any songs that would ever work at radio so I
songs that would ever work at radio so I
songs that would ever work at radio so I think we went into the same process with
think we went into the same process with
think we went into the same process with this one and maybe nothing ends up on
this one and maybe nothing ends up on
this one and maybe nothing ends up on the radio mm-hmm that’s great good money
the radio mm-hmm that’s great good money
the radio mm-hmm that’s great good money that’s because we have money no it’s
that’s because we have money no it’s
that’s because we have money no it’s because it’s truly because the art is
because it’s truly because the art is
because it’s truly because the art is what matters in in not and not sales and
what matters in in not and not sales and
what matters in in not and not sales and not the radio we care about the art and
not the radio we care about the art and
not the radio we care about the art and if that’s at the compromise of not
if that’s at the compromise of not
if that’s at the compromise of not tapping back into a pop audience or or
tapping back into a pop audience or or
tapping back into a pop audience or or not being in arenas or not being in
not being in arenas or not being in
not being in arenas or not being in theaters or whatever we’re gonna make
theaters or whatever we’re gonna make
theaters or whatever we’re gonna make the art that we want to make as a
the art that we want to make as a
the art that we want to make as a songwriter you you strive for that
songwriter you you strive for that
songwriter you you strive for that perfection but the thing that can kill
perfection but the thing that can kill
perfection but the thing that can kill you with it and that I learned from from
you with it and that I learned from from
you with it and that I learned from from that website that I went to the thing
that website that I went to the thing
that website that I went to the thing that can kill you with it is if you let
that can kill you with it is if you let
that can kill you with it is if you let that perfectionism stop you from
that perfectionism stop you from
that perfectionism stop you from beginning in the first place and so much
beginning in the first place and so much
beginning in the first place and so much of like what what goes into making a
of like what what goes into making a
of like what what goes into making a song it takes courage it takes you know
song it takes courage it takes you know
song it takes courage it takes you know you battling some fear if you have a
you battling some fear if you have a
you battling some fear if you have a good song you got to write another good
good song you got to write another good
good song you got to write another good song and there’s there’s expectation and
song and there’s there’s expectation and
song and there’s there’s expectation and the pressure for first and foremost
the pressure for first and foremost
the pressure for first and foremost comes from yourself so staring in front
comes from yourself so staring in front
comes from yourself so staring in front of a blank piece of paper is a
of a blank piece of paper is a
of a blank piece of paper is a challenging thing and it always has been
challenging thing and it always has been
challenging thing and it always has been it was challenging when I was 16 years
it was challenging when I was 16 years
it was challenging when I was 16 years old writing for the first time it was
old writing for the first time it was
old writing for the first time it was challenging at 30 years old it’s it’s
challenging at 30 years old it’s it’s
challenging at 30 years old it’s it’s hard and because I know that I want to
hard and because I know that I want to
hard and because I know that I want to live up to my fullest potential I want
live up to my fullest potential I want
live up to my fullest potential I want to be the best human being that I can
to be the best human being that I can
to be the best human being that I can possibly be
possibly be
possibly be and I want to make the best art that I
and I want to make the best art that I
and I want to make the best art that I can but sometimes you have to write just
can but sometimes you have to write just
can but sometimes you have to write just to write and if that turns into
to write and if that turns into
to write and if that turns into something great hone it until it’s the
something great hone it until it’s the
something great hone it until it’s the best that it can be and then eventually
best that it can be and then eventually
best that it can be and then eventually put the paintbrush down put like the
put the paintbrush down put like the
put the paintbrush down put like the final coat of lacquer on the canvas and
final coat of lacquer on the canvas and
final coat of lacquer on the canvas and just walk away and that’s perfect and
just walk away and that’s perfect and
just walk away and that’s perfect and that’s the same love in 2009 when the
that’s the same love in 2009 when the
that’s the same love in 2009 when the the mixtape and and there was a period
the mixtape and and there was a period
the mixtape and and there was a period where I think around that time you were
where I think around that time you were
where I think around that time you were kind of like you know is this something
kind of like you know is this something
kind of like you know is this something that’s gonna work for me or not what is
that’s gonna work for me or not what is
that’s gonna work for me or not what is it that got you through how did you how
it that got you through how did you how
it that got you through how did you how did you work through that yeah I it’s
did you work through that yeah I it’s
did you work through that yeah I it’s tough to say exactly what I think it was
tough to say exactly what I think it was
tough to say exactly what I think it was hard work it was it was discipline it
hard work it was it was discipline it
hard work it was it was discipline it was knowing that if this doesn’t work
was knowing that if this doesn’t work
was knowing that if this doesn’t work out then I will have to get a
out then I will have to get a
out then I will have to get a nine-to-five
nine-to-five
nine-to-five and I don’t want to do I really don’t
and I don’t want to do I really don’t
and I don’t want to do I really don’t gonna do that and it was it was working
gonna do that and it was it was working
gonna do that and it was it was working with Ryan and putting everything into
with Ryan and putting everything into
with Ryan and putting everything into the music and you know for I mean
the music and you know for I mean
the music and you know for I mean leading up to that point I think that
leading up to that point I think that
leading up to that point I think that you have to look at my track record I
you have to look at my track record I
you have to look at my track record I had always wanted to get sober I could
had always wanted to get sober I could
had always wanted to get sober I could never get sober
never get sober
never get sober I wasn’t that I couldn’t make music
I wasn’t that I couldn’t make music
I wasn’t that I couldn’t make music while I was under the influence of drugs
while I was under the influence of drugs
while I was under the influence of drugs or alcohol finally got sober in 2008 got
or alcohol finally got sober in 2008 got
or alcohol finally got sober in 2008 got out of rehab and was like alright this
out of rehab and was like alright this
out of rehab and was like alright this is it I’ve wasted years of my life and
is it I’ve wasted years of my life and
is it I’ve wasted years of my life and if this is going to work it has to work
if this is going to work it has to work
if this is going to work it has to work now there’s no alternative and I met
now there’s no alternative and I met
now there’s no alternative and I met somebody that had the same dedication is
somebody that had the same dedication is
somebody that had the same dedication is me that put everything into the music
me that put everything into the music
me that put everything into the music everything into the craft and didn’t go
everything into the craft and didn’t go
everything into the craft and didn’t go out and didn’t really have many friends
just kidding just kidding huh well you
just kidding just kidding huh well you only hang out with each other no it’s
only hang out with each other no it’s
only hang out with each other no it’s somebody that wasn’t gonna you know be
somebody that wasn’t gonna you know be
somebody that wasn’t gonna you know be like you know I was up in to that point
like you know I was up in to that point
like you know I was up in to that point I was making musical people that were
I was making musical people that were
I was making musical people that were constantly putting their priorities into
constantly putting their priorities into
constantly putting their priorities into getting cooler people getting no not at
getting cooler people getting no not at
getting cooler people getting no not at all yeah getting um getting loaded or
all yeah getting um getting loaded or
all yeah getting um getting loaded or chasing women or whatever and that’s
chasing women or whatever and that’s
chasing women or whatever and that’s what I did for a long time and it didn’t
what I did for a long time and it didn’t
what I did for a long time and it didn’t it led me to being broken and rehab and
it led me to being broken and rehab and
it led me to being broken and rehab and move him back into my parents house
move him back into my parents house
move him back into my parents house which is awesome but I I wanted a career
which is awesome but I I wanted a career
which is awesome but I I wanted a career in in Ryan was somebody that had the
in in Ryan was somebody that had the
in in Ryan was somebody that had the same discipline yeah and and sacrificed
same discipline yeah and and sacrificed
same discipline yeah and and sacrificed everything did you ever want to just
everything did you ever want to just
everything did you ever want to just give up on your dream yes earlier today
give up on your dream yes earlier today
give up on your dream yes earlier today it happens all the time
it happens all the time
it happens all the time that’s kind of part of being an artist I
that’s kind of part of being an artist I
that’s kind of part of being an artist I feel like is being challenged to push
feel like is being challenged to push
feel like is being challenged to push through those moments of like is this
through those moments of like is this
through those moments of like is this what I’m supposed to do and the people
what I’m supposed to do and the people
what I’m supposed to do and the people that succeed and the people that make it
that succeed and the people that make it
that succeed and the people that make it in the music industry I think that never
in the music industry I think that never
in the music industry I think that never goes away as something that you kind of
goes away as something that you kind of
goes away as something that you kind of always are fighting and working against
always are fighting and working against
always are fighting and working against that’s the process of being an artist I
that’s the process of being an artist I
that’s the process of being an artist I just worked my ass off in my road and
just worked my ass off in my road and
just worked my ass off in my road and Kent’s writing checks recording I wasn’t
Kent’s writing checks recording I wasn’t
Kent’s writing checks recording I wasn’t great going into something like that out
great going into something like that out
great going into something like that out crass
I got out of college
I got out of college outliers by Malcolm
this book examines right now that what
this book examines right now that what makes this place as it’s not about what
makes this place as it’s not about what
makes this place as it’s not about what should local deserve by the talented
should local deserve by the talented
should local deserve by the talented should water with its about the habits
should water with its about the habits
should water with its about the habits that she’s put into that time and he
that she’s put into that time and he
that she’s put into that time and he says that around if you like a master
says that around if you like a master
says that around if you like a master whatever it is that you love to do if
whatever it is that you love to do if
whatever it is that you love to do if you want to develop that craftsman
you want to develop that craftsman
you want to develop that craftsman sexually she’d have to do his work you
sexually she’d have to do his work you
sexually she’d have to do his work you had to work a lot
had to work a lot
had to work a lot our Z says that if you put in around
our Z says that if you put in around
our Z says that if you put in around 10,000 hours it’s about one thing that
10,000 hours it’s about one thing that
10,000 hours it’s about one thing that eventually you master
hip-hop in Seattle in the late 90s was
hip-hop in Seattle in the late 90s was grunge music it was it was very
grunge music it was it was very
grunge music it was it was very different it was a very small scene
different it was a very small scene
different it was a very small scene there’s a couple hundred people versus
there’s a couple hundred people versus
there’s a couple hundred people versus you know it’s very different now and we
you know it’s very different now and we
you know it’s very different now and we would we didn’t have a place to perform
would we didn’t have a place to perform
would we didn’t have a place to perform you know there there was no venues
you know there there was no venues
you know there there was no venues there’s no people to fill the venues if
there’s no people to fill the venues if
there’s no people to fill the venues if we could book the venues so what we did
we could book the venues so what we did
we could book the venues so what we did was we did poetry readings and really
was we did poetry readings and really
was we did poetry readings and really what that was was his acapella raps but
what that was was his acapella raps but
what that was was his acapella raps but you know those took place on Mondays and
you know those took place on Mondays and
you know those took place on Mondays and a lot of people would get together a lot
a lot of people would get together a lot
a lot of people would get together a lot of people being like 15 20 people and
of people being like 15 20 people and
of people being like 15 20 people and and spit each other raps that they’ve
and spit each other raps that they’ve
and spit each other raps that they’ve been working on that week and that was a
been working on that week and that was a
been working on that week and that was a place that we honed our skills on a
place that we honed our skills on a
place that we honed our skills on a stage and I don’t know if anybody out
stage and I don’t know if anybody out
stage and I don’t know if anybody out there is a performer but I hate it’s a
there is a performer but I hate it’s a
there is a performer but I hate it’s a lot more challenging to perform in front
lot more challenging to perform in front
lot more challenging to perform in front of 15 people acapella than it is for
of 15 people acapella than it is for
of 15 people acapella than it is for 20,000 people it’s a lot more intimate
20,000 people it’s a lot more intimate
20,000 people it’s a lot more intimate and that got me to a place of
and that got me to a place of
and that got me to a place of performance where I felt comfortable and
performance where I felt comfortable and
performance where I felt comfortable and was able to then transition that into
was able to then transition that into
was able to then transition that into the stage but it was an imperative part
the stage but it was an imperative part
the stage but it was an imperative part of my process to be grateful be happy
of my process to be grateful be happy
of my process to be grateful be happy and enjoy this because it’s not promised
and enjoy this because it’s not promised
and enjoy this because it’s not promised who knows where we’re gonna be in a year
who knows where we’re gonna be in a year
who knows where we’re gonna be in a year two years three years we’re at this
two years three years we’re at this
two years three years we’re at this position now and I don’t want to look
position now and I don’t want to look
position now and I don’t want to look back and be like you had it all and you
back and be like you had it all and you
back and be like you had it all and you weren’t even present for it you weren’t
weren’t even present for it you weren’t
weren’t even present for it you weren’t able to enjoy it I want to be here be
able to enjoy it I want to be here be
able to enjoy it I want to be here be now and and be grateful thank you so
now and and be grateful thank you so
now and and be grateful thank you so much for watching I made this video
much for watching I made this video
much for watching I made this video because Ana young asked me to so if
because Ana young asked me to so if
because Ana young asked me to so if there’s a famous entrepreneur that you
there’s a famous entrepreneur that you
there’s a famous entrepreneur that you want me to profile next leave it in the
want me to profile next leave it in the
want me to profile next leave it in the comments below and I’ll see what I can
comments below and I’ll see what I can
comments below and I’ll see what I can do I’d also love to know which of
do I’d also love to know which of
do I’d also love to know which of macklemore’s top 10 rules had the
macklemore’s top 10 rules had the
macklemore’s top 10 rules had the biggest impact on you which one did you
biggest impact on you which one did you
biggest impact on you which one did you like the most
like the most
like the most leave it in the comments and I’ll join
leave it in the comments and I’ll join
leave it in the comments and I’ll join the discussion thank you so much for
the discussion thank you so much for
the discussion thank you so much for watching continue to believe and I’ll
watching continue to believe and I’ll
watching continue to believe and I’ll see you soon
”
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