When I think about why I make beats, it’s not to make money but instead to make music. I get a kick out of making music with beats software for the sole fact that I can do like a painter and create a thing where there was once nothing.
That might sound esoteric, but it’s true. When you love something so much it’s easy to do it for free. By doing it so much you naturally get better at it.
But let’s talk facts, most people make beats because they are hoping to find a client to buy beats from them. Now I don’t hate on anyone for trying to make a living as long as they are honest. It has been my observation that those that make beats for the sheer joy of making your music are the ones who not only enjoy it much more, but are more successful at selling their beats. This is because they have honesty and integrity in their sales pitch.
You can learn how to make hip hop beats and buy software to make beats but you cant fool people into thinking a junk beat is good.
It doesn’t matter if you learn to make beats on the computer or make beats online, if you can’t portray a passion for your work, no one will want it.
The best advice I can give to someone who wants to make a living making hip hop beats is for them to learn to let go of their ego and concentrate on their skills as honestly as possible.
I go to a lot of beat maker forums and I see these people, mostly kids really, so vain and egotistical about their abilities that they stunt their own growth in learning how to make music. The put so much pressure on themselves to produce a banger every time and they get their feelings hurt and lash out if someone criticizes them.
Some of you out there need to take a breath and focus on the goal. Do you want to spend your time making better beats or arguing with someone over whether or not your mix was as clean as it could be?
Also remember that good beat feedback can look like hate. Don’t let your ego blind you to the very information that can take you to the next level.
Learn to make beats for your own ear to enjoy, not for your ego. If you make beats for your ego, it means that you will be looking for people’s compliments at every turn. You upload to soundclick or youtube hoping to get someone to notice and tell you what a great music maker you are.
Now I’m not saying never share your music, it’s actually an important part of your growth as an artist. At least understand that that you will always get a hater from time to time. What counts is your ability to take the hit of criticism, process it and continue.
If you think you need to put on a character, as is the norm in hip hop music, don’t forget to be the real you when you are privately reading responses to your music. Stay humble and focused. Do it for the love so that making beats stays fun and doesn’t feel like work, the rest will come naturally.
