Hip-Hop: A Hobby or Profession?

At what point do you become detached to the very same thing you love? Mr. Sobek says that we all have become attached to various aspects in our lives. The effect of such attachments often leaves us confused. What am I talking about? In this case, I'm referring to hip-hop.

For instance, at what point do you stop chasing dreams and start focusing on reality? This is an invisible problem that I am beginning to notice in the hip-hop industry.

There are a disparate number of musicians who have spent a good portion of their lives trying to "make it" in the hip-hop industry. At the end of the night, all they have to show for their efforts is their music and a job (just over broke).

I have an associate in the industry who has his own studio, a nice house, and even has an independent album he just cut. The sharp contrast is that he is a pharmacist. He has recently joined a hip-hop band; moreover, he enjoys entertaining patrons and kicking his old school, organic brand of hip-hop. When he's not on stage, he's working twelve hour shifts at the local pharmacy, sleep or in the studio. However, it seems evident where his main focus is (on his profession, not his hobby).

On the contrary, we have plenty of hip-hop artists that have college degrees (i.e. money spent and owed), but spend more time enhancing their hip-hop careers than the career they spent 5 figures into. Do you think Sallie Mae cares about their insatiable desire to "blow up?"

Now, if you have no degree or viable profession (and no kids), you can afford to go full speed ahead in your quest to become financially successful in the industry. Such is not the case for me.

I graduate in May and told my music constituents a long time ago if nothing gave by the time I graduated, I would be putting all my chips in my Bachelors of Science in Legal Studies. In addition, I have aspirations to attend law school next year. Sure I'll have a studio, and sure I'll be banging out tracks in my spare time. The main point is this: It will be a hobby at best.

Some of you artists are spending tons of money, entering contest, rocking free shows, and have aspirations to "blow," yet in the end, it is no more than this: "An activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation." You could try to say you're a professional musician, but if you have a 9-5, and you mainly rock free shows, you're not fooling me.

Bottom line is some of you have confused a hobby for a profession. Thus, an educated man with a 4 year degree could easily be found working an average job (not even in the field of his degree) but rocking the mic passionately at the local night club. You are not a celebrity my friend. You are attached to something which doesn't give back as much as you've put in. If this blog applies to you, the question is: What will you do now that someone has held you accountable? Don't forget, at the end of the night, Sallie Mae wants that cheese back, and no matter how dope your rhymes are, it will not fulfill your debt so far as you can see. In the words of KRS-One, "You must learn."