Underpaid Or Overrated?

In the song “So Appalled” on Kanye West’s album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Jay-Z asks, “but would you rather be underpaid or overrated?”

I remember the first time I listened to the song–those lyrics jumped out at me immediately and they have stuck with me through the years. I periodically think about what my answer would be, even if I haven’t listened to the song, and this morning the line reemerged in my meditation. But this time I explored Jay’s words in a different light–one I’d never explored before.

If I had to guess, Jay-Z (and I) would expect most listeners to initially jump to “overrated” as their answer; the answer of “overrated” makes an important assumption though–that by being “overrated” you are overpaid, or at least appropriately paid, which is the opposite of the other option given to the listener—I think is safe to assume. Despite what The Notorious B.I.G. told us, more money is a better option than less money (for the non-hip-hop fans, The Notorious B.I.G. had a hit song called “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems”) for most people.

If you are “underrated”, you are underappreciated. And, if you are underappreciated, you most likely are not able to earn your full value and therefore underpaid. With this assumption, when given the choice of being overpaid or underpaid, most of us would choose overpaid—aka overrated. 

BUT…

Jay-Z didn’t ask if we’d rather be overpaid or underpaid—he specifically asked if we would rather be underpaid or overrated.

Jay is a lyricist, meaning he carefully chooses his words. It’s not a mistake, coincidence, or chance he chose to ask us about being underpaid and not underrated. He was asking us a much deeper question…one that I had only thought about on the surface until today.

I’ve always arrived at the answer that I’d rather be underpaid than overrated. While I value financial security and have goals of making more money, it’s never been the main motivation for anything I’ve done. I’ve always been more interested in doing quality work, treating people right, putting my best efforts out into the world, and allowing the chips to fall where they may. I also have a stubborn belief that if I consistently do all of the above, then recognition will come and money, if that is a part of the equation, will work itself out.

For me, the thought of being underrated, via the assumption we make with being underpaid, was always a short-term identity because I’d eventually earn the respect, appreciation, and compensation I deserved. I believe I can go from underrated to appropriately rated and compensated. (I just wrote my first legit bar.)

The thought of being overpaid was something I never wanted to experience because I never wanted to be viewed as overrated. I’m sure someone may consider me overrated, but I don’t see myself that way and it’s not an adjective I’d like to see next to my name. 

But again, Jay-Z asked us if we want to be overrated, not overpaid, or underrated.

As I sat with the assumptions I’ve always made with Jay’s words, I realized that maybe the real question was how do we define success? Is it through money or opinions? 

The hidden question I found this morning was do I determine my success by how much I’m paid or by what others think about me?

And this is where my answer of underrated is challenged by my own words, and it’s also where I don’t know how I’d answer Jay-Z’s question anymore.

In previous notes, podcasts, and videos I’ve discussed that living your authentic life means you find happiness from within–you are living the life not to appease anyone else but to make your Self happy and experience the unique life that was meant for you. It’s not about living to influence the opinions of others.

So whether you view yourself as underrated or overrated (or underpaid or overpaid) is irrelevant because it is based on the opinions and thoughts of others, which shouldn’t matter when living your authentic life. The answer of underrated no longer aligns with how I am trying to live my authentic life as it leads me toward living for others and not my Self.

At the same time, the thought of being overpaid is challenged because living your authentic life should not be primarily focused on money–using money as the benchmark of success rarely leads to a happy life. Just look at all of the unhappy “rich” people in the world.

After this morning, I’ve come to the conclusion that the optimal answer to Jay-Z’s question would be one Ram Dass would appreciate:

Neither. I’d rather just “be”.

I’ll admit, the answer to just “be” is a hard one to settle on. It’s too open-ended and undefined, and no matter how in touch with our spirit and mind we are, as humans we seek a concrete answer. 

Going forward whenever the lyrics reappear and I think about how I would answer Jay-Z, I’ll initially continue to lean towards being underrated but will acknowledge the flaw in my answer and remind myself to just “be”.

So, if you’re having dinner with Jay-Z and the question comes up, how are you answering? And more importantly, WHY is that your answer?

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC