It’s Not The World’s Job
I can’t remember the last time I stayed up until midnight to listen to a new album, but that’s exactly what I did for Russ’s Santiago. While I waited for the album to drop, I turned on his podcast interview with Zane Lowe, and early in the conversation, he dropped a gem that immediately jumped out to me…
“It’s not hip-hop’s job to reaffirm what I already believe.”
That quote hit me hard.
When I heard it, I backed the convo up so I could hear it again. Then, I backed it up again so I could write it down correctly. And then, I texted a couple of friends and took to social media to share it.
As I listened to Russ describe the freedom he found when he realized he didn’t need hip-hop–listeners, the industry, peers, etc.– to validate what he believed and knew about his Self, I naturally put myself in his shoes. There have been times I’ve felt like I deserved more respect, despite having everything I need and more—including accolades and respect from my peers, but I try to remain focused on my internal happiness and definition of success, not the outside world’s.
Russ has had a ton of success as an independent artist–selling out stadiums worldwide, owning all of his music, employing family and friends, 15 albums plus tons of singles, and the respect of some of the top artists in hip-hop, yet he still felt like he didn’t get the respect he felt he deserved and maybe not the sales that reflected who he believed him Self to be.
Russ has a career most artists would trade places with in a heartbeat, yet he felt frustration, anger, and the inability to fully enjoy his accomplishments and journey.
And, I’m sure at some point in your life, you’ve felt the same way about some aspect of your life.
Maybe your career.
Maybe your relationships.
Maybe other initiatives.
Eventually, Russ realized that he didn’t need to industry to confirm the confidence he had in his Self as an artist, producer, and businessman. Take Russ’s lead, and don’t look for the world to reaffirm what you already believe about your Self—just like it’s not hip-hop’s job to reaffirm Russ, it’s not the world’s job to reaffirm you.
If you’ve listened to Russ’s music, heard him in an interview, or read his book, It’s All In Your Head, you’ll know he’s always had a strong belief in his Self–he had to in order to accomplish what he has accomplished in his career. But, as I listened to the album, I got the feeling that most of the confidence was real, but some of it was to silence the lack of respect he felt from hip-hop.
Until he realized he didn’t need hip-hop to tell him what he already knew– finally, his happiness finally came from within.
The Russ I saw on Zane Lowe’s podcast was not the Russ of old, and as he shared how he arrived at Santiago, which is an album based on Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, I could see the Santiago in him–if you’ve never read The Alchemist, Santiago is the main character of the book who goes on a journey to discover his Personal Legend. The Alchemist is a special book for me and many others, so even if I weren’t a fan of Russ’s, I’d be excited to hear his interpretation of his journey to find his Personal Legend.
I don’t know where on his journey to find his Personal Legend Russ realized he didn’t need hip-hop to reaffirm what he already believed, but I’m glad he did, and I have to believe the respect and affirmation he was once looking for in the past is about to come with Santiago–funny how that works.
Once he released his need for hip-hop to show its respect, it’s about to come in a way much greater than he could have ever imagined.
“Thinking that I got a broken version of success until I realized this is the version that I’m supposed to get.”-Russ, Adventure
See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,
JC
