What does being a Black male entertainer mean today?

Your vision for the word entrepreneurship may be somewhat skewed.  In your mind you may hear the words “I just wanna be successful.” However, what that meant before you entered the industry may have taken on a completely different meaning. Who are you, and where your voice stands amongst society has taken an even bigger role. You now find yourself trapped between what sells, and what feels. You pay homage to those before you, by splurging on things that justify that you’ve “officially made it.” New whips, expensive clothes, beautiful women, and racks on racks on racks all exemplify the lifestyle you must live. This is what speaks to America of how successful you’ve become. It’s important that you maintain a certain sense of egotism at all times, because without it, you may be afraid that your talent alone doesn’t seem to hold enough weight.

Chances are, you’ve come from little to nothing. You brag about everything you’ve ever overcome, but there’s just one subject you can’t touch, and that’s homosexuality.  Despite how much you’ve had to overcome in life, this one particular topic could make or break your career. You’re trained to be an entertainer. Which means at some point when your true business plan should have kicked in, it was overshadowed by the words success and ingenuity. Two things that slightly contradict each other, and probably shouldn’t exist  in the same sentence. Who are you to society? Often more times than not, a Black male who’s “made it,” but often more times than not hasn’t made up his mind about what he wants to contribute to society. It’s very likely that you may have forgotten that what you are creating, represents something much bigger than you. As a rapper, unless you are amongst the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Common, and Mos Def’s, you’ve definitely lost sight of your message. You’ve lost sight of the word “role model” because you believe that what you’re saying doesn’t represent something much bigger than you. You’ve lost sight of what doing you, really means, somewhere between your first success story, and living to tell your success stories.

Somehow through all of this, you’ve overlooked the machine, and how it’s manufactured you. To be something you never were, something you never really wanted to be, but something you ended up being because it was your key to success. And just in case you’re still unsure of what success really means, here’s a great example. Maya Angelou once said, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” Now that you have a clearer vision, ask yourself what does success really mean to you?

To my brothers, particularly African-American male entertainers. Take back your power. You deserve so much more than what you are. Our kids need you. Our society needs you. The future of the African-American culture depends on you. Self hatred is no longer an option. Your culture and your identity is beautiful in every single way. In fact, even what you do in your lowest moments, has the power to help someone reach their highest moments in life. Start your own. And by that, “Money Bag Entertainment” does not equate to what those before you have worked for you to become. You’re being watched at every moment. But what you should never forget is, being an entertainer has never meant, “making a fool of yourself.”

African AmericanBlackChief KeefEntertainmentHip HopSelf HatredTCTThe Machine