When you're first starting out, it's easy to be swayed by public opinion. Whether you're an artist looking to break into the music scene or an entrepreneur hoping to get your business off the ground, you're bound to seek the advice of those in the know. Hear what they have to say, but don't allow their thoughts to steer you away from being true to yourself. He writes (and raps) about poverty, violence and corruption - the very things he experienced on the streets of Compton.
Take, for example, Levi's, which has built its 165-year-old brand on a platform of authenticity.īrands need to be equally steadfast, eschewing the desire to be all things to all people and focusing instead on that which sets them apart from the sea of sameness. Its promise of selling durable denim enabled the brand to become the clothing of choice among the working class and, ultimately, sub-cultures of young people throughout the decades. Related: 10 Tips for Creating the Perfect Social Media Content for Your Brand 2. When other go right, go left.Įverybody tends to get into a groove and stick with it.
Artists who take risks, constantly reinvent themselves ( Lady Gaga learned this from Madonna) and challenge themselves to do it differently each outing (Prince subscribed to this approach), are the ones who keep fans engaged and carve out staying power. In 2016, when Lamar released the surprise album untitled unmastered on iTunes and streaming platforms, he sold more than 178,000 copies the first week. While there's nothing new about surprise albums, Lamar's was unique in that it was comprised of raw material that didn't make his preceding No. 1 album, To Pimp A Butterfly.Įntrepreneurs would likely never push an "unfinished" product into the consumer marketplace, but the lesson to be learned here is to be brave, challenge convention, and innovate.
Just consider Blockbuster, which failed to innovate as upstart Netflix shipped DVDs to consumers' homes. By resting on its laurels, Blockbuster dug its own grave, allowing Netflix to become the nearly $12 billion company it is today.ĭespite all of his success, Lamar remains humble and true to his origins. This quality of never forgetting where he came from and maintaining that genuine voice of the people is, in large part, what keeps him on top. And he encourages others to do the same in his popular song, "Be Humble." Entrepreneurs who taste success should keep this to heart, for the minute they lose touch with where they came from and allow ego to take over, they will lose the audience that fell in love with their product or service to begin with. Related: Why You Should Launch a Brand, Not a Product 4. In his song "Cut You Off (To Grow Closer)," Lamar professes, "If I speak the good into existence, that instant my dreams will unlock." He recognized early on the power of karma and that what you put out in the world comes back to you. And it has had great impact on people's impressions of the man, not just his music.įrom his support of the Black Lives Matter movement and condemnation of racial violence (which his 2018 Grammys performance spotlighted) to donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to Compton's school programs to participating in the Global Citizen movement, aimed at ending extreme poverty by 2030, Lamar's altruism reaches far and wide.
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