One of the hardest things to do is tell a friend or lover that their shit sucks. We all know aspiring artists whether wannabe rappers, singers or whatever. The question is really whether we do them a disservice by nodding our heads like its dope when its mediocre.

This is a sensitive topic for sure. I have been thinking about this for some time and I am still at a loss on how to proceed in all cases.

I do know that the wrong thing to do is show no interest. I been on that side of things. Though if you do offer “constructive criticism” there’s a huge chance that the artist will get all Ralph Tresvant sensitive on you.

Its all very delicate. You don’t want to shit on anyone’s dream and shit for all you know they could be the next Bill Gates, or Lady GAGA. Yeah who saw her actually blowing up?

Im sure her friends were like “B*tch your tripping. What the fu*k? Is that Kermit?”

I also know many talented people that I am afraid just wont be able to find success marketing their talent. The bottom line is that all ADULTS know that you need income to survive. Far too many of my artist friends and associates are so talented (left brained) but totally inept at seeing that they have to be marketable to a certain degree. Talent is not enough.

A few years back I was dating this very talented woman. Her dream was to be a successful fashion designer. It was attractive that she had a vision and was working towards it though some major things about it actually ended up turning me off to her. She designed clothes and had pieces in boutiques around town. She could sew, draw up sketches and all that.

Now the twist is that her designs were good, but not great. And I am pretty sure that they were not great because she did not do her research and was not going at it hard enough. She never been to Paris, Milan, Los Angeles or any other major fashion centers in the world. Her brochures looked amateur at best. In the end I started to question her resolve. Not just that but I also questioned her intelligence because surely one would think that to be big in a field you should at least travel to the Mecca of whatever.

The Two Truths

Every knowable phenomenon has two truths concerning it. In technical language, the two truths share a single essential nature. In other words, they refer to two true aspects of any phenomenon. Each truth may be cognized either nonconceptually or conceptually.

Superficial truths (conventional truth, relative truth) are those phenomena that are findable by a valid cognition scrutinizing what is conventional.

Deepest truths (ultimate truth) are those phenomena that are findable by a valid cognition scrutinizing what is ultimate.

There is also the question regarding whether the artist is using that art as an escape from responsibilities and escape from an ultimate truth about themselves. If one does not fully believe in themselves and resolve to really make it happen then they are lying to themselves. Whether afraid of success or not really prepared to do what it takes at the end of the day if your not going to put your mind to it and really do it then don’t bother.

I work with Artists everyday (ask about me) and my advise to them is this…

Look deep inside your self and find that ultimate truth as to whether you really want it.