3.12.2021
Many years ago I had this awesome idea to combine my love of hip-hop with my love of typography. By producing typographic posters using lyric quotes that I thought were aspirational, inspiring or captured some some sort of profound wisdom. Then I could sell these posters making myself extremely successful and wealthy. Perfect right? Shortly thereafter I learned that selling other peoples work as your own is potentially worthy of a copyright lawsuit and abandoned the idea.
That being said there was still something special about the base concept of the idea. Growing up listening to the amazing lyricism and artful storytelling of my favourite artists always provided a way for me to learn from my heroes. I’d go as far to say it helped instil some of the principles I live by. Through their music, I’ve been able to learn from their life lessons, insights of wisdom and share values and feelings, with people I’ve never met. Pretty much everyone has some sort of connection with music. That connection is often extremely difficult to put into words. The idea for lyric posters was a way in which I hoped to share my connection. Perhaps others would feel a way about the content like me? Or maybe I could just give people decorative positive affirmations they could hang in their home.
Fast forward a few years in my career and I learned that some of my heroes have their heroes. People who have inspired them to think the way they do. People who have helped them to learn life lessons and avoid failures. One day I realised that there is a whole world of - would you believe it - Books. For years I proudly declared that ‘I never read books.’ Perhaps it's because I am mildly-moderately dyslexic and dismissing it seemed cooler than admitting that I’m terribly slow at reading. I’m not quite sure.
After reading The 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris, I discovered a whole world of personal development gurus on a mission to help others achieve more with their lives. Sharing their tips and processes for health, wealth, happiness, success or spiritual enlightenment. Ever since I’ve been hooked!
A close friend and I regularly share our reading lists. Talking about things we’ve learned along with the ideas and thoughts inspired through our reading. Often I ask the question ‘Do you think we know it all and now we’re just jerking ourselves off? By continuing to read more are we self-affirming our already existing beliefs? Not becoming any wiser or productive?’ We’ve discussed this in-depth over many late nights and never really come to a solid answer. So if you think you have. Please, let me know. One thing we can agree on, is that continuing to read content of this nature does at the least provide a continuing source of inspiration and motivation. Which as I see it, can only be a positive thing.
“Do you think we know it all and now we’re just jerking ourselves off? By continuing to read more are we self-affirming our already existing beliefs? Not becoming any wiser or productive?”
Recently I got into Mark Manson's book - The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, and found myself thinking “Yup I'm familiar with these concepts” and “This formula feels familiar.” What stood out to me though, is how Manson has re-interpreted some existing well-established concepts and put his spin and his insight on them. As a result he breaks down some of the barriers that could otherwise dissuade people from reading this type of material. By changing the language and applying his lens, he makes the information accessible and interesting to a new audience.
Recently I was boarding a flight to return to Melbourne from Sydney. Waiting at the gate in the airport and rushing to get something downloaded to my phone for some inflight entertainment. Scrolling through audible recommended books a name and title caught my attention. In big bold letters, it read RICK ROSS - THE PERFECT DAY TO BOSS UP - A HUSTLERS GUIDE TO BUILDING YOUR EMPIRE. If you know your hip-hop - which I do - you know the name - Rick Ross. Immediately the bars from one of my favourite songs Devil in a New Dress by Kanye West featuring Rick Ross played in my head “I shed a tear before the night’s over, God bless the man I put this ice over, Getting 2Pac money twice over.” I was thinking thinking; “Well shit I wanna build an empire, I’m ready to 'boss up.' Gimme that 2Pac Money!”
This book! I couldn’t stop listening to it, every opportunity I had and plug it. As a hip-hop fan it was so engaging. At times it even had me laughing out loud. As with Mark Manson’s book the material and formula may not have been brand new for me. That doesn’t make it any less impactful or groundbreaking for someone else that needs to hear it. Ross’s spin on it and the references to the rap game and figures that I’ve followed for years. I felt as though I got a piece of that wisdom and knowledge I wanted to share on lyric posters all those years ago.
When I was done I took a screenshot and gave the rapper a shout out on IG. A friend of mine asked me if it was any good? So I hit him with a summary which I’ll share with you here.
Don’t take this crudely formed summary as your judgement though. If you wanna 'Boss Up' get the facts from the boss himself. Or anyone that you admire for that matter. As long as you are in pursuit of positive change I support it.