WORDS FOR A YOUNG MUSICIAN/ASPIRING RAPPER

Everything's on time and on point. Show up on time, go on stage on time and end on time. And if you're on time, you're late. Whoever is giving you money for your services, consider them your boss. This is not a boss-less industry.

Every show is your last show.

Treat covers like someone's daughter. Treat them nice, show respect, have a good time and take them back to where you picked them up. They don't belong to you. You can't make them your own. If you want to make it, you'll have to write your own material.

No matter how great you think you are, there's one of you per everything 100,000 people. That means there's approximately 3,500 of you in this country alone. If you're not that good, you're odds are even worse. And at the end of the day, the greatest artists don't always make it. Sometimes Andy Warhol and his screens take all the cheese.

Radio means nothing. It's all about live performance.

Industry rule #4080. Do the knowledge.

Rappers are a dying breed. If you're just beginning, you're late. If you're still trying, you're done.

The world needs more great harmonica players.

No one owes you anything. Be humbled by applause. Show gratitude and carry yourself with tact and gracefulness.

Stay healthy. You'll spend enough time dodging leeches and vampires that the last thing you need are poisons in your system.

Never forget those who got you there.

Merchandise is the key to revenue. Ask Gene Simmons and Insane Clown Posse.

Always study. Always practice. Always push forward. Someone is always trying to knock you off. Average recording careers last .3 albums. It's more likely that your career will be over before you even record an album.

Get off your high horse and do your damn thing.

Roll with criticism. Hear it. Learn from it. You are not perfect.

They'll go easy on you at first. Know that the praise will soon rotten.

Don't swear on stage unless it's in the lyrics. In fact, don't speak on stage unless it's in the lyrics.

Focus on your art first and always. Everything else will fall into place.

No one hands out respect. It has to be earned. As a musician, there are absolutely no exceptions to this rule. And, remember, respect doesn't come from being a good musician.