Hip Hop & Hustle: An Intersection for Inspiration Worth Celebrating
Hip-hop is now officially 50 years old. Want to guess where it was born? Yes, right here in New York City.
My teenage years introduced me to the wonderful world of DJing. And through that journey came the introduction to the wonderful world of the hip-hop community which was very good to me. I met so many people from so many walks of life. I heard so many stories from so many walks of life. I saw so much creativity in both the music and its far-reaching impact on fashion and culture at the time from so many walks of life. Hip hop was (and I believe still is) a reflection of this amazing city.
As I reflect on hip-hop’s 50th birthday, it has become clear to me why NYC was its birthplace. New York City is the place where “if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.” It’s the “concrete jungle where dreams are made of.” It’s the patchwork canvas of inspiration, frustration, inequities, opportunities, challenges, injustices, and dreams. Simply put, it’s the home of hustle. Fairly or unfairly, sink or swim.
There is no better language that captures the spirit of hustle than hip-hop.
I’ve bootstrapped a business over the last two decades in this city, and the city is a central character in the development of my agency’s story. New York City has been an incredibly rewarding but complicated place, and on countless occasions I have turned to the inspiration and wisdom in the lyrics of hip-hop to make sense of this crazy journey.
Writing is therapy for me and it’s often my own personal force in getting my creative juices flowing. So join me, as I dig in the crates to go back and tap into the wisdom I found through the world of hip hop by revisiting the breakthrough album released in 1991 by the illustrious group A Tribe Called Quest titled The Low End Theory.
It captured the realities (not the romances) of the hustle and they are the lyrics I catch myself humming in my brain to this day!
“Believe that if you wanna but I tell you this much
Riding on the train with no dough, sucks.”
(Song: Buggin Out)
When I was about 18 years old, I was DJing in NYC nightclubs. It was a great way to make money (and have some fun) but a terrible commute. I remember making my way back to my girlfriend’s (now wife!) house around 4 am when my shift would end. I would take the 1/9 train downtown to South Ferry, followed by a ferry ride that left once an hour from Manhattan to Staten Island. After that, I would then take the x48 bus down Forrest Avenue. This commute took me at least two full hours, but it only cost about $6 if my memory serves me right. I grew up broke and this commute was my reality — it’s all I knew but even then, I knew it sucked. Two things are equally true about this city: you can do a lot with a little, and even still, it sucks to be broke. The pain, frustration, and embarrassment in financial distress I wish upon no one. So, yes, riding on the train with no dough certainly sucks.
“Industry rule number four thousand and eighty
Record company people are shady.”
(Song: Check the Rhime)
When I was in my mid-20's, I took a stab at working in the entertainment industry. I met countless people — including some remarkably kind mentors — that have had a profound impact on my life. Without those mentors, I wouldn’t be in business today. At the same time, I met some incredibly sweaty people that made me want to take a shower after a single conversation. The entertainment business is rooted in “faking it ’til you make it.” It’s a high-risk, high-reward business with very little space to break through. I can’t tell you the number of times I walked away from conversations at industry events humming record company people are shady under my breath…
“A-yo, Bo knows this (what?) And Bo knows that (what?) But Bo don’t know jack, ’cause Bo can’t rap”
(Song: Scenario)
I will be the first to admit on any given day: I have truly no idea what I’m doing. I’m not embarrassed to admit that because it’s an essential truth to growth and to paving new ground for myself. This is why I break down a bit when I cross paths with know-it-alls: “You know what you need to do Damian…” and then fill in the blank with an overconfident piece of advice that gives no oxygen for understanding the scale of the issue. I have amazing mentors who know running a business in this city is complex and their advice is often rooted in asking me questions to help find a path to explore rather than preaching their opinions.
“Cause where I come from, quality is job one
And everybody up on Linden know we get the job done”
(Song: Jazz (we got))
If there is one consistent theme in hip hop that resonated with me the most, it’s that without respect, you have no foundation for true success. As I’ve aged in my career, I know I have a two decade breadcrumb trail that will follow me for the next two decades. I’m only as good as my reputation, and my future success relies on people’s ability to believe that about me. So when I say I’m going to do something, I give everything I have to try and make it happen. I have the childhood grades and test scores to validate my insecurities in my own intellectual capital, but I know I also have the varying emotional bumps, bruises, and scars putting in endless hours until I actually deliver what I promise. I hold this same paranoia today. When clients hire my agency, I want no second-guessing of whether or not “Damian will get the job done.” I hold that responsibility on my shoulders and it’s admittedly a lot to maintain.
“What are the youth if they ain’t rebellin’?
What’s Ralph Kramden, if he ain’t yellin’”
(Song: What?)
When I started this business, I was young. I felt a bit fearless at times, acted a bit recklessly, and was undoubtedly rebellious to the way the world presented itself to me. I like to think I was at least respectfully rebellious since I’ve never had much respect for people who act like jerks no matter how justified they think they are in their actions. Now, well, let’s just say I’m no longer considered the “young one.” I think we can all agree that surrounding ourselves with new ideas and perspectives is paramount to our personal and professional growth. Yet, as long as I’ve been in business, there is never a shortage of headlines and commentary complaining about the entitlement of the youth in this country. Today, I’m surrounded by amazing young people and the energy it creates for progress is palpable and should be celebrated, not muffled! For my older friends reading this article — you too were once young and (I would bet) played the role of rebel plenty of times. If age brings wisdom then lets say youth brings hustle.
As hip-hop turns 50, in my mind, it’s still the soundtrack of this amazing city and the hustle in all of us.
PS. NY Times did a great piece on the history of hip hop from the artists themselves which I highly recommend.
PPS. NYC Tourism + Conventions have outlined a whole bunch of ways you can celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop through the city which I highly recommend.
PPPS. And if you read this far in the story, you must be a hip hop fan. Here is a little trivia for you to spice up your day. It’s a live set I recorded using my old 1200’s to see if I could stump a colleague who is a hip hop historian… it’s about 34 songs in about 11 minutes… he nailed 98% of the songs by artist and title. Can you beat that score?
