Published: Friday - September 19, 2008
Words by Donny Goines
Donny Goines (Photo: Don Michaels)
Today I hired an assistant/intern to help me out with some of things that I need to get done. To be honest I didn't know this guy from a hole in the wall, but his passion won me over and sometimes I feel you have to give people a chance. I remember when Disco D did the same for me.
Sometimes I think, as people, we prejudge others based on many irrelevant things -- the color of their skin, style of clothing, way they speak, etc. This can really prevent you from giving people fair chances in life. Take myself for example, many people think because I wear durags and baggy jeans that I'm unintelligent or a thug, but that is far from the truth. I feel as if certain entities never give me a chance to be heard based on my appearance alone and sometimes it bothers me. I think if I were to wear what everyone else was wearing, then maybe I would be farther in my career, but that's not fair to me at all. Why should I have to dress a certain way to have my songs heard? What does that have to do with my ability to create great music? Another example would be these A&Rs who never give me the chance to be heard because I don't have a "hit" record. What if Diddy used that same logic and never gave Biggie a chance? What if Andre Harrell didn't give Diddy a chance to intern for him? The point I'm trying to make is simple, everybody needs a chance in life sometimes.
This blog is very broad and I really can't touch on everything that I'm thinking about in a couple of paragraphs, but I'm gonna try my best to explain my logic in this one.
No matter what position you are in as an artist, you shouldn't easily dismiss people without giving them a chance. I never dismiss anyone or anything without first giving them a fair opportunity. Producers, artists, businessmen, etc. all deserve a fair chance and who am I not to give it to them? I never put myself above anyone, nor do I think I'm better then them. I look at every person as an individual and at the end of the day they are the ones who will ultimate decide their fate. For example, if a producer's beats are wack, then chances are I won't work with him, but I will at least give him a chance to present them. The fact of the matter is, you don't know what anyone is capable of until you give them the chance to show you. With that being said, I feel that it is EXTREMELY important that you give everyone you can a chance because you would want others to do the same for you.
As for my new assistant, who knows the future holds? He may turn out to be the worst assistant there is, but then again, he may also become the best. If I didn't give him a chance though I would never find out. Until next week people.
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