"Haters" are important. Not in the sense you constantly hear, you know, not because they make you popular or give you something to rap about.
No, they're important because they keep you grounded, they let you know what you need to work on. Too many times hip hop artists become defiant against "haters," say they brush them off, and say you're only hating because the artist is successful. I guess sometimes that is the case, but usually that "hater" has a legitimate reason to dislike the music. So in that sense, lets drop the term "hater," let's call them "critics." Without criticism, it is very difficult to improve and to grow. I understand it is impossible to create music that is universally liked, but it is important to get a third party opinion of what you are creating. Your objective is to make good music, so if a lot of people "hate" it, that's not good, right? You should be gathering reasons why people dislike what you're doing, and if it is legitimate and the change they are calling for is within your means and maintains your musical integrity, then apply their "hate" in some way to improve your next creations. I'm not advocating giving in to other tastes and pressures, I'm saying have some thick skin, quit dismissing legitimate opinions, and use critical feedback to inspire positive changes in your work. Don't just filter out criticism to make room for only praise and compliments. That leads to a very short ceiling.
No, they're important because they keep you grounded, they let you know what you need to work on. Too many times hip hop artists become defiant against "haters," say they brush them off, and say you're only hating because the artist is successful. I guess sometimes that is the case, but usually that "hater" has a legitimate reason to dislike the music. So in that sense, lets drop the term "hater," let's call them "critics." Without criticism, it is very difficult to improve and to grow. I understand it is impossible to create music that is universally liked, but it is important to get a third party opinion of what you are creating. Your objective is to make good music, so if a lot of people "hate" it, that's not good, right? You should be gathering reasons why people dislike what you're doing, and if it is legitimate and the change they are calling for is within your means and maintains your musical integrity, then apply their "hate" in some way to improve your next creations. I'm not advocating giving in to other tastes and pressures, I'm saying have some thick skin, quit dismissing legitimate opinions, and use critical feedback to inspire positive changes in your work. Don't just filter out criticism to make room for only praise and compliments. That leads to a very short ceiling.
-Prototype (Lee)
