My Son Thinks He's The Next Eminem (1 Viewer)

[Johnny Rock]

He will be graduating High School in the spring. We've tried to be supportive of his dream but it's hard.

For his 18th birthday we bought him a nice digital camcorder because I've been asking him for a long time to record something, anything, so he can put himself out there. He finally recorded something this weekend. I'll try to get it posted, hopefully in the next week or two as I know he wants to edit it still and then place the track back over the video since the sound on the camcorder wasn't balanced.

He's a bright kid and we know he needs to make his own decisions and mistakes, but judging how he answers our questions he hasn't thought much of it through in a realistic way. Less than a year ago he said when he turned 18 he was going to move to Detroit. Okay. This is a kid who lives in a small town in MN that is probably 99% white and he'd never rapped before except in the hallway at school a few times. I told him I'll drop you off in Minneapolis on Lake Street then come back and pick you up in an hour or two. We'll see how that works out.

Another point for illustration is that his friend who had heard him rap knows some rap group in the Twin Cities and my son was all prepared to have a meeting set up with these guys and thinking they were going to sign him. He doesn't even have a demo. It was comical. I told him to record something. Don't say you're going to do it; actually do it.

My brother is a CPA and knows some entertainment attorneys. We agreed to go with him to discuss this if he set up a meeting, because I'd rather help guide him than alienate him, but I also am a tough parent who talks straight. I told him why would they sign you when you have nothing recorded? Why do you need them when you can put something on youtube for free? It was beyond ridiculous. Then his friend advised him that he should record something and see what happens before putting the cart before the horse. It took prodding by me for him to see that that's what I've been telling him.

With all due respect he's wised up some since the examples above and he'll continue to mature. It's just frustrating. I just want him to make smart decisions based on a plan for success. I could go on but it's easier to take questions and feedback.

 

[Tony Jabroni]

Oh man,

 

[Johnny Rock]

Oh man,

 

[gmbacm]

 

[BobbyLayne]

Less than a year ago he said when he turned 18 he was going to move to Detroit. Okay. This is a kid who lives in a small town in MN that is probably 99% white and he'd never rapped before except in the hallway at school a few times. I told him I'll drop you off in Minneapolis on Lake Street then come back and pick you up in an hour or two. We'll see how that works out.

Any way you can get that recorded? That is the kind of content people would pay for.

 

[TheWalkmen]

Just make sure he goes to college, even as a backup plan to rapping professionally.

 

[Mr. Retukes]

"My son thinks he's the next Lebron James. He's 5-foot-6 and has never played competitive basketball"

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Oh man,

 

[Mr. Pickles]

I told him I'll drop you off in Minneapolis on Lake Street then come back and pick you up in an hour or two. We'll see how that works out.

Yeah, no way he can afford the Calhoun Beach Club.Is he any good? Not that it much matters, but what's your take? You don't sound like a tough parent to me.

 

[Raider Nation]

When you are 18, the future is full of limitless possibilities. Encourage him to follow his dream. Let him fall on his face and he'll soon learn the hard way that life is all about getting up every morning to go to a job you hate while marking off the calendar until you die.

 

[[icon]]

 

[The_Burning_Bush]

Let him give it a try. I applaud him for not wanting to take the go to college/work at a mindless job in a cubicle/look back one day and realize you hate how you've spent your life road like most everyone else.

 

[Slinger]

Wait, he wants to move to Detroit?

 

[Addai's Adidas]

Wait, he wants to move to Detroit?

Anyone can afford to move there. Why not?

 

[njherdfan]

Just make sure he goes to college, even as a backup plan to rapping professionally.

As a college student, I can say that there is no better place for an aspiring musician to be than a college campus. It's incredibly easy to get gigs booked and your stuff recorded, and you'll face far more friendly audiences than you would having to try and impress record execs right away. Not to mention that he'll get the chance to take a poetry class or something else that would help him understand the fundamentals of rap music (like meter etc.) If he's good and got approached to sign a contract and drop out of college after he started that's one thing, but being in college wouldn't hurt an aspiring rap career at all.

 

[Johnny Rock]

Just make sure he goes to college, even as a backup plan to rapping professionally.

That was the plan but he got lazier with school and started thinking he would take a year off. Tough to go back after you make a few bucks though. So his grades suffered some and like many, he never applied himself. He loves to read and maybe writing lyrics will be his thing. Everybody we talk to about this says to stay in school, etc. I wanted other people who are important to him to say it too because no one wants to listen to their parents. He liked what he heard about music production at one college but never applied and didn't fill out financial aid. I told him you need to have a decent job to be able to try to do this on the side. He just has no clue how hard it will be out there.

 

[jdoggydogg]

When you are 18, the future is full of limitless possibilities. Encourage him to follow his dream. Let him fall on his face and he'll soon learn the hard way that life is all about getting up every morning to go to a job you hate while marking off the calendar until you die.

Let him give it a try. I applaud him for not wanting to take the go to college/work at a mindless job in a cubicle/look back one day and realize you hate how you've spent your life road like most everyone else.

No one gets to the end of their life and wishes they hadn't pursued their dreams. If he's talented and driven, he has a shot. But if he doesn't make it, he can always say that he tried. Remember, it's easy for someone to say, "You can't do that." It's more courageous to give it a shot.

 

[offdee]

Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity

To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment

Would you capture it? Or just let it slip?

 

[GTBilly]

Love the support him and watch him succeed or watch him fall flat on his face and help him up advice.

 

[Johnny Rock]

I told him I'll drop you off in Minneapolis on Lake Street then come back and pick you up in an hour or two. We'll see how that works out.

Yeah, no way he can afford the Calhoun Beach Club.Is he any good? Not that it much matters, but what's your take? You don't sound like a tough parent to me.

He hasn't rapped for me live. That's cool; I'm your dad. I get it. That's why I was telling him to record.The first time I found out he was interested in this besides listening to the music, was when I found lyrics he wrote about 2 years ago. It was him talking like he was from the hood. Trying to act like he was from 8 Mile talking about rape, beating up your girlfriend, bust a cap in your ###, etc. Like he could speak about that from experience. I encouraged him to write about what he knows.I listened to the raw recording on Sunday. Not that great although I'm no expert and he wants to edit it. His syncopation was off from the beat. Monotone. Nothing really stood out. It is the first recording so I didn't want to beat it down too bad. He needs practice and dedication. I don't see it happening but it's no reason to shut it down when he's just starting to get his feet wet. Just seems like a square peg round hole deal.I'm actually a very tough parent and not out to be my kids' friend. It's tough that way though because you don't want to cut off communication. Since I call him on his b.s. and talk straight he tends to want to confide in my wife rather than me and I hear things second hand.

 

[Johnny Rock]

When you are 18, the future is full of limitless possibilities. Encourage him to follow his dream. Let him fall on his face and he'll soon learn the hard way that life is all about getting up every morning to go to a job you hate while marking off the calendar until you die.

I 100% agree with this. But his thinking is so naïve. He's actually got a decent head on his shoulders but when it comes to this and what it will be like when he moves out, not so much.

 

[jdoggydogg]

You don't sound like a tough parent to me.

Not sure I understand why this comment was necessary or warranted.

 

[DrJ]

If he needs any homies for his posse, I'm available on weekends.

And what's his rap name? Brandon's not going to cut it.

 

[simmonjm]

If he needs any homies for his posse, I'm available on weekends. And what's his rap name? Brandon's not going to cut it.

B-Nasty

 

[Postradamus]

You don't sound like a tough parent to me.

Not sure I understand why this comment was necessary or warranted.

have to admit that sort of stumped me a bit too

 

[Judge Smails]

"There's a concept that works, twenty million other white rappers emerge"

 

[Mr. Pickles]

You don't sound like a tough parent to me.

Not sure I understand why this comment was necessary or warranted.

have to admit that sort of stumped me a bit too

Seems like dad is intent on seeing this through, though there is apparently no discernible talent. Music is an extremely tough business. I don't see the point of even humoring a kid who is entertaining a quixotic journey he has no idea about. I mean, c'mon.. he just now recorded something.

 

[Johnny Rock]

When you are 18, the future is full of limitless possibilities. Encourage him to follow his dream. Let him fall on his face and he'll soon learn the hard way that life is all about getting up every morning to go to a job you hate while marking off the calendar until you die.

Let him give it a try. I applaud him for not wanting to take the go to college/work at a mindless job in a cubicle/look back one day and realize you hate how you've spent your life road like most everyone else.

No one gets to the end of their life and wishes they hadn't pursued their dreams. If he's talented and driven, he has a shot. But if he doesn't make it, he can always say that he tried. Remember, it's easy for someone to say, "You can't do that." It's more courageous to give it a shot.

As I said, I want him to pursue his dream too. Do it while you're young with no responsibilities. But you need to be smart about it too and have somewhat of a plan for success imo. I need to see more work from him. I want to see a few videos on youtube and see if there is positive feedback. I'm not seeing the talent but WADR it's a small sample size. It's like the great basketball analogy in the post up above. His only plan for a career is to play in the NBA and not only is he not going to college so he can fall back on something, he's skipping High School basketball too. Oh, and he doesn't know if he can shoot yet because he's only thought about basketball a lot, but has shot hoops only a handful of times.

 

[DrJ]

When you are 18, the future is full of limitless possibilities. Encourage him to follow his dream. Let him fall on his face and he'll soon learn the hard way that life is all about getting up every morning to go to a job you hate while marking off the calendar until you die.

Let him give it a try. I applaud him for not wanting to take the go to college/work at a mindless job in a cubicle/look back one day and realize you hate how you've spent your life road like most everyone else.

No one gets to the end of their life and wishes they hadn't pursued their dreams. If he's talented and driven, he has a shot. But if he doesn't make it, he can always say that he tried. Remember, it's easy for someone to say, "You can't do that." It's more courageous to give it a shot.

As I said, I want him to pursue his dream too. Do it while you're young with no responsibilities. But you need to be smart about it too and have somewhat of a plan for success imo. I need to see more work from him. I want to see a few videos on youtube and see if there is positive feedback. I'm not seeing the talent but WADR it's a small sample size. It's like the great basketball analogy in the post up above. His only plan for a career is to play in the NBA and not only is he not going to college so he can fall back on something, he's skipping High School basketball too. Oh, and he doesn't know if he can shoot yet because he's only thought about basketball a lot, but has shot hoops only a handful of times.

Rapping isn't about talent anymore dude. That ended back in the early 90's.

 

[Carver]

Has he ever "CHOKED"A' B!+CH?"

 

[Carver]

Dear Slim, I wrote you but you still ain't callin'

I left my cell, my pager

And my home phone at the bottom

I sent two letters back in autumn

You must not have got 'em

It probably was a problem

At the post office or somethin'

Sometimes I scribble addresses

Too sloppy when I jot 'em

But anyways #### it

What's been up man, how's your daughter?

My girlfriend's pregnant too

I'm out to be a father

If I have a daughter, guess what I'm a call her?

I'm a name her Bonnie

I read about your Uncle Ronnie too, I'm sorry

I had a friend kill himself over some #####

Who didn't want him

I know you probably hear this everyday

But I'm your biggest fan

I even got the underground #### that you did with scam

I got a room full of your posters

And your pictures man

I like the #### you did with Ruckus too

That #### was fat

Anyways I hope you get this, man

Hit me back just to chat

Truly yours, your biggest fan

This is JohnnyRock2000's Kid

 

[Johnny Rock]

You don't sound like a tough parent to me.

Not sure I understand why this comment was necessary or warranted.

have to admit that sort of stumped me a bit too

Seems like dad is intent on seeing this through, though there is apparently no discernible talent. Music is an extremely tough business. I don't see the point of even humoring a kid who is entertaining a quixotic journey he has no idea about. I mean, c'mon.. he just now recorded something.

Telling him he's crazy and all the real world facts about why this is stupid isn't getting through to him. It's mind boggling. I'm telling you I've been as blunt as I can be with the reality checks.I seem intent on seeing this through? It's not me Pickles. He's 18. The lectures, examples of his flawed thinking, possible scenarios logically explained about the realities, aren't sinking in. He's not listening.

He needs to see it himself. We needed to change tactics or risk alienating him and leaving him feeling like he can't come to us for help. I wanted him to record some stuff while he's still a senior so if it fails he can still get into college, see a different path, etc.

I actually wanted this friend of his with the rapper contact to set up the meeting I refered to before because I knew it would be a joke if it even happened. I'm like yeah, some underground rap label is going to "sign you" to a deal even though you've never rapped before, based on the word of your friend that you "battled" another kid at school and "everybody said you won." You can't make it up.

When I told him again tonight that he needs to have a backup plan he said nobody who's ever made it had a backup plan. I'll say it again, he needs to see it and hear it for himself.

I'm not humoring him saying I'll book him gigs all over the state and telling him he's great.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

I seem intent on seeing this through? It's not me Pickles. He's 18. The lectures, examples of his flawed thinking, possible scenarios logically explained about the realities, aren't sinking in. He's not listening.

He needs to see it himself. We needed to change tactics or risk alienating him and leaving him feeling like he can't come to us for help. I wanted him to record some stuff while he's still a senior so if it fails he can still get into college, see a different path, etc.

I actually wanted this friend of his with the rapper contact to set up the meeting I refered to before because I knew it would be a joke if it even happened. I'm like yeah, some underground rap label is going to "sign you" to a deal even though you've never rapped before, based on the word of your friend that you "battled" another kid at school and "everybody said you won." You can't make it up.

When I told him again tonight that he needs to have a backup plan he said nobody who's ever made it had a backup plan. I'll say it again, he needs to see it and hear it for himself.

I'm not humoring him saying I'll book him gigs all over the state and telling him he's great.

No, but you're going through too much effort, I think. You're far more patient than I would be.

 

[fridayfrenzy]

Is he better than this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FURI1PE2hyA

 

[Johnny Rock]

When you are 18, the future is full of limitless possibilities. Encourage him to follow his dream. Let him fall on his face and he'll soon learn the hard way that life is all about getting up every morning to go to a job you hate while marking off the calendar until you die.

Let him give it a try. I applaud him for not wanting to take the go to college/work at a mindless job in a cubicle/look back one day and realize you hate how you've spent your life road like most everyone else.

No one gets to the end of their life and wishes they hadn't pursued their dreams. If he's talented and driven, he has a shot. But if he doesn't make it, he can always say that he tried. Remember, it's easy for someone to say, "You can't do that." It's more courageous to give it a shot.

As I said, I want him to pursue his dream too. Do it while you're young with no responsibilities. But you need to be smart about it too and have somewhat of a plan for success imo. I need to see more work from him. I want to see a few videos on youtube and see if there is positive feedback. I'm not seeing the talent but WADR it's a small sample size. It's like the great basketball analogy in the post up above. His only plan for a career is to play in the NBA and not only is he not going to college so he can fall back on something, he's skipping High School basketball too. Oh, and he doesn't know if he can shoot yet because he's only thought about basketball a lot, but has shot hoops only a handful of times.

Rapping isn't about talent anymore dude. That ended back in the early 90's.

Call it what you want. I haven't seen the "It" quality yet.He's only 18. He can prove me wrong if he wants. I'll be the first to eat crow and manage his career.

 

[JZilla]

Is your son a juggalo? You can tell us.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Hanging around in case there's a Sugar Slam reference.

 

[Johnny Rock]

I seem intent on seeing this through? It's not me Pickles. He's 18. The lectures, examples of his flawed thinking, possible scenarios logically explained about the realities, aren't sinking in. He's not listening.

He needs to see it himself. We needed to change tactics or risk alienating him and leaving him feeling like he can't come to us for help. I wanted him to record some stuff while he's still a senior so if it fails he can still get into college, see a different path, etc.

I actually wanted this friend of his with the rapper contact to set up the meeting I refered to before because I knew it would be a joke if it even happened. I'm like yeah, some underground rap label is going to "sign you" to a deal even though you've never rapped before, based on the word of your friend that you "battled" another kid at school and "everybody said you won." You can't make it up.

When I told him again tonight that he needs to have a backup plan he said nobody who's ever made it had a backup plan. I'll say it again, he needs to see it and hear it for himself.

I'm not humoring him saying I'll book him gigs all over the state and telling him he's great.

No, but you're going through too much effort, I think. You're far more patient than I would be.

All we've done is talk and then bought him a camcorder a few weeks ago. The effort is called parenting and it's difficult. I've been trying to help shape this kid his whole life. It's time for him to fly and I always thought he'd go to college and figure it out. This is a different dream, his dream and that's fine. But he's not attacking it in a systematic way like I believe he should and that's hard for me, because if he did he would've already realized that this is a stupid idea.We all know we shouldn't drink and drive and people tell us that all the time. Kids see video's in school and maybe a few of their friends even died at Prom while driving drunk. But sometimes a person needs to get a DUI themselves before they get it. He needs to succeed or fail on his own. It doesn't matter what I say.

More patient than you? How would you handle it?

 

[Johnny Rock]

Is he better than this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FURI1PE2hyA

No. That kid has some schtick to his game and is at least unique and memorable.

 

[slayer666]

I can hook Brandon up with Dr. Dre as soon as he drops the Detox CD.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Earl Sweatshirt is only 16. Who knows? :(

 

[flapgreen]

:(

 

[flapgreen]

When you are 18, the future is full of limitless possibilities. Encourage him to follow his dream. Let him fall on his face and he'll soon learn the hard way that life is all about getting up every morning to go to a job you hate while marking off the calendar until you die.

I didn't think you worked.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

You don't sound like a tough parent to me.

Not sure I understand why this comment was necessary or warranted.

have to admit that sort of stumped me a bit too

Seems like dad is intent on seeing this through, though there is apparently no discernible talent. Music is an extremely tough business. I don't see the point of even humoring a kid who is entertaining a quixotic journey he has no idea about. I mean, c'mon.. he just now recorded something.

I doubt the music career will go anywhere but I think it's a GREAT chance to show your kid support. While it's unlikely his music career will go anywhere, one of the saddest things in life is for people to give up on their dreams without ever trying make them a reality. If he's determined to make a go of things - and not just say I want to be a famous rapper without putting forth the hard work - then I think it's fantastic you're not only supporting him but helping him make a go of it. The ability to rap is unlikely to help his future career but the discipline, hard work, and tenacity that comes with pushing for a personal goal in life will undoubtedly serve him well. No matter what he ends up doing.

Kudos to you johnnyrock. I think the world needs more parents who support their kids.

 

[Dr. Gobbler]

The whole dream part is great and should be fostered. I think the best angle for you to approach him with is the business end of it. There are plenty of examples of rappers running their own businesses. They have something he doesn't, street smarts. Has he ever started with an 8 ball and got up to 2 k's a week? Probably not. Has he ever put a few girls out on the track to go get his money? Probably not. Explain to him that he needs to learn about business, heck they have business classes specifically about the music industry. So tell him to go ahead and work on his rap and at the same time go to college and learn business and in 4 years his game will be tight.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

But he's not attacking it in a systematic way like I believe he should and that's hard for me, because if he did he would've already realized that this is a stupid idea.

How is he attacking things?

 

[Postradamus]

You don't sound like a tough parent to me.

Not sure I understand why this comment was necessary or warranted.

have to admit that sort of stumped me a bit too

Seems like dad is intent on seeing this through, though there is apparently no discernible talent. Music is an extremely tough business. I don't see the point of even humoring a kid who is entertaining a quixotic journey he has no idea about. I mean, c'mon.. he just now recorded something.

I doubt the music career will go anywhere but I think it's a GREAT chance to show your kid support. While it's unlikely his music career will go anywhere, one of the saddest things in life is for people to give up on their dreams without ever trying make them a reality. If he's determined to make a go of things - and not just say I want to be a famous rapper without putting forth the hard work - then I think it's fantastic you're not only supporting him but helping him make a go of it. The ability to rap is unlikely to help his future career but the discipline, hard work, and tenacity that comes with pushing for a personal goal in life will undoubtedly serve him well. No matter what he ends up doing.

Kudos to you johnnyrock. I think the world needs more parents who support their kids.

:(

 

[jdoggydogg]

You don't sound like a tough parent to me.

Not sure I understand why this comment was necessary or warranted.

have to admit that sort of stumped me a bit too

Seems like dad is intent on seeing this through, though there is apparently no discernible talent. Music is an extremely tough business. I don't see the point of even humoring a kid who is entertaining a quixotic journey he has no idea about. I mean, c'mon.. he just now recorded something.

If you can't dream, then what's the point of living? The kid has his entire life to be assimilated into the machine.

 

[jdoggydogg]

When you are 18, the future is full of limitless possibilities. Encourage him to follow his dream. Let him fall on his face and he'll soon learn the hard way that life is all about getting up every morning to go to a job you hate while marking off the calendar until you die.

Let him give it a try. I applaud him for not wanting to take the go to college/work at a mindless job in a cubicle/look back one day and realize you hate how you've spent your life road like most everyone else.

:( No one gets to the end of their life and wishes they hadn't pursued their dreams. If he's talented and driven, he has a shot. But if he doesn't make it, he can always say that he tried. Remember, it's easy for someone to say, "You can't do that." It's more courageous to give it a shot.

:( As I said, I want him to pursue his dream too. Do it while you're young with no responsibilities. But you need to be smart about it too and have somewhat of a plan for success imo. I need to see more work from him. I want to see a few videos on youtube and see if there is positive feedback. I'm not seeing the talent but WADR it's a small sample size. It's like the great basketball analogy in the post up above. His only plan for a career is to play in the NBA and not only is he not going to college so he can fall back on something, he's skipping High School basketball too. Oh, and he doesn't know if he can shoot yet because he's only thought about basketball a lot, but has shot hoops only a handful of times.

You should watch "Exit Through The Gift Shop." There are elements in play in that documentary that are germane to this discussion. I think that success is 50% ambition and 50% talent. There are talented people that never try hard enough, and there are lesser-talented people that simply work harder. There's this myth in the entertainment industry that you need luck to make it. Well, of course you need some breaks. But the fact is that the great musicians and artists got that way through discipline.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

You don't sound like a tough parent to me.

Not sure I understand why this comment was necessary or warranted.

have to admit that sort of stumped me a bit too

Seems like dad is intent on seeing this through, though there is apparently no discernible talent. Music is an extremely tough business. I don't see the point of even humoring a kid who is entertaining a quixotic journey he has no idea about. I mean, c'mon.. he just now recorded something.

If you can't dream, then what's the point of living? The kid has his entire life to be assimilated into the machine.

No one is here to crush the kid's dream. Honestly. Seems like this is being taken the wrong way and maybe hitting a little too close to home for some.Dream all you want. From everything I can surmise (admittedly, from limited information), the kid is enamored with an image more than exhibiting some deep-rooted desire to put in the hard work to achieve a life-long goal. If the kid was out there already.. writing music, performing, doing this non-stop and generating some local buzz, you might have something here. That kind of effort and passion should be nurtured and encouraged. At least you can see a trajectory there. It seems like dad is having to push a bit which tells me right away that the kid isn't serious about this, and if dad can't even buy into his talent, who else is going to? The kid wants to move to Detroit? Yeah, okay. This is already sounding goofy.He can go off to college and do whatever he wants in his free time.. even quit if he's showing promise and has some prospects of success. No one is telling him what to do with his life or what dreams he should have. Dad's worried about his future (rightfully) and doubts his kid's chances. That's not killing anyone's dream, it's just being realistic.I think dad's got it about half right: put the stuff on YouTube and see what happens. Hell, that's how Justin Bieber got noticed. If it flops, there's no point. A lot of supremely talented people work in the industry without fanfare. There are various levels of success, but it's like winning the lottery to become someone like Eminem, Gaga, or even Vanilla Ice. It's talent plus an extreme amount of luck. We're not even sure if he has an iota of the first one.