What Would The Notorious B.I.G. Advise Young Artists About Staying Authentic in a Commercial Industry?

The industry will test you. It'll tempt you. It'll offer you money to be something you ain't. I lived through that. Labels want to sell product. They want the formula that worked last time. They want to package you in a way that fits their model. But your job as an artist is to resist that unless it aligns with your vision. When I signed to Bad Boy, Puff understood me. He let me be myself while he packaged it properly. That's the balance. You gotta have people around you who get your vision and know how to present it to the world without changing your essence. Here's what I tell young cats: know why you do this. If you're doing it for money alone, you'll sell yourself cheap. You'll take any deal. You'll compromise your art. But if you're doing it because you got something to say, because you got a story that needs to be told, then you protect that at all costs. Study the business side. Learn how contracts work. Understand publishing rights, royalties, all that. Don't be naive. At the same time, don't let the business destroy the art. Your authenticity is your only real asset. Once you lose that, you become replaceable. There's always another artist willing to do what the label wants. But there's only one you. Your perspective, your voice, your experience — that's irreplaceable. So nurture it. Protect it. Make decisions based on whether they serve your artistic vision, not just your bank account. Build a team that believes in your vision. Surround yourself with people who will tell you the truth, even when it's not what you want to hear. And remember: the music industry is built on momentum. Early decisions matter. Don't waste your first opportunities chasing trends. Use them to establish who you are. That authenticity becomes your foundation.