Hey guys I don't really know how to work this forum thing because this is the first forum website I've ever created an account for. My name is Kevin and I'm turning 19 years old this November. I'm new to this and I feel like I'll be using these forums for a very long time since music is my passion and it's all I ever think about throughout the day. I've also read a lot of the beginner forums here and I've picked up A LOT of helpful tips from them, and some of the information I kinda already new too. I've looked at hundreds, literally, HUNDREDS of interviews of my favorite producers and rappers and I'm pretty good at flowing on beats, and my lyrics aren't terrible. I started rapping about 3 years ago for fun just making funny rhymes during rap battles at school with my friends and stuff. But people have told me that I should really consider doing it seriously. So just this year I started putting out music to the public, but I was basically just rapping over popular hip hop instrumentals. First of all, the production for the music is definitely not the best. I could've edited my vocals way better but I wanted to put my music out so fast, so I rushed it and it kinda sounds mediocre to be honest. So once I realized that rapping over beats won't cut it for too long, I decided to grab all of my brother's production gear (monitors, MIDI's, Beat Pad, microphone) and I started trying to produce my own sound. This was in early September, so for the first month, I was watching a ton of tutorials, and I played with the sounds on Logic Pro X and made basic beats. But over the past 2 months, I feel like my beats aren't that bad! I've been making some beats from scratch and others by sampling. My friends think the beats are pretty good for a beginner as well! However, their opinions could be somewhat biased because they are my friends and they support me in whatever I do. But even my brother, who has over a year of experience in making beats, says I'm picking up fairly quickly and he tells his friends he sees a lot of potential in me. I really love making music, and I really look up to Chief Keef and Bobby Shmurda... (I'm totally kidding!! My major influences are J. Cole, Kanye West, Kendrick, and Logic, in case you're wondering!)
Anyways, the point I'm trying to get to here is that I LOVE music, with a passion. If it wasn't for my dad practically forcing me to go to college, I would spend all day/night making beats and trying to progress in music. I know school is important, but I take 12-15 units every semester and the work is very time consuming. I just feel like I could be putting all that time into chasing my dream, something that really makes me happy rather than aiming for degree in a career I would live miserably for the rest of my life with. But I'm also starting to realize how much sacrifice I have to make if I really want to dedicate myself, and I'm 100% ready for it. I already quit going out and partying a month ago, I cut all social medias, and I'm slowly fading away from my friends... :/ However, I'm more concerned about my future and what I really want to do with my life. I'm just asking for advice or opinions about what you think of the situation I'm in. Should I try and fully dedicate myself to my dream? Or is 19 too old to be considering anything with music? I'm progressing fast, which is the biggest thing pushing me right now. I've also been doing everything on my own, in my room, without a team... So can someone give me some feedback? Ideas? Comments? Thanks, and sorry for writing a whole story here I'm just really concerned. If you want to hear some of my raps, I can link the YouTube channel. The editing isn't the best... so I'm kind of embarrassed to show you guys lol. Plus, I'm more focused on my beats since that's the foundation for my raps.
And I apologize if I'm using this whole forum thing wrong, it said post forum so I clicked it lol.
Anyways, the point I'm trying to get to here is that I LOVE music, with a passion. If it wasn't for my dad practically forcing me to go to college, I would spend all day/night making beats and trying to progress in music. I know school is important, but I take 12-15 units every semester and the work is very time consuming. I just feel like I could be putting all that time into chasing my dream, something that really makes me happy rather than aiming for degree in a career I would live miserably for the rest of my life with. But I'm also starting to realize how much sacrifice I have to make if I really want to dedicate myself, and I'm 100% ready for it. I already quit going out and partying a month ago, I cut all social medias, and I'm slowly fading away from my friends... :/ However, I'm more concerned about my future and what I really want to do with my life. I'm just asking for advice or opinions about what you think of the situation I'm in. Should I try and fully dedicate myself to my dream? Or is 19 too old to be considering anything with music? I'm progressing fast, which is the biggest thing pushing me right now. I've also been doing everything on my own, in my room, without a team... So can someone give me some feedback? Ideas? Comments? Thanks, and sorry for writing a whole story here I'm just really concerned. If you want to hear some of my raps, I can link the YouTube channel. The editing isn't the best... so I'm kind of embarrassed to show you guys lol. Plus, I'm more focused on my beats since that's the foundation for my raps.
And I apologize if I'm using this whole forum thing wrong, it said post forum so I clicked it lol.