How Artists Balance Relatability & Invincibility

Music sticks with people for many reasons. In its simplest form, it’s about the music; some sort of chemical reaction in the brain makes even the dumbest song one of our favorites. How the ears responds positively or negatively to a set of chords, a particular tone or a repetitive phrase makes or breaks is ultimately the determining factor. But there’s a big difference in a song being good and being a fan of it. For instance, 2017 was Lil Pump’s year. 2021, there isn’t such a space for him. Outside of the obvious MAGA shenanigans as a cheap ploy for attention, he stopped being a valuable commodity a year or so after his breakout. Sure, the music could’ve been bad but it’s much deeper than that. The hollow can only exist for so long before something or someone comes in with substantial weight. It could be the difference between junk food and legitimate sustenance but it’s much more than that. To diminish the simple dismisses a larger urge in how we consume music. People want stories and narratives. People want to be included in a larger event they aren’t included in.

Artists aren’t forced to expose themselves to their audience. Who they are shouldn’t matter if the music works right? Well sure. But there’s a big difference in your Lil Teccas’ and your Drakes’ of the world. Outside of the glaring talent gap, there isn’t much in the way of digestion with a hit like…