Episode 203: Ten Things We Wish We Knew As New Artists
While we have both had successful careers as independent artists, there have certainly been a lot of ups and downs along the way. There were also many situations and realities that we probably could have avoided or handled much better if we had an OG to pull our coattails and put us up on game earlier. In this episode, we pull all you newer artists to the side and break down ten lessons, as your Big Homie or Uncle truly should. Episode 203 of Super Duty Tough Work is TEN THINGS WE WISH WE KNEW AS NEW ARTISTS and is out now. Check out the video, audio, and show notes below.
“A Hero Dies Once” Official Music Video
Since last fall, I’ve been running around with the camera pretty heavy, shooting music videos for other artists. I’ve shot three music videos for Illogic, one for Supastition, and one for Shrapknel (Curley Castro & Prem Rock). After I shot all of those I decided to shoot one for myself, just to keep my blade sharp and continue to develop my videography skills. The song “A Hero Dies Once” has been mentioned by my fans as one of their favorite songs on my Two-Headed Monster album, so I decided to shoot a video for it. So here it is:
Episode 173: Lessons From Our Fathers
While we both have amazing mothers who have played incredible roles in our development as men, we very rarely speak about our fathers on this show. In fact, we’ve found it very rare for fathers to get their just due at all. So in this episode, we breakdown ten critical lessons we learned from our fathers that have shaped who we are and made us the men that we are today. Let’s go!
LISTEN/WATCH:
Nine Years Sober
May 15th marks a total of nine years sober for me. Last year I didn’t really write about it because I was so busy with the release of a new album that I almost forgot about it, but this year I’m not touring so I’ve had some time to think about it and reflect a little more.
In some ways, I’ve embraced the feeling of being too busy to celebrate it because I think it means that sobriety has started to become the new normal, as opposed to some temporary state or something that I was trying to maintain. I’ve done a pretty good job of taking on the types of challenges that don’t allow me to feel stagnant or depressed enough to even have the time to drink.
Blogging Has Changed: But I’m Still With It
Ten years ago, blogging was one of my favorite things to do and one of the best ways to connect to my fans. Sure, I’m a musician and creating music is my primary means of communicating ideas, but once I saw how blogging was connecting with people, it quickly became a favorite tool in my toolbox.
From 2008, when I first started blogging to now, I always made it a priority and tried to write here at least once a week to communicate with my fans. Unfortunately, as most people can see, things have changed a bit. I recently just had my longest break from updating this site in my career, which was a couple months. It’s not that I didn’t have anything going on, but more that blogging has changed over the last few years.
Episode 158: How to Survive A Recession
Anyone who has worked in this country understands how trying it can be to find a job, let alone keep a job you already have. Even for those who are model employees, circumstances beyond your control can leave you jobless and unsure where your next paycheck is going to come from. In this episode, we take on a listener suggested topic and talk about how to survive a recession, so you can stay on top even when times get tough.
Episode 157: The Carnage Cheat Code
If you’ve paid attention to the Minneapolis hip-hop scene as long as we have, then have probably heard of MC and Beatboxer Carnage the Executioner. A close friend and collaborator with Eyedea, and a part of the extended Rhymesayers crew, Carnage has been tearing up stages for a long time. This week on the most infamous podcast on planet earth, we dive deep into his history, and breakdown the traits that have made Carnage successful. Lets go!
Episode 152: The J-Zone Cheat Code
If you’ve been a fan of underground hip-hop as long as we have, then you probably know who MC/Producer J-Zone is. After releasing his 2011 book, Root for the Villain, which detailed the collapse of his rap career, he began his transition from a hip-hop artist into a full-time drummer. This week on the most infamous podcast on planet earth, we dive deep into his journey and breakdown the traits that have made J-Zone successful. This is one for the books. Lets go!
The Problem with New Gear
Any artist who’s been practicing their craft for a while understands the constant temptation to buy new gear. Every year, new things come out that can help us do our jobs better. But is it worth it? Many artists have fallen victim to gear lust, buying the latest and greatest, but have never released their creations. In this episode, we dive into the temptation to buy new gear and give you ten things that are more important, so that you can make a better decision before you make the move.
LISTEN/WATCH here:
The Problem With Just Enough
We have recently discovered a disease that is responsible for quietly killing the dreams of millions of people–it is the disease of “just enough.” This disease is characterized by a person who is talented enough to go above and beyond, settling for just enough in all aspects of their life. After doing just enough for a long time, it becomes normal causing a slew of side effects. In this episode, we dive deep into the problem with just enough and why it may be hurting you more than you think.Listen/Watch HERE:Turning the Podcast into a Video Show
For the last year or so, there have been rumblings from the fans of my podcast Super Duty Tough Work, asking us about a video version of the podcast. At the beginning, I dismissed it because it seemed like something that would very difficult to pull off and because I wasn’t sure there was enough interest in it to justify the effort. But over the last couple of months, my thoughts have changed on it.
Investing in Yourself
No matter how long you’ve been doing something, there comes a time when you have to get more serious about it. And part of getting more serious means investing in yourself. From money, to time, to skill building–investing in yourself is a must. In this episode we break down why investing in yourself is so important and what happens when you don’t.
Listen HERE:
The Four Pillars of Discipline
In a world where creating goals is much easier than achieving them, people who are disciplined tend to be the most successful. Thankfully, discipline isn’t something people are born with, which means that even if you don’t have it now you can start developing it at any time. This episode is about developing discipline and to make sure that the goals you have set lend themselves to a higher degree of discipline.
Listen HERE:
My Next Book is Coming Soon
I’ve been off the grid the last couple of months, not really doing much blogging or writing here. Part of that has had to do with it being the holiday season, but the other part is that I’ve been officially writing my next book, which I hope to release this year.
The Best Free Gifts
Under normal circumstances, the most infamous podcast would take this week off, but this year we decided to drop a Christmas-themed episode. Since it’s the season for giving, we are talking about the best free gifts this week. How to give to the people you care about without spending a dime. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our listeners across the globe.
LISTEN HERE:
