Shred Off The Excess Junk On Your Music's Purpose...Please!

I recently had an eye-opening moment, thanks to someone I count as both a friend and a valuable part of my network. It reminded me of something I’ve always believed: success rarely happens in a bubble. When you isolate yourself, you get weighed down by what feels like “awesomeness” but is really just junk. Pride sneaks in, perspective fades, and what once seemed good is revealed as noise drowning out what could have been great. I know I’m not alone in this. So I’ll lay myself on the transparency table, especially for the artists building their own lane. This is for you. Don’t take offense. Take it to heart. Keep it simple, dummy! And let’s start with ourselves.

Why are you doing music?

Be honest. Is it for the betterment of mankind, pure artistic expression, or financial success? Each lane has its merits, but intentions matter. For me, the path has always been rooted in faith. Yes, I may be labeled Hip Hop, but my foundation is Gospel. That means my music is biblically based first, beats and rhymes second. And I know how that lands in a world that works overtime to deny God’s existence. Add Hip Hop into the mix and you get God-inspired rhymes over dope beats…aka…something many will half-listen to, if at all. I accepted that reality a long time ago. There’s always a temptation for artists—myself included—to straddle both worlds, pleasing people instead of staying true to the message. But compromise only waters down impact. You have music with a purpose don't ya?

Shred the junk

My intentions are rooted in faith and the responsibility that comes with it. If I lose sight of that, everything collapses under the weight and it would be my fault! The moment we create just to chase trends, checks, or clout, we lose the very soul of what was given to us. Shredding off excess junk isn’t just about cutting toxic people or bad habits. It’s about stripping away pride, mixed motives, and the craving for validation. It’s about returning to the core of why we picked up a pen, a mic, or a beat in the first place.

Here’s the challenge I give myself—and to you, if you’re listening:

• Audit your intentions. Don’t sugarcoat them. Call them what they are.

• Simplify your process. Less can be more. One clear, powerful message beats ten mixed ones.

• Protect your lane. Stop proving yourself in circles that don’t value the truth you carry.

I’m learning daily that greatness comes not from adding more but from letting go of what’s unnecessary. For me, that means clinging to faith, holding to purpose, and resisting the urge to dilute the message just to fit in.

At the end of the day, the junk we refuse to shred only weighs us down from reaching the level God intends for us. Freedom is found in clarity. And clarity comes when we stop trying to be everything and start being exactly who we’re called to be. My aforementioned friend showed me how my thoughts of awesomeness was cluttering up the core of why I was put on this planet. From the way I present my message visually to adapting the system to my message and not vice versa is how I am shredding off the junk from my life…I pray you do the same.

Stay tuned…stay alert and always remember…You Are DA MuvMint!