Want to Make It in Music? Try Being Yourself

The grind is a terrible thing to waste" - Mistah Fab.

As a true purveyor of the DIY culture, I have been writing articles on what I truly believe it takes to survive in the music business. Instead of the music business lets also call this life. It is life…isn't it?

I'd say most of us chose music (or at least the reason I did) was that I had to get a lot of things off my chest that I was never able to do in regular life. I lacked in personal relationships but I was strong in fantasy and day dreaming. Exploding on stage in a rap battle in Nuyorican Poets Cafe gave me the feeling I wanted always in my life. I was applauded for being the underdog and attacking the big guys. I didn't win but I came close. The spark that ignited in my head was that I KNEW it was possible a guy named KOSHER DILL could beat him.

We hear stories of individuality.

I can't help to push the belief that individuality in music will really help you become the person you want to be on stage and off it. Embrace the fact that you are different, whether it's religion, race, sexuality, creed or hobbies, and expose this light to the world. As Eminem has recently embraced his alcoholism and now recovering from his disease in sobriety, he made an album that some consider a classic. He also buried the hatchet with Royce and now made a new EP with him. He would not be making so many great things without being sober.

Jin embraced his Chinese MC within and fought his way at Rutgers University to make a BET battle look like a walk in the park. I watched it happen right in front of me. He went on to get a deal with Ruff Ryders and literally teach people how to "Speak Chinese" in a rap song that sold over 100,000 copies.

It was not until Shyne embraced his Judaism and life that he made the cover of XXL and got biggest record deal of his life. More importantly he is happier and out of the trauma which he previously suffered with nearly a decade of incarceration. Matisyahu was always pursuing music, and it wasn't until he embraced who he really was, that his music took off, and he became the first Orthodox singing Jewish reggae artist. He used to be a non-religious Jewish kid who toured around following Phish.

Similarly, I think if Lil B released the album "I'm Gay" without the ("I'm Happy) after it, he could've reached way more people and no one would really care if he was gay or not. He went back on being different, fell short and the world will never know what it is like to have an album like that, which would've probably helped many gay people and earned him new fans. (I think its a huge statement)

Notice how this all falls into embracing the difference between you and everyone else. Be proud of the difference and individuality by simply being yourself. WOAH? Be yourself? Yes. The Music business is filled with fake people, not in reality (they are not mannequins) but personas that are portrayed. The truth is that we portray ourselves as different, but until we get in to more self discovery, we can't really capitalize on what we are pushing.

There is more than just blogs out there. The fans are real people in real cities, and just as musicians who use performance to get our insecurities and angst out, we have the duty to deliver music that resonates with them from our music and public identity. When we deny this from ourselves, we deny the opportunity to reach out to certain people who are looking for that "hit." Although you think you might pigeon hole yourself, chances are by the time you figure out your route and sound, the possibilities of your career can be over.

Whether you are Jewish, Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, Black, Purple, Green, Korean, Gay,Straight, Tran, Bi, or Try (sexual, try anything) don't try to hide who you are. Embrace your differences from others, be an individual, and most importantly, BE YOURSELF. Being yourself is one way you can "be different" in the music business.

In my personal experience , I was ashamed of Judaism for a long time. I would not date Jewish Girls, took mad drugs, slang drugs, and even changed my name from Kosha Dillz to KD FLOW because i was embarrassed of being Jewish publicly. Only until I embraced what everyone told me not to, I ended up with my own character in NBA 2k11 selling over 2,000,000 copies, got on tour with Snoop Dogg and ended up in the studio with RZA and Kool G Rap (for free.)

I might get a couple weird looks, but that's because I'm the guy in the video game now, who became the "celebrity rapper" because he was true to himself.

So put down the champagne, go to therapy, and tackle your issues and get a new rap name (and that doesn't even mean your real name…because that is becoming cliche now!!).

(Kosha Dillz has been viewed as one of the hardest working people in showbiz by many of his peers. On his spare time he lifts kettle bells, is a volunteer wrestling coach at a high school, writes articles, studies venue locations, collects emails, orders merchandise, goes on J Dates, makes Jewish Street Rap music and hangs in the studio with Rza. Watch his documentary trailer here, Like his Facebook Fan Page here, follow him on twitter @koshadillz @teamkoshadillz.)