It's All In Your Head by Russ

It's All In Your Head by Russ

Author:Russ
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2019-09-27T00:00:00+00:00


Chapter

09

Naked

Keep Your Barriers Down

VULNERABILITY IS A MAGNET.

My mom always tells me, “Keep your barriers down at all times.” It is her way of reminding me to be open to receiving. It is a mantra that runs through my head all the time. What I’ve discovered is that keeping my barriers down doesn’t just make me more receptive to inspiration, ideas, and success; it also allows me to be more vulnerable in my music and in my life. My mom gave me permission to be vulnerable.

Sensitivity and vulnerability get a bad rap, especially in the hip-hop world, where vulnerability can be perceived as weakness, even though it is a strength. People are very scared of facing their insecurities, let alone having them out in the open because they don’t want those vulnerabilities to be used against them. What most people don’t realize is that when you are honest about your vulnerabilities and when you wear them like a proud badge, then you block others from weaponizing your vulnerabilities against you. If you are upfront about your failings, your fears, your weaknesses, it is much harder to have them used against you. It is like Eminem’s final battle in 8

Mile, when he rapped about all the things the other guy was gonna make fun of him about so that when it was that guy’s turn to go, he didn’t have anything to say and he forfeited. Being honest with yourself and with others is the best way to disarm people.

I’m wildly honest. In personal relationships I’m such an open book. I’d rather you just know what’s going on. I’m self-aware. You can’t tell me anything about me that I don’t already know or feel about myself, and if you did I’d probably say, “That’s an interesting perspective.” You can’t use me against me. By being honest I flip my vulnerabilities into victories.

My career is an example of vulnerability winning. My first song to start gaining traction was “Goodbye.” I put out the video in February of 2013. By December 6 of the same year it had become my first creation to cross the 100,000-view threshold. That was big for me, not just because I’d broken the 100,000-mark, but because the song was so personal. At its core it was a breakup song. The girl I was with had been unfaithful numerous times, so I made a song expressing my truth and included names of all those involved. I put myself out there fully and I was rewarded. That gave me a boost and confirmed the idea that vulnerability wins.

My songs are three minute autobiographies. That practice has taught me

to freely bare my soul to the world. Instead of putting your best foot forward, put all your feet forward. This is it: take it or leave it.

The crowd favorite narrative is to not give a fuck about . . . anything. I give the most fucks. I care so much about my music and my life and my goals and that’s part of why it has worked.



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