SAINt JHn, the Grammy Award-winning artist, recently shared an insightful anecdote about the unconventional advice he received from none other than Jay-Z himself. During the PLLRS speaker series at SoHo Works in Brooklyn, SAINt JHn opened up about a pivotal conversation with Jay-Z and Roc Nation co-founder Kareem “Biggs” Burke that would go on to shape his perspective on navigating the entertainment industry.
The Conversation That Stuck with SAINt JHn
During his appearance, SAINt JHn recounted a visit to the Roc Nation office in Los Angeles, where he had the chance to discuss his career path with Jay-Z and others in the room. As a rebellious artist, SAINt JHn has always believed in pursuing his dreams despite the challenges and the doubts of others. Yet, the advice he received from Jay-Z and Biggs was nothing like he expected.
“I’m a rebellious artist. I think the only way to be truly successful in an unconventional time is to be brave enough to believe in something when nobody else believes in it—even when those people are standing closest to you,” SAINt JHn shared with journalist Keith Nelson, Jr., and PR strategist Simone during the event. “It’s your Dream. You slept in it, you woke up, and you saw it. So, you have to believe in it when no one else can.”
Jay-Z’s Cryptic Wisdom: “Brush Your Teeth with the Other Hand”
It was at this moment that Kareem “Biggs” Burke asked Jay-Z to step in and share some “Jay wisdom” with the young artist. What followed was a cryptic yet powerful message from the hip-hop mogul.
“One day, we’re at the Roc Nation office with Jay and Emory, and some other people. Biggs pulled me to the side and said, ‘Yo, Jay. Talk to him. Give him some Jay wisdom,’” SAINt JHn explained. “Then Jay says, ‘Yo, sometimes you have to brush your teeth with the other hand. You have to put on your pants with the other foot first sometimes.’”
While the advice sounded enigmatic at first, SAINt JHn quickly grasped its deeper meaning: embracing change and adapting to different processes is essential for growth. “It’s Jay, so you have to be like, ‘I don’t know what that means, but it sounds fly,’” he laughed.
Learning to Trust the Process
Reflecting on the encounter, SAINt JHn emphasized that, as an artist, one must be open to trusting a different process, even when it feels uncomfortable. “When you’ve been around the sun a couple of times, you can get what seems like lofty advice, until you realize someone is trying to tell you that you have to be willing to trust a different process,” he said.
This message, while abstract, resonated deeply with SAINt JHn, especially as he has continued to carve out his own unique path in the music industry.
The Struggles of Success and the Human Side of Fame
As SAINt JHn has experienced rising success, he also spoke candidly about the challenges that come with increased visibility. While fans often view successful artists as larger-than-life figures, the reality of fame can sometimes be isolating.
“The greater you become in visibility, the less human you become [to people] in real life,” SAINt JHn explained. “When I’m at home in Puerto Rico, by myself and at seven o’clock in the morning, or nine o’clock at night, and I just finished working, and I look around the room, and it’s just the people I hired to be there, it’s tough,” he confessed.
The loneliness that accompanies his success is a difficult yet poignant part of his journey. Despite this, he acknowledges that no one will offer sympathy for someone in his position. “That’s the challenge. I set myself on that path. But the challenge is nobody’s going to feel sad for me. Nobody wants to hear a rich n***a cry,” he added.
Conclusion: A New Understanding of Success
Through these experiences, SAINt JHn has come to understand that true success involves more than just achieving fame or wealth. It’s about having the resilience to continue pursuing one’s dreams despite the obstacles, trusting in an unconventional process, and accepting the complexities that come with the journey.
Jay-Z’s advice about doing things differently, even in the most mundane aspects of life, serves as a reminder that success is not always linear. It requires embracing discomfort, taking risks, and constantly evolving. For SAINt JHn, this mindset has been crucial in navigating the highs and lows of his career.
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